Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/224

BARNUM, William H., senator, was born at Lime Rock, Conn., Sept. 17, 1818. He was educated in the common schools, engaged in the iron business in 1836 and became interested in politics. He was elected a representative in the state legislature in 1852; was a delegate from Connecticut to the Union national convention in 1860, and was elected a representative in the 40th 41st, 42d, 43d, and 44th congresses, serving, 1867-'70. He was elected to the U.S. senate in 1876, to succeed J.E. English, elected governor of the state, and served until 1879. He was chairman of the Democratic national committee, 1876-'88. He died March 20, 1889.

BARNWELL, Robert Woodward, third bishop of Alabama and 198th in succession in the American episcopate, was born in Beaufort, S.C., Dec. 27, 1849; son of John G. and Emma (Elliott) Barnwell. He was graduated at Trinity college, Connecticut, in 1873; attended the General Theological seminary, 1872-'73; and was ordered deacon in 1873, and priest in 1875. He was rector of St. George's, Griffin, Ga., 1874-'75, Trinity, Demopolis, Ala., 1870-'80, and of St. Paul's, Selma, Ala., 1880-1900. He was elected May 18, 1900, bishop coadjutor of Alabama, and on the death of Bishop Wilmer was consecrated bishop, July 25, 1900. He received the degree D.D. from the University of the South, LL.D. from the University of Alabama in 1900. He died at Selma, Ala., July 24, 1902.

BARNWELL, Robert Woodward, senator, was born at Beaufort, S.C., Aug. 10, 1801; son of Robert Barnwell, soldier and member of the convention that framed the constitution of the United States. He was graduated at Harvard in 1821; was admitted to the South Carolina bar in 1824, and was elected a representative in the 21st and 22d congresses. 1829-'33. He was president of South Carolina college, 1835-41, and was appointed U.S. senator at the death of Senator Elmore in 1850, and was succeeded in 1851 by R.H. Rhett, elected by the legislature. He was an advocate of secession, and was a commissioner from South Carolina to Washington in 1860 to determine the ownership of United States property in the seceding state. In the Montgomery convention, which originated the Confederate states government, he cast the vote which elected Jefferson Davis president, and was afterwards a state senator. He died Nov. 25, 1883.

BARR, Amelia Edith, author, was born at Ulverton, Lancashire, Eng., March 29, 1831, daughter of the Rev. William Huddleston. She was married in 1850 to Robert Barr, a Scotchman, and in 1854 immigrated to America, settling at Galveston, Texas. Her husband and three sons were victims of the yellow fever in 1867, leaving her to support three daughters. She removed to New York city, in 1809; became a contributor to the New York Ledger, Christian Union, and other papers, and also taught school. Henry Ward Beecher became interested in her efforts to keep her family together, and helped her in many ways. In 1884 an accident confined her to her room for some weeks, and during this enforced leisure she wrote "Jan Vedder's Wife," her first novel, which was published in 1885. Its immediate popularity decided her to devote herself exclusively to novel writing. Her books include: "The Young People of Shakespeare's Dramas" (1882): "Scottish Sketches" (1883); "Cluny MacPherson" (1883); "The Lost Silver of Briffault" (1885); "The Hallam Succession" (1885); "Between Two Loves," The Bow of Orange Ribbon," "A Daughter of Fife," and "The Last of the Maccallisters," published in 1886; "Paul and Christina," "The Squire of Sandal-side," in 1887; "Master of his Fate," "Remember the Alamo." "A Border Shepherdess," "Christopher and Other Stories," in 1888; "Feet of Clay," in 1889; "Friend Olivia," in 1890; "The Beads of Tasmer," "Love for an Hour is Love Forever," "A Sister to Esau," "A Rose of a Hundred Leaves," and "She Loved a Sailor," in 1891; "Michael and Theodora," and "The Preacher's Daughter," in 1892; "The Lone House," "Girls of a Feather," "The Mate of the 'Easter Bell' and other Stories," and "A Singer from the Sea," in 1893; "Bernicia," in 1895, and "A Knight of the Nets" (1896); "Prisoners of Conscience" (1897); "The King's Highway" (1898); and magazine serials.

BARR, Thomas Francis, soldier, was born in West Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 18, 1837; son of Thomas Barr. He was educated in the public schools of Lowell, studied law, and was admitted to the Massachusetts bar in 1859. He entered the civil service of the United States at Washington, D.C., in June, 1861, and served until October, 1804, when he resigned and resumed the practice of law in Washington. He was appointed major and judge advocate of volunteers, Feb. 26, 1865; was transferred to the U.S. army Feb. 25, 1867, and was promoted colonel and deputy judge advocate general July 5, 1884. He was commissioner of the U.S. military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., 1873-'94; was promoted colonel and assistant judge advocate general Aug. 3, 1895, and judge advocate general with the rank of brigadier-general, May 21, 1901. He filled the office of military secretary to secretaries-of-war Ramsey, Lincoln, Endicott and Proctor, and was judge advocate in many important court-martial cases, prominent among them being those of Gen. Innes W. Palmer, Maj. Marcus A. Reno; Maj. Charles B. Throckmorton and Capt. Oberlin M. Carter. He was retired from active service May 22, 1901.