from The History of Hendricks County (Indianapolis: B.F. Bowen & Co., 1914)----pages 448-449
A review of the life of the honored subject of this biographical sketch must of necessity be brief and general in its character. To enter fully into the interesting details of the careers of Mr. Barber, touching the earnest and persistent efforts of his earlier years and successes of later days, would far transcend the limits of this article. He has filled a large place in the ranks of the enterprising and public-spirited men of his day and has been an important factor in the growth and development of North Salem's industrial and commercial interests.
Samuel Barber, a prominent retired business man of North Salem, Indiana, was born April 25, 1840, in Montgomery County, this state, the son of John and Annie (Cunningham) Barber, both of whom were born in Botetourt County, Virginia, where they grew up and where they were married. Shortly after their marriage, they came to Indiana and entered government land near Ladoga, Montgomery County, where they lived for about thirty-five years. Some years before the Civil War they came to Hendricks County and settled about one and one-half miles north of North Salem, but after a short time they went back to Montgomery County, and still later went to Boone County, this state, where they located on a farm near Jamestown, where they lived for the remainder of their lives. John Barber and his wife were the parents of two children, Samuel and Eliza. Eliza married Roland Alexander and died about the year 1878.
Samuel Barber lived with his parents until his marriage, at the age of twenty. He was married September 9, 1860, to Mary Ann Robbins, a native of North Carolina. Her parents, Jacob and Barbara Robbins, came from North Carolina and settled three miles south of North Salem when Mrs. Barber was only about one year old. After his marriage Mr. Barber operated a farm near North Salem for about fifteen years, after which he engaged in the lumber business at North Salem, which he followed for the rest of his active life. He was in partnership with F.M. Davis until the latter's death, which occurred in 1887, and from that time until 1909 he managed the business alone. In the latter year Smith Davis became a partner and the business is still continued under the firm name of Barber & Davis. In addition to his lumber interests, Mr. Barber owns a farm of eighty acres north of North Salem, and also formerly owned two hundred acres of good land in addition, which he gave to his daughter, Annie, the only child of his first marriage. The first wife of Mr. Barber died July 9, 1908, and on February 2, 1910, Mr. Barber married Mrs. Mary Jane Cusick, the widow of Joseph Cusick, who was born at Freeburg, near Belleville, Illinois, the daughter of George W. and Martha (Smith) Smith. In 1865 her parents moved to Douglas County, Illinois, where she grew to womanhood and married Mr. Cusick. After her marriage she lived at Terre Haute until her husband died, in July, 1907, after which she moved to Newman, Illinois, where she remained until her marriage to Mr. Barber. Annie, the only child of Mr. Barber, married Elbert Hays, and has one daughter, Hattie. Mr. and Mrs. Hays live on the home farm of Mr. Barber which he bought.
Mr. Barber has been a life-long Republican in politics, and has always taken an active part in the councils of his party. He and his wife are consistent members of the Christian Church and he is a member of the board of trustees. For a man of seventy-four years, Mr. Barber is remarkably well preserved and active, and would easily pass for a man twenty years younger. His long life in this community has made him an influential factor in the growth of the town and vicinity and because he has always been ready to lend his aid and support to all laudable measures and enterprises for the welfare of his community, he is very popular with the people of his town and vicinity.