J. A. Barber, nearly 86, passed away Friday morning at nine o'clock after suffering a stroke Wednesday near noon at his farm south of North Loup. Seemingly in his usual health, Mr. Barber had taken Mrs. Barber to the Scotia Register office in Scotia and had stopped at the farm where John Tucker lives and was stricken there. He was taken to the Clinic hospital in an ambulance and died there Friday morning without regaining consciousness. Mr. Barber's usual activeness for one of his years had kept him young to his friends and throughout this past season he went to his farm nearly every day to help with the work doing more than many younger men.
Funeral services were held Monday afternoon from the Seventh Day Baptist church with Rev. A. C. Ehret officiating. Rev. Claude Thorngate of Dodge Center, Minn., father of Mrs. Barber assisted. Music was furnished by a male quartet composed of Richard Babcock, George Cox, Warren Brannon and Erlo Babcock, singing Mr. Barber's favorite songs; among them, 'The Land Where We Never Grow Old.' Pall bearers were: Leonard Woods, George Satterfield, S. V. Hansen, Joe Jablonski, Evet Smith and Rudolph Psota.
Jacob Augustus Barber, son of William and Amelia Barber, was born January 27, 1881, in Whitney county, Ind. He was one of a large family and is the last of the family to pass away being almost 86 years of age. On August 7, 1880, he was married to Ann Moore at Hamburg, Ia. Later they moved to Fullerton and Genoa, Nebr., and in 1904, to Greeley and Valley counties where they lived on different farms until 1918 when they moved to North Loup. Three children were born to them, Mrs. Daisy Black, Bradford, Ill., Harry A. who passed away on Aug. 20, 1941, and Christine, at home. His wife died Dec. 19, 1920, and on October 2, 1928, he was married to Myra W. Thorngate.
A member of the village board of North Loup for six years and of the county board of supervisors for sixteen years, he was well known and respected throughout the county. His term as supervisor expires in January and Mr. Barber felt he had served his time and refused to run for reelection.
A good farmer and a good business man, he had for his hobby the raising of beautiful peonies and rosemoss. One noticeable characteristic was his love for children. For fifteen years he and his wife have entertained the little children at the annual New Years dinner at the Seventh Day Baptist church and he was looking forward to the sixteenth dinner with much interest. In early years Mr. Barber attended the Presbyterian church and though not a member of any church he was a true Christian gentleman. He was a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge. Unusually active for one of his age, with a mind mentally alert, he went as he wanted to go, 'In the harness'.
He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, his two daughters, Mrs. Black and Christine, his grandson, Russell Barber, and three great-grandchildren, David, Marilyn and Kathleen Barber.
