Rob's Genealogy

Person Page 151

Robert Steele Barr1,2,3,4,5,6,7

born 19 February 1797, died 24 September 1852
Painting - Barr Robert Steele (Courtesy of the Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis)

Family: Mary Munden Duncan (born 29 September 1802, died 22 April 1881)

Facts and Notes

  • Birth: 19 February 1797; Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky, USABGO3,1,8,2,4,5
  • Anecdote: Between 1818 and 1852; See person note8,9,10
  • Occupation: 13 November 1818; Boone County, Missouri, USABGO; One of the original 35 stockholders in the Smithton Land Company.11,8
  • Marriage: 18 March 1823; Mary Munden Duncan2
  • Occupation: 1824; Columbia, Boone County, Missouri, USABGO; Merchant. Formed a successful partnership and opened a thriving store at the vibrant intersection of Broadway and Eighth Street.9
  • Occupation: May 1825; Columbia, Boone County, Missouri, USABGO; One of the original five trustees for the Bonne Femme Academy for male students.12
  • Residence: 1830; Columbia, Boone, Missouri, USABGO7
  • Occupation: August 1831; Boone County, Missouri, USABGO; Elected to a committee to select and purchase a site for a seminary in Columbia, which eventually evolved into Columbia College.13
  • Occupation: 1833; Boone County, Missouri, USABGO; Original trustee for Columbia College13
  • Occupation: 1835; Boone County, Missouri, USABGO; One of a number of Whigs that purchased the Missouri Intelligencer. They renamed it the Patriot and used it to further their political ideals and causes.14
  • Occupation: 1839; Boone County, Missouri, USABGO; Appointed to a committee to secure the land and funds for a state university that became the University of Missouri.15
  • Residence: 1840; Columbia, Boone County, Missouri, USABGO; In 1840 Robert Steele's household consisted of four white males (one under five, one between 15 and 19, one between 20 and 29, and one between 40 and 49 years old), four white females (one under five, one between 10 and 14, one between 30 and 39, and one between 60 and 69 years old), four male slaves (one under nine, two between 10 and 23, one between 36 and 54 years old), and four female slaves (one between 10 and 23, two between 24 and 35, and one between 36 and 54 years old).6
  • Occupation: 1849; Columbia, Boone County, Missouri, USABGO; Charter member of the Columbia and Missouri River Turnpike Company, which sought to construct a turnpike connecting Columbia to the Missouri River.16,8
  • Residence: 1850; District 8, Boone County, Missouri, USABG; Age: 52. The 1850 Slave Schedule indicates that Robert Steele Barr owned 3 slave: one male, age 18, and two females, age 18 and 205,17
  • Occupation: Before 18 September 1850; Boone County, Missouri, USABGO; Farmer5
  • Occupation: 18 January 1851; Columbia, Boone County, Missouri, USABGO; Corporator of Christian Female College.18
  • Occupation: April 1851; Boone County, Missouri, USABGO; Appointed to represent Boone County at a state convention to consider laying a plank road from Glasgow to St. Louis via Columbia.19
  • Death: 24 September 1852; Columbia, Boone County, Missouri, USABGO; Age: 553,2,4,20
  • Burial: After 24 September 1852; Columbia Cemetery, Columbia, Boone County, Missouri, USABG3,4,20
  • Note: Robert Steele Barr BIOGRAPHY (by Robert Reyes)

    Robert Steele Barr was truly an exceptional figure in the history of Columbia, Missouri. Born on February 19, 1797, in Lexington, Kentucky,[1,2,3] he possessed an intellect and pioneering spirit that would shape his life and impact the city and surrounding county.

    By 1818, when he was still just 21, Barr had already migrated from Kentucky to Missouri. At this young age, he became one of the original 35 stockholders in the Smithton Land Company. This bold venture aimed to purchase 2000 acres of land that was eventually transformed into the thriving city of Columbia in Boone County.[4]

    But that was just the beginning of Robert Steele Barr’s influential journey in the growth and development of Boone County and Columbia. He quickly established himself as a respected merchant, forming a successful partnership and opening a thriving store at the vibrant intersection of Broadway and Eighth Street by 1824.[5]

    In his late twenties, Barr turned his attention to education. He became one of the original five trustees of the Bonne Femme Academy, an all-male institution that opened its doors in May 1825.[6] Later, in 1831, he played a crucial role in selecting and purchasing a site for a seminary in Columbia, which eventually evolved into Columbia College. In 1833, when that school was chartered, Barr became one of its original trustees.[7] Six years later, in 1839, he was appointed to a committee to secure the land and funds for a state university that became the University of Missouri.[8] Barr’s dedication to education continued throughout his life, as he also became a corporator of Christian Female College, chartered on January 18, 1851.[9]

    Aside from his contributions to education, Robert Barr’s wealth, status, and charismatic personality set him apart in the community. He was one of only three residents in the county who owned a carriage in 1830.[10] He attended Columbia’s 1831 Fourth of July celebration, where he had the honor of proposing one of the ceremonial toasts. His toast reflected his support for domestic manufacturing and the idea that a nation’s self-reliance would lead to greater comfort and independence.[11] Around August 1840, Robert Barr built a beautiful brick home for his growing family on a plot of land just south of Columbia.[12]

    Politically, Barr aligned himself with the Whig Party, a conservative political group active in both the Northern and Southern United States. In 1835, he joined fellow Whig members in acquiring the Missouri Intelligencer newspaper, renaming it the Patriot to further their political ideals and causes.[13]

    Census records show that Robert Barr owned slaves as early as 1830.[14] And while the 1830 and 1840 censuses don’t specify if he was involved in farming, he identifies himself as a farmer in the 1850 census.[15,16] While his slaves could have assisted with his mercantile business, they were more likely assigned to work the land. Corn was the staple crop in Boone County then, and many farmers there used slave labor for planting, harvesting, and other labor-intensive agricultural work. By 1850, Barr’s land holdings were worth $18,000, making him the county’s eighth-wealthiest landowner.

    In the late 1840s, Barr shifted his focus towards developing the region’s infrastructure, aiming to boost trade, transportation, and economic growth. He was an early advocate for a railroad in Boone County and, in 1849, became a charter member of the Columbia and Missouri River Turnpike Company, which sought to construct a turnpike connecting Columbia to the Missouri River.[17,18] In April 1851, he was appointed to represent Boone County at a state convention to consider laying a plank road from Glasgow to St. Louis via Columbia.[19]

    Sadly, Robert Steele Barr did not live to witness the fruition of his efforts. He passed away on September 24, 1852, at the age of 55, at his residence south of Columbia.[20,21] Those who knew him regarded him as one of the most enterprising and successful merchants west of the Mississippi River and one of Boone County’s most valuable citizens who significantly contributed to its prosperity.[22] Barr’s legacy as a champion of education and infrastructure remains, leaving a profound impact on the community. His burial in the revered Columbia Cemetery is a testament to the deep admiration and respect he garnered throughout his life.

    SOURCES:
    [1] E. Maurice Bloch, The Paintings of George Caleb Bingham: A Catalogue Raisonne (Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press, 1986), page 144; section titled "Robert Steele Barr, 1792-1852".
    [2] Warren Dalton and Deborah Thompson, Columbia Daily Tribune, Online Edition, 31 August 2014. Accessed 12 Jun 2023.
    [3] History of Boone County, Missouri (Western Historical Company, 1882), pg 144. Published online at Missouri Digital Heritage by the Missouri State Library.
    [4] Warren Dalton and Deborah Thompson.
    [5] Stephens, Edwin William, Boone County History (Missouri State Library, 14 Oct 1914-21 Jun 1915), Newspaper clippings from the Columbia Daily Tribune, 1914-1915, pg. 68. Written in 1869 and gathered from interviews with pioneers and from public records. Published online at Missouri Digital Heritage by the State Historical Society of Missouri.
    [6] Stephens, Edwin William, Boone County History, Pg. 77.
    [7] History of Boone County, pgs. 221-225.
    [8] History of Boone County, pgs. 259-260.
    [9] History of Boone County, pgs. 810-811.
    [10] Stephens, E.W., Historical 25th Anniversary Edition of Columbia Missouri Herald (Columbia, Missouri, Columbia Missouri Herald, 1895), pg 2. Published online at Missouri Digital Heritage by the Missouri State Library.
    [11] History of Boone County, pgs. 186-189.
    [12] History of Boone County, pg. 336.
    [13] History of Boone County, pg. 136.
    [14] Ancestry.com, 1830 United States Federal Census (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010), Ancestry.com, Year: 1830; Census Place: Columbia, Boone, Missouri; Series: M19; Roll: 73; Page: 89; Family History Library Film: 0014854. Record for Robert S Bare.
    [15] Ancestry.com, 1840 United States Federal Census (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010), Ancestry.com, Year: 1840; Census Place: Columbia, Boone, Missouri; Roll: 220; Page: 110; Family History Library Film: 0014855. Record for Robert S Barr.
    [16] Ancestry.com, 1850 United States Federal Census (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009), Year: 1850; Census Place: District 8, Boone, Missouri; Roll: M432_392; Page: 379B; Image: 301. Record for Robert S Barr.
    [17] E. Maurice Bloch, pg. 144
    [18] Stephens, Edwin William, Boone County History, pg. 110.
    [19] History of Boone County, pg. 366.
    [20] E. Maurice Bloch, pg. 144
    [21] Stephens, Edwin William, Boone County History, pg. 110.
    [22] Stephens, E.W., Historical 25th Anniversary Edition of Columbia Missouri Herald, pg. 15.

Citations

  1. [S405] Ancestry.com, Web: Missouri, Find A Grave Index, 1812-2012
  2. [S439] McNaull, Margaret, Personal Family Tree, McNaull, Margaret. Personal Family Tree. Privately held by Marianna Cobb, Arlington, Virginia, 1993.

    These are copies of three separate genealogical records and a personal letter that were sent by Margaret McNaull to Marianna Cobb in Virginia in 1993. The copies were on file in the home of Mary Jane and Robert Reyes of Lorton, Virginia, as of 2014., Margaret McNaull Genealogical Records, Copies sent to Marianna Cobb on 11 May 1993.
  3. [S403] Ancestry.com, U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current, http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=FindAGraveUS&h=18172043&indiv=try, Record for Robert Steele Barr
  4. [S743] Ancestry.com, Boone County, Missouri, Cemetery Index, 1800-1965, http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=Boonmocemells&h=4772&indiv=try, Cemetery Records of Boone County, Missouri Part I Volume II; Volume: II, Record for Robert Steele Barr
  5. [S507] Ancestry.com, 1850 United States Federal Census, http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1850usfedcenancestry&h=3642935&indiv=try, Year: 1850; Census Place: District 8, Boone, Missouri; Roll: M432_392; Page: 379B; Image: 301, Record for Robert S Barr
  6. [S427] Ancestry.com, 1840 United States Federal Census, http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1840usfedcenancestry&h=2253008&indiv=try, Year: 1840; Census Place: Columbia, Boone, Missouri; Roll: 220; Page: 110; Family History Library Film: 0014855, Record for Robert S Barr
  7. [S371] Ancestry.com, 1830 United States Federal Census, https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=8058&h=2033545&indiv=try, Year: 1830; Census Place: Columbia, Boone, Missouri; Series: M19; Roll: 73; Page: 89; Family History Library Film: 0014854, Record for Robert S Bare
  8. [S433] Bloch, E. Maurice, The Paintings of George Caleb Bingham, Bloch, E. Maurice. The Paintings of George Caleb Bingham: A Catalogue Raisonne. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press, 1986.

    I have photocopies of a few pages dealing with George Caleb Bingham's paintings. I need to verify that they are in fact from this book., page 144; section titled "Robert Steele Barr, 1792-1852"
  9. [S826] Stephens, Edwin William, Boone County History, https://mdh.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/mocohist/id/4180/rec/1, Newspaper clippings from the Columbia Daily Tribune, 1914-1915, pg. 68. Written in 1869 and gathered from interviews with pioneers and from public records., Published online at Missouri Digital Heritage by the State Historical Society of Missouri.
  10. [S828] Stephens, E.W., Historical 25th Anniversary Edition of Columbia Missouri Herald, https://mdh.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/mocohist/id/96141, pg 2. Published online at Missouri Digital Heritage by the Missouri State Library.
  11. [S827] History of Boone County, Missouri, https://mdh.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/mocohist/id/66189/rec/3, pg 144. Published online at Missouri Digital Heritage by the Missouri State Library.
  12. [S826] Stephens, Edwin William, Boone County History, https://mdh.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/mocohist/id/4180/rec/1, Newspaper clippings from the Columbia Daily Tribune, 1914-1915, pg. 77. Written in 1869 and gathered from interviews with pioneers and from public records., Published online at Missouri Digital Heritage by the State Historical Society of Missouri.
  13. [S827] History of Boone County, Missouri, https://mdh.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/mocohist/id/66189/rec/3, pgs 221-225. Published online at Missouri Digital Heritage by the Missouri State Library.
  14. [S827] History of Boone County, Missouri, https://mdh.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/mocohist/id/66189/rec/3, pg 136. Published online at Missouri Digital Heritage by the Missouri State Library.
  15. [S827] History of Boone County, Missouri, https://mdh.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/mocohist/id/66189/rec/3, pgs 259-260. Published online at Missouri Digital Heritage by the Missouri State Library.
  16. [S826] Stephens, Edwin William, Boone County History, https://mdh.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/mocohist/id/4180/rec/1, Newspaper clippings from the Columbia Daily Tribune, 1914-1915, pg. 110. Written in 1869 and gathered from interviews with pioneers and from public records., Published online at Missouri Digital Heritage by the State Historical Society of Missouri.
  17. [S601] Ancestry.com, 1850 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules, http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1850slaveschedules&h=1253108&indiv=try
  18. [S827] History of Boone County, Missouri, https://mdh.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/mocohist/id/66189/rec/3, pgs 810-811. Published online at Missouri Digital Heritage by the Missouri State Library.
  19. [S827] History of Boone County, Missouri, https://mdh.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/mocohist/id/66189/rec/3, pg 366. Published online at Missouri Digital Heritage by the Missouri State Library.
  20. [S825] Missouri Historical Review, Volume VIII, Oct 1913-July 1914, pg 111.