Sextus Barbour
Encyclopedia
Dr. Sextus Barbour was a prominent American physician
and planter. As the son of Philip Pendleton Barbour
(May 25, 1783 – February 25, 1841), U.S. Congressman from Virginia
and Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, Barbour was a scion
of the Barbour political family
. Barbour was a nephew of James Barbour
, Governor of Virginia, and a first cousin once removed of John S. Barbour
, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 15th congressional district
.
, Virginia. He was the sixth child of Philip Pendleton Barbour
and his wife Frances Todd Johnson.
Barbour was a matriculant
at the University of Pennsylvania
School of Medicine
in 1834.
A hiring agreement in 1846 between Barbour and his eldest brother Edmund Pendleton Barbour serves as a historically significant source for the safety of, hiring of, and caring for slaves. The agreement did not list a price for a slave's services but included the standard food and clothing clause along with an additional clause stating that "the boy Edwin not be allowed to cross the Libertyville millpond or the watercourse
when it is high."
, died of cholera
during the 1848–1849 St. Louis cholera epidemic
. The epidemic killed 4,500 people, one-tenth of the population of St. Louis. Barbour died on December 20, 1848 and his brother Thomas died the following year in June 1849. Barbour was initially buried in the Presbyterian Churchyard in St. Louis. Barbour was moved to Bellefontaine Cemetery
by his sister-in-law, Mrs. Sarah C. Barbour, and reinterred on March 1, 1859 with his brother, Dr. Thomas Barbour and his niece, Helen Adele Barbour.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and planter. As the son of Philip Pendleton Barbour
Philip Pendleton Barbour
Philip Pendleton Barbour was a U.S. Congressman from Virginia and an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. He was also the brother of Virginia governor and U.S. Secretary of War James Barbour as well as the first cousin of John S. Barbour and first cousin, once removed of John S...
(May 25, 1783 – February 25, 1841), U.S. Congressman 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...
and Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, 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:...
. Barbour was a nephew of James Barbour
James Barbour
James Barbour was an American lawyer, amember and speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, the 18th Governor of Virginia, the first Governor to reside in the current Virginia Governor's Mansion, a U.S. Senator from 1814–1825, and the United States Secretary of War from 1825-1828.Barbour was a...
, Governor of Virginia, and a first cousin once removed of John S. Barbour
John S. Barbour
John Strode Barbour, Sr. was a nineteenth century politician and lawyer from Virginia. He was the father of John Strode Barbour, Jr...
, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 15th congressional district
Virginia's 15th congressional district
Virginia Congressional District 15 is an obsolete congressional district. It was eliminated in 1853 after the 1850 U.S. Census. Its last Congressman was Sherrard Clemens.-List of representatives:-References:*...
.
Early life and education
Barbour was born on July 26, 1813 in Orange CountyOrange County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,881 people, 10,150 households, and 7,470 families residing in the county. The population density was 76 people per square mile . There were 11,354 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
, Virginia. He was the sixth child of Philip Pendleton Barbour
Philip Pendleton Barbour
Philip Pendleton Barbour was a U.S. Congressman from Virginia and an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. He was also the brother of Virginia governor and U.S. Secretary of War James Barbour as well as the first cousin of John S. Barbour and first cousin, once removed of John S...
and his wife Frances Todd Johnson.
Barbour was a matriculant
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
The Perelman School of Medicine , formerly the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, was founded in 1765, making it the oldest American medical school. As part of the University of Pennsylvania, it is located in the University City section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is widely...
in 1834.
Writings
Sometime between 1839 and 1843, Barbour wrote himself "Directions for Writing" which is widely cited in literature on writing and grammar:In notes in the third person, the address, and date, are to be placed, on the right side just below the last line. Both letters, and notes, are to be addressed, to the persons for whom they are intended, on the left side, of the lower part of the paper. The place of abode of the person to whom sent, to be first. This is the case when they are in the third person. The letter, or note should never be carried so, near the bottom, as not to have room for the usual conclusion, and signature or to crunch it. Postscripts should if possible be avoided, and, on no account should civilities be postponed to this part. All letters should be enveloped but such as are sent by the post. Nothing should be written when [?] the inside of the envelope; not must any address, be put on the enclosed letter. A half sheet to be used for the envelope.
A hiring agreement in 1846 between Barbour and his eldest brother Edmund Pendleton Barbour serves as a historically significant source for the safety of, hiring of, and caring for slaves. The agreement did not list a price for a slave's services but included the standard food and clothing clause along with an additional clause stating that "the boy Edwin not be allowed to cross the Libertyville millpond or the watercourse
Watercourse
A watercourse is any flowing body of water. These include rivers, streams, anabranches, and so forth.-See also:* physical geography* Environmental flow* Waterway* Hydrology* Wadi-External links:...
when it is high."
Death
Both Barbour and his brother Thomas Barbour, also a physicianPhysician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, died of cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
during the 1848–1849 St. Louis cholera epidemic
Epidemic
In epidemiology, an epidemic , occurs when new cases of a certain disease, in a given human population, and during a given period, substantially exceed what is expected based on recent experience...
. The epidemic killed 4,500 people, one-tenth of the population of St. Louis. Barbour died on December 20, 1848 and his brother Thomas died the following year in June 1849. Barbour was initially buried in the Presbyterian Churchyard in St. Louis. Barbour was moved to Bellefontaine Cemetery
Bellefontaine and Calvary Cemeteries
Bellefontaine Cemetery and the Roman Catholic Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri are adjacent burial grounds, which have numerous historic and extravagant tombstones and mausoleums. They are the necropolis for a number of prominent local and state politicians, as well as soldiers of the...
by his sister-in-law, Mrs. Sarah C. Barbour, and reinterred on March 1, 1859 with his brother, Dr. Thomas Barbour and his niece, Helen Adele Barbour.