Miscellaneous, Benjamin Barber, Father of 21, 1874

Benjamin Barber, Father of 21

Bainbridge Republican, August 2, 1873

 



A reporter of the Chenango Union has been interviewing Mr. Benj. Barber and family of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY].  He reports him a man of about five feet three inches in height, seventy-two years old and slightly bent by age.  Mr. Barber has been the father of twenty-one children, eighteen of whom have grown to manhood and womanhood--twelve girls and six boys.  He is the owner of a fine farm of 350 acres about four miles south of Norwich village, keeps fifty cows and winters one hundred head of stock.  He has eighteen grandchildren, which is just as many as he has children living, but thinks now the grandchildren will get ahead.  Mr. Barber says he never used liquor or tobacco and that none of his children ever have.  In politics they are "all on one side like a jug handle--all of them always voting the Republican ticket."  Mr. Barber commenced life in humble circumstances, had always been liberal in public affairs, and yet raised a large family and accumulated a large property.  So much for industry, sobriety, economy and honesty, all of which elements Mr. Barber possesses in an eminent degree.