Volney Barber, who had spent a long and useful life, passed from this world's activities on Wednesday evening of last week at his home in this city surrounded by his family. He had long been in failing health, due to principally to his advanced years, he having passed the four score mile stone, nearly two years since, but up until within a short time of his death he had attended regularly to business matters.Mr. Barber was one of our most highly respected citizens, and one whom most who knew him best admired most. His life had been an exemplification of the nobler qualities of man - had been in fact that Death comes as a benediction.
He had been connected with business activities in this county for a number of years, formerly having been engaged in the land and cattle business with John E. Todd, southeast of town. But more recently he had been a citizen of our town and at his death was owner and president of the local telephone company. He purchased this property several years ago and besides making extensive improvements in the system, erected a building for an office and gave us an exchange which would be a credit to a much larger town.
Prior to coming here he had been engaged in the mercantile business and in farming in Illinois. And with all his extensive business operations there is not one but says he was always just, fair and square. Socially, he was a man of high ideals, but charitable to his fellowman. His death is indeed a loss to the community.
The funeral was held on Friday afternoon from the Presbyterian church, with burial in the Coldwater cemetery.
The services at the church were conducted by the Rev. H. O. Holsclaw, a spiritualist minister who resides at 111 Mathewson avenue, Wichita. The address was able and held the close attention of the large crowd present.
At the grave was given the Masonic burial service, Comanche lodge No. 295, A. F. & A. M., of which Mr. Barber was a member, having had charge of the funeral arrangements. C. W. Carson, of Ashland, past deputy grand master, delivered the work. The deceased had been a Mason - a consistent Mason for sixty years, a record pointed to with pride by his brethren.
OBITUARY Volney Barber was born in Sheldon, Wyoming county, New York, August 8, 1832: died Coldwater, Kan., June 10, 1914; aged 81 years, 10 months and two days.
In 1843 he moved with his family to Lake county, Illinois. Here he was a pioneer farmer, merchant, and later again a farmer and stock raiser. He was married April 15, 1857, to Miss Cleora R. Rugg and to them born six sons, four of whom still survive, but the wife and mother has been laid away, at rest for a number of years.
In 1903 Mr. Barber moved to this county and on September 16 of that year was united in marriage in this city to Miss Lee Q. Huff, of Decatur, Ill., who is left to mourn the loss of a devoted husband. The surviving sons are Walter, of this city, Arthur and Lucins, of Decatur, Ill., and Albert of Phoenix, Ariz.
Mr. Barber for more than fifteen years in the latter part of his life had been an adherent of the Spiritualist faith in religion and with this as with all things else he was true and faithful.
The Western Star, 12 June 1914. At 6:15 o'clock p.m. last Wednesday, June 10, 1914, the spirit of Volney Barber, passed into the Great Beyond. He died at his home in this city. For several months he had been in failing health but for only a couple of weeks before his death had he been confined to his bed. He had lived to the advanced age of 81 years, 10 months and 2 days.
Volney Barber Dead
Deceased was born on August 8, 1832, in Sheldon, Wyoming-co., N. Y. At the age of 11, he moved with his parents to Lake-co., Ill., and in that state he continued to live until a few years ago when he moved to this city. For many years he was a prominent business man in Decatur, Ill. He devoted considerable time to stock raising and had extensive interests in Illinois, Kansas and other states.
In the early days of Comanche-co., he invested in considerable land and for several years was a partner of John E. Todd in the land and cattle business. About three years ago he became the chief owner of the Coldwater Telephone Co., and made extensive improvements on the system. In connection with the well equipped telephone office in this city he built a good home, and he and his family continued to make their home here.
Mr. Barber, was married twice - first, on April 15, 1867, to Miss Cleora Rugg. To this union six sons were born, four of whom are now living. Walter O. Barber, one of the sons, has been making his home in this county. Mr. Barber's first wife having died several years ago, on September 16, 1903, he was married to Mrs. Lee Q. Hoff, who survives him. Mrs. Barber's son. Raymond Hoff, and her niece, Miss Ruth O'Banion, make their home in this city.
Throughout the many years of Mr. Barber's active business life he displayed unusual abilities and the strictest intergrity as a business man. He was successful in nearly all his business ventures, and this fact was due to his keen insight into the best business methods and the systematic and honorable way in which he conducted all his business affairs. He was a valued citizen to any community, and was held in high esteem by those who knew him.
Mr. Barber had been a member of the Masonic lodge for many years, and that order will have charge of the funeral services which will be conducted from the Presbyterian church this (Friday) afternoon at 4 o'clock. The Masons will have charge of the burial services at the Coldwater cemetery. By the death of Mr. Barber the community is deprived of one of its honored citizens and the wife and family of a devoted husband and father. To them, words of sincere sympathy is expressed by all.
"So in the fall of 1891 the Todds started for Indiana on the train. The children attracted some attention from the other passengers as children do, but particularly that of a gentleman, Volney Barber of Decatur, Illinois. Mr. Barber had been to Kansas attending to business interests and looking over the country with an investment in mind. In the course of the conversation and getting acquainted he and Granddad made a business deal. Mr. Barber had a piece of land near Avilla which he wanted fenced. The men agreed that Granddad would do the labor for 10 cents a post and Mr. Barber would furnish all supplies. Thus began a very successful partnership of two men was to last for seventeen years." -- from Todds In Kansas, a family history by Helen Bernice (Todd) Hough, 1959.
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