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KANAWHA COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA - BIOS: BARR, Rev. John C.
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
SSpradling@aol.com
September 20, 1999
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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and Representative
Citizens
W.S. Laidley
Richmond Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, ILL.
1911
p. 355-356
REV. JOHN C. BARR, DD., for more than fifty years a minister in the Southern
Presbyterian church, and for many years a highly esteemed resident of
Charleston, W. Va., was born November II, 1824, in Washington oounty, Pa.,
son of John and Mary (Cannon) Barr. His parents were members of the church of
Dr. McMillen, the well known pioneer of education and Presbyterianism in
western Pennsylvania. When Centre church was built in later years they became
members of that church, John Barr being made a ruling elder. They were
intelligent, godly-people, kept the Sabbath according to the scriptures, and
trained up their children in the standards of the church. Of their five
children two became Presbyterian ministers, one of t~em an intelligent ruling
elder, and two daughters devoted members of the church.
John Calvin Barr was reared on his father's farm and followed agriculture
until reaching his twenty-fourth year, attending the local schools as
opportunity was afforded him. He then entered Jefferson College at
Canonsburg, where he was graduated B.A. in the class of 1855. In September of
that year he began his preparation for the ministry in the Western
Theological Seminary at Allegheny, where he continued his studies until 1858,
although he had been licensed to preach in January of the previous year.
In the spring of 1857 he went to Pocahontas county, Virginia (now West
Virginia), and commenced his labors there as a home missionary. In his
Sabbath school work and in building up the churches of Liberty and Baxter, he
had much encouragement. In April, 1858, he was ordained to the full work of
the ministry, and now added to his field the beautiful Pisgah valley in
Highland county, Va., making frequent journeys over Cheat Mountain to preach
at Huttonsville and Beverly. In all these mountain regions his labors were
so much appreciated that he would gladly have spent his days preaching to the
pure minded people there.
In the spring of 1859 Rev. John C. Barr was married to Miss Maria Smith, the
daughter of Joseph Smith, D.D. This change of relations required a more
settled life than that which he had been leading over a wide evangelistic
field. At the same time a pressing call came to him from the church at
Lewisburg, Va. (now West Virginia), to become the assistant pastor with Dr.
McElheney. After due deliberation, he accepted the call and entered upon his
labors in May, 1859. He found Dr. McElheney a very delightful and profitable
colleague. The two men labored together like father and son without a
discordant note for nearly ten years. The junior pastor took the
responsibility of preach-ing in the town church and the senior pastor
preached at two points in the country. During this period of collegiate
labor, there were two precious revivals of religion, one just before the war
in which about thirty were added to the church and another just after the war
in which ninety were added to the church.
Dr. Barr's labors were much blessed while he was at Lewisburg by assisting
his brethren in holding evangelistic meetings at their respective churches.
In i866 and 1867 he was troubled so much with his throat that he was
compelled to resign his pastorate in i868, and take charge of the school
which had recently been established at Charleston, W. Va., namely, the
Charleston Institute, of which he had the control for several years, became a
feeder of the church. He afterwards taught in a house that stood on part of
the grounds now occupied by the Charleston Hardware Company. and later in the
old lecture room.
Dr. Barr was a ripe scholar and a most successful teacher, in which capacity
he did a work for great good at a time prior to the development of our
excellent public school system. Those who are not conversant with the facts
can hardly apprciate the benefit derived by the church from Dr. Barr's
connection with the old Charleston Institute. It is to be hoped that
Christians will never forget that the school should be the handmaiden of the
church, and that there must be something wrong about the school that does
not, at least indirectly, achieve this relation.
After a few months' rest from preaching, his throat recovered, and he felt
ready to supply the pulpit as well as manage the school. The church was
divided between the two sections North and South, and as a compromise measure
it was agreed that they would not recognize presbyterial control on either
side. The church became vacant, and Dr. Barr took charge first of the
Sabbath school, which was large and flourishing, and during the year took
charge of the pulpit. After a few months a gracious revival of religion
followed, in which thirty of the older scholars of the school united with the
church. The gospel was faithfully preached, with no allusion to any
differences existing between the people. In three years a majority of the
congregation longed to return to their old presbyterial relations. They made
a friendly separation from those who desired to go to the northern branch of
the church. Dr. Barr was regularly installed pastor of the First Presbyterian
church, Dr. Stewart Robinson and Rev. John Brown conducting the installation
service. From that time the church with its surrounding missions has grown
until it
is taking its place with the largest and most powerful churches in the synod
of Virginia.
Dr. Barr tried to exemplify in his life the scriptural lessons of Faith, Hope
and Charity, and to advance his Master's kingdom in so far as it lay in his
power. His efforts were largely blessed and on his way through life he made
many warm friends who are bound to him in ties of love. Despite his advanced
years he still possessed to the end a fairly good share of his old time vigor
and never felt so contented as when in the harness doing his Master's work.
He had a comfortable residence at No. 809 Quarrier street, Charleston.
On Friday night September 8, 1911 he quietly breathed his last and entered
upon the life eternal. He had lived a long life of faith and untiring
fidelity, winning the esteem and love of a host of friends, and the
confidence and honor of the whole city. The Southern Presbyterian Church of
Charleston, W. Va., has set a fine example to the whole southern church in
the splendid way in which they have taken care of the aged pastor and his
wife since 1908, when he became disabled. He is survived by his wife and one
son, a niece and two nephews.
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