William T. (Billy) Barr (1876-1954)

BARR, HOLLAND, WHITFORD, GERBRACH, CASTONGUAY, HOPKINS

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 8/15/2008 at 16:15:59

AMES DAILY TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Saturday, November 20, 1954.

'Billy' Barr, Feed Firm Head, Dies

William T. (Billy) Barr. a pioneer in livestock and poultry feed development and manufacture and president of the Ames Reliable Products, Ontario, died at 7:15 p. m. Friday at his home, 2000 Grand avenue.

Mr. Barr was 77 years of age and had lived in this community for 52 years.

Funeral services will be held Monday at 10 a. m. at St. Cecilia's Catholic church with the Rev. Fr. John Ryan officiating. Burial will be in the Catholic section of municipal cemetery. Mr. Barr was successful in two careers, the feed business and raising purebred livestock.

He was born Dec. 22, 1876, to Mary Holland and Charles Barr in Des Moines.

He came to this community in 1902 to a farm northwest of Ames which he still owned at the time of his death.

There he raised purebred livestock with 1916-1920 the peak years. During that time he was the outstanding breeder of Chester White hogs in the U. S. and served as director of the Chester White Breeders association.

In 1922 he was instrumental in organizing the Ames Reliable Products which has grown into one of the outstanding feed producers in the state. Mr. Barr was active as president of the company at the time of his death.

He was also director of the Union Story Trust and Savings bank, past secretary of the Story County Fair association, past president of the Chamber of Commerce, past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, member of the Elks, past secretary of the Tarnworth Swine association, member of the Story county hospital board at the time the hospital was built (he resigned on completion of the hospital) and an organizer and director of the Ames Grain and Coal association.

Mr. Barr was married to Mattie Whitford.

She survives, along with a son, Charles F. Barr, Ames; two daughters, Mrs. Mildred Gerbrach, Ames, and Mrs. Florence Castonguay, Albuquergue, N.M.; a sister, Mrs. Frank Hopkins, Des Moines, and five grandchildren.

The knights of Columbus and Catholic Daughters wills say rosary tonight at 7:30 at Duckworth-Stevens. The Altear and Rosary society of St. Cecilia's church will say rosary Sunday at 7:30 p. m.