John Strode Barbour (1866–1952)
Encyclopedia
John Strode Barbour was a prominent American newspaper editor, lawyer
, mayor
, and statesman
. As the son of James Barbour (1828–1895)
, Barbour was a scion
of the Barbour political family
.
in Brandy Station
, Culpeper County
, Virginia
. He was the son of James Barbour
, a lawyer
, planter, delegate from Virginia
to the 1860 Democratic National Convention
, delegate to the 1861 Virginia secession convention, and a major
in the Confederate States Army
during the American Civil War
. His mother was Fanny Thomas Beckham.
Barbour was educated at a private school
and at William Hartman Kable's Charles Town Male Academy
in Charles Town
, West Virginia
. In 1884, Barbour began reading law at John Franklin Rixey
's law office in Culpeper
, Virginia
. In 1886, Barbour started a weekly newspaper
, the Piedmont Advance, which operated for approximately two years. Barbour then began attending law school at the University of Virginia
in 1887 and graduated in 1888. Barbour returned to Culpeper and joined Rixey's law practice. Rixey was elected to the United States House of Representatives
for Virginia's 8th congressional district
.
Barbour married Mary B. Grimsley on April 4, 1894. The couple had no children.
of Culpeper. Barbour was elected on May 23, 1901 to represent Culpeper County at the Constitutional Convention in Richmond
, Virginia. At the convention on May 29, 1902, Barbour voted to proclaim the new constitution in effect without submitting it to the voters for ratification.
Barbour relocated to Fairfax County
, Virginia in 1907 where he joined R. Walton Moore and Thomas R. Keith to start up a law firm. Barbour raised a dairy herd at his Fairfax County estate and founded the Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Association. From 1932 through 1949, Barbour was a member of the board of the Virginia State Library. While residing in Fairfax
, Virginia, Barbour built the "Barbour House
" which still exists today.
on May 6, 1952. He was interred at Fairview Cemetery in Culpeper County, Virginia.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, and statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
. As the son of James Barbour (1828–1895)
James Barbour (1828–1895)
James Barbour was a prominent American lawyer, planter, delegate from Virginia to the 1860 Democratic National Convention, delegate to the 1861 Virginia secession convention, and a major in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life and education:Barbour was born on...
, Barbour was a scion
Kinship
Kinship is a relationship between any entities that share a genealogical origin, through either biological, cultural, or historical descent. And descent groups, lineages, etc. are treated in their own subsections....
of the Barbour political family
Barbour family
The Barbour family is a prominent American political family of Scottish origin from Virginia. The progenitor of the Barbour family was James Barbour, who emigrated to Virginia from Scotland in the middle of the 17th-century.-Notable members:...
.
Early life and education
Barbour was born on August 10, 1866 at BeauregardGraffiti House
The Graffiti House, located at 19484 Brandy Road in the eastern end of the town of Brandy Station, Virginia, is believed by the Brandy Station Foundation to have been built in 1858. It is one of few dwellings in the village built before the American Civil War to survive intact to this day...
in Brandy Station
Brandy Station, Virginia
Brandy Station is an unincorporated community in Culpeper County, Virginia, United States. Its original name was Brandy. The name Brandy Station comes from the Orange and Alexandria Railroad station that was constructed in the 19th century....
, Culpeper County
Culpeper County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,262 people, 12,141 households, and 9,045 families residing in the county. The population density was 90 people per square mile . There were 12,871 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He was the son of James Barbour
James Barbour (1828–1895)
James Barbour was a prominent American lawyer, planter, delegate from Virginia to the 1860 Democratic National Convention, delegate to the 1861 Virginia secession convention, and a major in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life and education:Barbour was born on...
, a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, planter, delegate from Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
to the 1860 Democratic National Convention
1860 Democratic National Convention
The 1860 Democratic National Convention was one of the crucial events in the lead-up to the American Civil War. Following a fragmented official Democratic National Convention that was adjourned in deadlock, two more presidential nominating conventions took place: a resumed official convention,...
, delegate to the 1861 Virginia secession convention, and a major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. His mother was Fanny Thomas Beckham.
Barbour was educated at a private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
and at William Hartman Kable's Charles Town Male Academy
Staunton Military Academy
Staunton Military Academy was an all-male military academy located in Staunton, Virginia for much of its 116-year history. The school closed in 1976. Many notable American political and military leaders are graduates...
in Charles Town
Charles Town, West Virginia
Charles Town is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,907 at the 2000 census. Due to its similar name, travelers have sometimes confused this city with the state's capital, Charleston.-History:...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. In 1884, Barbour began reading law at John Franklin Rixey
John Franklin Rixey
John Franklin Rixey was a Democratic U.S. Congressman from Virginia's 8th congressional district from 1897 to 1907....
's law office in Culpeper
Culpeper, Virginia
Culpeper is an incorporated town in Culpeper County, Virginia, United States. The population was 9,664 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Culpeper County. Culpeper is part of the Culpeper Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Culpeper County. Both the Town of Culpeper and...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. In 1886, Barbour started a weekly newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
, the Piedmont Advance, which operated for approximately two years. Barbour then began attending law school at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
in 1887 and graduated in 1888. Barbour returned to Culpeper and joined Rixey's law practice. Rixey 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...
for Virginia's 8th congressional district
Virginia's 8th congressional district
Virginia's Eighth Congressional District is a U.S. congressional district in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The residents of the 8th District are currently represented by Democratic Congressman Jim Moran, first elected to the 8th's seat in the U.S...
.
Barbour married Mary B. Grimsley on April 4, 1894. The couple had no children.
Political career
From 1897 through 1898, Barbour served as mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Culpeper. Barbour was elected on May 23, 1901 to represent Culpeper County at the Constitutional Convention in Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, Virginia. At the convention on May 29, 1902, Barbour voted to proclaim the new constitution in effect without submitting it to the voters for ratification.
Barbour relocated to Fairfax County
Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population...
, Virginia in 1907 where he joined R. Walton Moore and Thomas R. Keith to start up a law firm. Barbour raised a dairy herd at his Fairfax County estate and founded the Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Association. From 1932 through 1949, Barbour was a member of the board of the Virginia State Library. While residing in Fairfax
Fairfax, Virginia
The City of Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the confines of Fairfax County, in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Although politically independent of the surrounding county, the City is nevertheless the county seat....
, Virginia, Barbour built the "Barbour House
Barbour House
The Barbour House is an early 20th-century mansion in Fairfax, Virginia. It takes its name from its prominent owner, John Strode Barbour. Barbour House is located at 4069 Chain Bridge Road.- History :...
" which still exists today.
Death
Barbour died at Doctors Hospital in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
on May 6, 1952. He was interred at Fairview Cemetery in Culpeper County, Virginia.