Thomas F.Barber |
THOMAS F. BARBEE
Among the men who have been instrumental in making Carroll one
of the best towns in the state, is Thomas Barbee
who spent twenty-five years of his life here, and during that
period of time has been always at the head of every move that
was likely to add to the prosperity of the city. Every town that
has made a success is largely indebted to a few such public
spirited men who are always ready to devote their time and
energies to the matters that the general public is likely to
neglect in their pursuit after private gain.
Mr. Barbee brought a large fortune with him to Carroll and this |
enabled him to do much that other men
would have failed in, and he never seemed to count the cost to
himself. If he believed anything that he was asked to lend a
hand might benefit Carroll. He is a lawyer of wide learning and
has always had a large practice. He has been mayor of Carroll
four different terms, and has held nearly every other position
of trust that the town could give him and in every place called
has never failed in doing his duty. He was one of the promoters
of the First National Bank and principal stockholder but sold
out as soon as the enterprise was on its feet. Many of the
leading business blocks were built with his money and under his
care. In later years he has been largely interested in mining
through the west
Mr. Barbee comes of one of the oldest families of Kentucky and
one that has produced many illustrious men. He is a cousin of
Vice-president Stevenson, and is as strong a Democrat as he. Mr.
Barbee is a graduate of Harvard College and a man of wide
learning. He is one those men who attach men to them by their
personality. Born and bred in the south, he still preserves the
congenial manners of the Southern gentleman. He ran for congress
in 1882 against Isaac Stroble but of course belonging to the
minority party failed to be elected, although he polled a vote
much above the general ticket.
Mr. Barbee is a widower, his wife having died in ?, and he has
no children. He is a man well advanced in years and has
partially retired from active business, although he still does
as much as the ordinary run of much younger men.
~ This sketch transcribed by: Sandra
Carter IAGenWeb volunteer |
|
