From "Standard History of Adams & Wells Counties, Indiana," Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1918, pp. 485-487.

WILLIAM R. BARR. Bluffton has been a center of trade and business for over three quarters of a century, and among those connected with the business, civic, social and religious life of the community William R. Barr is prominently numbered. The Leader Company, of which he is vice president and manager, is now and for some years past has been supplying a large part of the reliable merchandise distributed not only in Bluffton but throughout Wells County. That, however, is only one of Mr. Barr's active interests in the city.

By nativity he belongs to the city of Fort Wayne, where he was born April 27, 1874, a son of Robert and Lettie (Bennett) Barr. His mother was a daughter of Robert C. and Harriet (Deam) Bennett. Robert Barr, the father, was born in 1848, at Paisley, Scotland, where the famous shawls come from. When a small child he accompanied his mother to America, the first location being at Halifax and later moving to Rochester, New York, where Robert was reared and where he had a common school education. He learned his trade in machine shops in Rochester and from there came to Fort Wayne, Indiana, working in the Pennsylvania Railway shops and in 1880 came to Bluffton, where he entered the service of George W. Grimes in the latter's foundry and machine shop on the south side of Washington Street near the railroad. He was connected with that industry until the latter part of 1915 and was active in building up the industry as a manufactory of boilers, engines, mill machinery, architectural iron work and other products. He was a member of Bluffton Lodge No. 114, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which he served as noble grand, and in politics was a republican and filled the ounce of councilman one term. He is now living with his son William R. Barr. There were four children in the family, and the three now living are: William R.; Fred H., who is manager of a chain of 5 and 10-cent stores in which his brother William is also interested, his home being at Celina, Ohio; and Alice, a graduate of the Bluffton High School and the wife of James H. Lepper, who lives at Owensboro, Kentucky, where he is now active in the 5 and 10-cent business.

William R. Barr was six years of age when the family moved to Bluffton. Here he attended the public and high schools. At the age of seventeen he went to Rochester, New York, spending a year and a half employed with a party of civil engineers and at the same time continued his education by attending night school. Returning to Bluffton, Mr. Barr entered the service of G. F. McFarren, one of the oldest and best known merchants of Bluffton. He was with him until 1898, then, with William S. Smith, he bought the John W. Tribolet clothing store. At the end of five years Mr. Barr bought the interests of Mr. Smith, and then merged the store with the firm of Bender, Walmer & Barr. Five years later Mr. Walmer retired, turning over his interest to the other two partners.

The Leader Company was incorporated in 1908. Its present officers are: Samuel Bender, president; William R. Barr, vice president; Herbert H. Bender, secretary and treasurer, and the board of directors are Samuel Bender, Mr. Barr and Herbert H. Bender.

Mr. Barr is also one of the directors of the W. B. Brown Company and is a member of the executive committee and director of the M. & R. Traction Company. He is also one of the directors of the Elm Grove Cemetery.

Mr. Barr is a York and Scottish Rite Mason, past master of his Masonic lodge and past eminent commander of the Knights Templar and also belongs to the Mystic Shrine. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and in politics is a republican.

Mr. Barr married Margaret Walling, of one of the old and well known families of Muncie, Indiana. She is a graduate of the Muncie High School. Her parents were Mark and Mary E. (Gilbert) Walling. Mr. and Mrs. Barr have an adopted daughter, Lois Barr, born August 17, 1904. Mrs. Barr was well educated in literature and music, and for several years taught music in the Bluffton public schools and has had active charge of the music of the Baptist Church for a number of years. Both are active members of this church and Mr. Barr is a teacher of a class enrolling about 250 members in the Sunday school.

[poster is not related to this family and has no further information]