J. Allen Barber
Encyclopedia
Joel Allen Barber was a U.S. Representative
from Wisconsin
.
Barber was born in the town of Georgia
, Vermont
, in Franklin County
. After graduating from the Georgia Academy he attended the University of Vermont
in Burlington
, where he studied law. Upon graduation, Barber read law
with George P. Marsh. He was admitted to the bar in 1834 in Prince Georges County, Maryland, where he was teaching school, and commenced practice in Fairfield, Vermont
.
Barber moved to Wisconsin
in 1837, settling in Lancaster
, where he continued to practice law. He served as county clerk for Grant County
, for four years and as district attorney for three terms. He served as member of the first constitutional convention of Wisconsin in 1846.
Barber was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly
in 1852, 1853, 1863, and 1864, serving as speaker in 1864. He served as member of the Wisconsin State Senate
in 1856 and 1857.
After establishing a law partnership with George Clementson
in 1869, Barber was elected to the United States House of Representatives
as a Republican
, serving in the Forty-second
and Forty-third
Congresses from March 4, 1871 to March 3, 1875. While Barber was serving in Congress, George Clementson conducted the legal work of their firm. Barber was not a candidate for renomination in 1874, and upon leaving Congress, he resumed the practice of law with Clementson.
Barber died in Lancaster, Wisconsin
, June 17, 1881, and was interred in Hillside Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
.
Barber was born in the town of Georgia
Georgia, Vermont
Georgia is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,375 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 45.2 square miles , of which, 39.5 square miles of it is land and 5.7 square miles of it ...
, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, in Franklin County
Franklin County, Vermont
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. It is part of the Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 47,746. Its shire town is the City of St. Albans.-Geography:...
. After graduating from the Georgia Academy he attended the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
in Burlington
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
, where he studied law. Upon graduation, Barber read law
Reading law
Reading law is the method by which persons in common law countries, particularly the United States, entered the legal profession before the advent of law schools. This usage specifically refers to a means of entering the profession . A small number of U.S...
with George P. Marsh. He was admitted to the bar in 1834 in Prince Georges County, Maryland, where he was teaching school, and commenced practice in Fairfield, Vermont
Fairfield, Vermont
Fairfield is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,800 at the 2000 census. It is believed President Chester A...
.
Barber moved to Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
in 1837, settling in Lancaster
Lancaster, Wisconsin
Lancaster is a city in and the county seat of Grant County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 4,070.-History:...
, where he continued to practice law. He served as county clerk for Grant County
Grant County, Wisconsin
Grant County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 49,597. Its county seat is Lancaster. Estimates for 2008 show a population of 49,238...
, for four years and as district attorney for three terms. He served as member of the first constitutional convention of Wisconsin in 1846.
Barber was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
in 1852, 1853, 1863, and 1864, serving as speaker in 1864. He served as member of the Wisconsin State Senate
Wisconsin State Senate
The Wisconsin Senate, the powers of which are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate, is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, smaller than the Wisconsin State Assembly...
in 1856 and 1857.
After establishing a law partnership with George Clementson
George Clementson
George Clementson , American attorney, later elected Judge of Wisconsin's Fifth Judicial Circuit. George Clementson was born in Yorkshire, England, to Joseph Clementson, a wheelwright, and Elizabeth Clementson; in 1849, the Clementson family emigrated from England to the United States, settling in...
in 1869, Barber was elected to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, serving in the Forty-second
42nd United States Congress
The Forty-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1871 to March 3, 1873, during the third and fourth...
and Forty-third
43rd United States Congress
The Forty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1873 to March 4, 1875, during the fifth and sixth...
Congresses from March 4, 1871 to March 3, 1875. While Barber was serving in Congress, George Clementson conducted the legal work of their firm. Barber was not a candidate for renomination in 1874, and upon leaving Congress, he resumed the practice of law with Clementson.
Barber died in Lancaster, Wisconsin
Lancaster, Wisconsin
Lancaster is a city in and the county seat of Grant County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 4,070.-History:...
, June 17, 1881, and was interred in Hillside Cemetery.