Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/208

BARBEE.BARBER. for sixteen months, when he repaired to Lapointe, and for eighteen years his labors were spent among the Indians of Lake Superior. Father Baraga's desire being to insure the permanence of his work among those untutored people, in the winter of 1836-’37 he compiled "The Prayer and Hymn Book and Catechism," "Extracts of the History of the Old and New Testaments, with the Gospels of the Year," in the same language; and his "Treatise on the History, Character, Manners and Customs of the North American Indians." in German, also a devotional book in the Sclavonic language. In 1837-’38 he paid a visit to Europe to secure funds for his mission, and had his Indian books printed in Paris. In 1843 he transferred his residence to the "Ance," where he composed his great philological works, a grammar and a dictionary of the Otchipwe (Chippeway) language. In 1853 Father Baraga was consecrated titular bishop of Amyzonia, and made Vicar-Apostolic of Upper Michigan. His missionary labors continued as before, and in 1854 he visited Europe and brought back with him twelve new laborers for the field. In 1855 he attended the provincial council of Cincinnati, and for the next few years the labors of his diocese engrossed his attention. In 1856 he was made bishop of St. Mary; and in 1865, when the see was transferred to Marquette, bishop of Marquette and St. Mary. The health of the venerable missionary had long been failing, when in 1866 he was struck with apoplexy in Baltimore, while in attendance at the national council. His condition improved sufficiently to enable him to return to his bishopric, where he died two years later, having performed a work of inestimable value in creating a literature of what had hitherto been the uncultivated language of savage people. He died at Marquette, Mich., Jan. 19, 1868. BARBEE, William J., author, was born at Winchester, Ky., in 1816. His education was obtained at Paris, Ky., and at the Miami university, in Oxford, Ohio. After his graduation he began the study of medicine, and for nearly ten years practised that profession in Cincinnati, but he subsequently became a school teacher and a Campbellite preacher. Among his published writings are: "The Scriptural Doctrine of Confirmation"; "The Physical and Moral Aspect of Geology" (1859); "The Cotton Question; its Production and Consumption" (1866); "The First Principles of Geology" (1867); "Life of the Apostle Peter." He died at Winchester, Ky., Oct. 27, 1892. BARBER, Francis, soldier, was born at Princeton. N. J., in 1751. He was graduated from Princeton college in 1767, and two years later accepted the position of principal of the Elizabethtown (N. J.) academy. He joined the revolutionary army in 1776 with the rank of major of artillery, and received promotion first to lieutenant-colonel, and later to assistant inspector-general, serving under Baron Steuben. He was present at many important battles, including Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine and Germantown, receiving serious wounds at Monmouth. He was taken to a hospital, and while convalescent succeeded in gaining important information which was exceedingly useful to the patriots. In 1779 he was promoted adjutant-general, and the following year was appointed by General Washington to levy stores in New Jersey. The following year when insurrection broke out in some of the troops he was sent to subdue the soldiers, accomplishing the task with tact and success. He was present at several engagements in Lafayette's Virginia campaign in 1781, notably at Yorktown, serving efficiently throughout the war. He died in Newburg, N. Y., Feb. 11, 1783. BARBER, Francis M., naval officer, was born at Sandusky, Ohio, in 1845, and was graduated from the naval academy, Annapolis, Md., in 1865, at the age of twenty. After his graduation he saw service on various ships, cruising in the waters of Europe, Asia, Africa and the West Indies, being steadily promoted from acting midshipman in 1861, to midshipman, 1862; ensign, 1866; master, 1868; lieutenant, 1869; lieutenant-commander, 1879, and in 1889 receiving the rank of commander. He was instructor at the United States torpedo station, Newport, from 1871 to 1875, at the same time superintending the manufacture of high explosives. When the Alarm was fitted for sea he was her first commander, and acted in the Naval advisory board that constructed the Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and Dolphin. In October, 1893, he was granted leave of absence. He was placed on the retired list Dec. 28, 1895. He wrote on naval subjects and published lectures on "The Whitehead Torpedo" (1874); "Drifting and Automatic ^lovable Torpedoes, Submarine Guns and Rockets" (1874); and "Submarine Boats and their Application to Torpedo Operations" (1875). BARBER, John J., artist, was born at Sandusky, Ohio, Sept. 21, 1840. In 1862 he obtained admission to the bar, but never practised the law, joining the army the following year. Under the hardships of army life his health became impaired, and he was compelled to return home, where he began to paint, first as an avocation and later as a vocation. He may be called a wholly self-taught painter. In 1871 he established a working studio at Columbus, Ohio, where he painted many successful pictures, several of which were exhibited at the National academy of design in New York city. Among the better