DAVID BARR JR.
From the Renfrew Mercury
21 August 1925
David Barr Jr., Reeve of the Township of Horton was born on a farm a short distance south of Renfrew and has always had his home there ranking among the townships best farmers and most useful citizens. He has been a member of his community’s civic legislature since the year 1909, serving for a number of years as Councillor and during the last six years as Reeve, so that during past six years he has held membership in the County Council and is now getting very close to the wardenship. Mr. Barr not only lives on the farm on which he was born but also in the house where he first saw the light of day, the residence being a substantial stone house of the Scottish style, erected in 1855 and is this one of the landmarks of the district. David Barr Jr. is a son of William Barr and his wife Sarah Dalglish, while William Barr was a son of David Barr, who in coming out from Scotland, secured this homestead from the crown.
In addition to being Reeve of the township David Barr Jr. is a vice-president of the South Renfrew Agricultural Society, which institution is now making big preparations for the 1925 fair. For years before becoming vice -president he was a director of the society. At one time he was one of the largest exhibitors showing horses, cattle, sheep and swine, and he holds a Merchant’s Bank cup for most first prizes in livestock. He has also been an exhibitor of Ottawa where at the Fat Stock Show he once had a prize pen of hogs and won the sweepstakes on the dresses carcasses of three bacon hogs. For several years he made a specialty of raising Yorkshires.
At one time Mr. Barr was a member of the Renfrew Rifle Association and in marksmanship he has not yet lost interest, as it is his custom to go deer-hunting every fall, nearly always to Stonecliffe. Many will remember him as a member of the South Horton football team that played in the days of yore. For a number of years he has been an elder of St. Andrew’s church. In the Oddfellows lodge he has held different elective offices up to the highest in the lodge.
Mr. Barr is an even-tempered man esteemed by all who know him. The several times he has been given municipal honors by acclamation is proof of this. At different times also he has headed the polls.
On a farm through which runs Smith’s Creek the outlet of Hurds Lake, he lives a quiet life, keeping a good brand of cattle and horses and looking upon the world with complacency. He has no suggestions to make a bigger and better Renfrew, preferring to leave that problem to men and women who have always lived here. While saying that early closing of places of business sometimes causes inconvenience to farmers, especially when they want repairs for machinery, he does not think the inconvenience suffered is a great deal.
Mr. Barr not only gets the benefit of running water in pasture, from the presence of Smith’s Creek but through the medium of a windmill and other equipment has a system of Waterworks in his buildings.