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Chase County Kansas Historical Sketches


1863 - 2003



Barr, Mollie

Mrs. Mollie Barr, 90, Has Lived On Same Diamond Creek Farm 61 Years

The 90th birthday anniversary of Mrs. Mollie Barr, aged Diamond Springs resident, was a happy occasion which 100 relatives and friends spent with Mrs. Barr. Open house, under supervision of Mrs. Bert Drake of Elmdale, was held from 2 until 5 o'clock in the afternoon.

"Grandma" Barr, as she is affectionally known to her relatives and friends, has lived in her present home over 60 years. For 20 years prior to that time she was a resident of the Diamond Creek vicinity. She is in good health and thoroughly enjoyed her birthday party Thursday. She was born in Milwaukee, Wis.

The big birthday cake for the occasion was made by one of Mrs. Barr's best friends, Mrs. Wm. Manley, 77. Another of her good friends, Rev. T. Y. Henry, of Wilsey, made a gracious talk at the party. An interesting account of Mrs. Barr's life appeared in the Council Grove Republican of July 12 and is as follows:

`Mrs. Mollie Barr, Diamond Springs' most venerable resident, will observe her 90th birthday tomorrow. Riding the long lonesome trail from the end of the railroad line at St. Joseph to the tiny Council Grove trading post behind a plodding yoke of oxen, Mrs. Barr is one of the last of that hardy band of pioneer women who saw Morris County as an uncultivated wild prairie.

"Mrs. Barr accompanied her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Herman Bennett, when 10 years old by rail to St. Joe where her father purchased a yoke of oxen, prairie schooner, three cows and a handful of household utensils. Several days were needed for the trek to the Neosho crossing where the Main street bridge now stands. When the pilgrims reached this trading post, only a single store and a few scattered cabins greeted them.

"The family went on westward to the Whitney place which was then owned by Mrs. Barr's uncle, Troggett Hegwer. Her father bought what is now the Andrew Drummond farm. That was in the fall of 1859, two years before Kansas was admitted as a state. "Mrs. Barr lived in Chase County until her marriage in 1878 when she moved to the Diamond Creek farm which has been her home for 61 years. She has one son, Carl Barr, stock feeder and rancher. Despite her advanced years, Mrs. Barr has served as an officer in the Old Settlers' club and regularly attends the Diamond Springs pioneer organization.

Chase County News, Strong City, Kansas, Jul 19, 1939.

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Chase County Submitted Historical Sketches
compiled and abstracted from the Chase County Courant, Chase County Leader, other sources and newspapers
by Lorna Marvin
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