Nelson L. Barber
Nelson L. Barber, farmer, P. O. Kent, was born in Brimfield Township, this county, June 3, 1825, son of Lyman and Julia (Landon) Barber, natives of Goshen, Litchfield Co., Conn. Lyman Barber first came to Ohio about 1819 and located at Cuyahoga Falls, then a part of this county. He was a carpenter by trade and worked there for a Mr. Griswold, building oil mills, remaining about a year. In 1820 he returned to Connecticut and married, and with an ox team and horse ahead, made the journey back to Ohio, settling in Brimfield Township, this county, on the place now known as the Cogswell farm, where he lived two years. He then sold out, bought in the northeast part of the township and there lived until within a few years of his death. He worked at his trade in early days and had his clearing done, paying for the same in carpenter work. He had four children: Emily (deceased), Myron, Nelson L., and an infant daughter (deceased). Lyman Barber was a worthy citizen, and by his industry and perseverance accumulated a large property. He died in 1864 at the age of sixty-nine years. The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm in Brimfield Township, this county, and is still the owner of the old family homestead. His early education was received in the district school and when twenty years of age he attended a select school in Kent (taught by Rev. Mr. Bates) one term, after which he passed an examination and taught school three months the following winter in Brimfield at $12 per month, and, as was customary in those days, "boarded round." He then attended school another term in Kent, under the instruction of Frank B. Pond (author of the Ohio Pond Bill), and the winter following taught school in the Hart District at $14 per month. He afterward attended the Twinsburg Academy under the instruction of Deacon Bissell one term. He has taught school in all fourteen terms, but during the most of his life he has followed his present occupation, that of farming. On March 15, 1851, Mr. Barber closed his school and returned home, cut timber for a house 16x22 and hauled the timber to building site, raised his house and finished it off ready to be occupied. On April 21, same year, he was married, and on day following (Friday), he moved, and the next Monday he commenced plowing for his spring crops. Our subject did all the work with his own hands, except a half day's help from his neighbors at "raising." The partner of his choice was Sarah, daughter of John and Margaret (Matiers) Berkheimer, of Franklin, this county, whose father was one of the company who started the first glass works in Franklin Mills. The issue of this union was four children: Emmet N., John L. (deceased), George M. and Jessie. Mr. Barber was a resident of Brimfield Township up to 1869, when he removed to the farm in Franklin Township where he now resides. His wife died in September, 1881, at the age of forty-eight. Mr. Barber is now serving his fourth term as Justice of the Peace. In politics he was formerly a Democrat, but since the breaking out of the Rebellion has been one of the stanch supporters of the Republican party.
From History of Portage County, Ohio, Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885