Ghost Stories: An old soldier, true patriot and a good man laid to rest

“While I draw this fleeting breath, when mine eyes shall close in death, when I soar to worlds unknown, see thee on thy judgement throne. Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.” – Augustus Toplady (1740-1778)

Ladies and gentlemen, five sons of John Mills and Margaret Morrow Barrere went off to fight in the Civil War.

As we’ve discussed, three of their sons never came home and John Mills Barrere, who was in his 60s when America’s bloodiest conflict broke out, lost an arm in the battle of Harpers Ferry in September of 1862.

The Barrere’s oldest son, James Mills Barrere, was born in 1825 and served in the 2nd Battalion of the Ohio Cavalry.

George Washington Barrere, who was born in 1831, enlisted in Company A of the 60th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and was chosen as 1st lieutenant of his company shortly after the war’s outbreak. He was with his regiment in all of its engagements and was mustered out with it after 18 months of service. He later enlisted in the 169th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and was lieutenant colonel of the regiment.

Another son of John Mills and Margaret Morrow Barrere didn’t serve in the Civil War, but like other family members, became a prominent lawyer and a statesman.

Granville Barrere, who was born in 1829 in New Market, studied at Augusta College in Kentucky and graduated from Marietta College in Ohio, where he studied law.

He continued his legal studies in 1852 in the law office of his uncle, Nelson Barrere (who we profiled back in August), in Hillsboro. He was admitted to the bar in Chillicothe in 1853 and commenced practice in Marion, Arkansas. He moved to Bloomington, Illinois in 1855 and then to Canton, Illinois the same year. He later served a term in Congress and was described as “one of the most prominent attorneys” of his area.

We’ll talk more about Granville, James Mills and George Washington Barrere later.

After the war, John Mills Barrere, described as “one of the able and active men of his time,” returned to Hillsboro and became the town’s postmaster for many years.

John Mill Barrere’s wife, Margaret, passed away Dec. 4, 1870. On his 79th birthday, the Barrere family held a birthday party for the oldest son of Highland County pioneer George Washington Barrere.

A July 31, 1879 story in The Highland News was entitled, “An Old Soldier in his Teens: Hon. John M. Barrere, of Hillsboro, Surrounded by his Friends.”

The story read: On last Friday, there were gathered at the residence of Hon. John M. Barrere, of Hillsboro, a large assemblage of relatives and friends, the occasion being the seventy-ninth birthday of the venerable patriarch. Among those present were his brothers Morgan, aged 78; Nelson, aged 71; Benjamin, aged 67, and his sister, Mrs. Daniel Murphy, of Ripley, aged 69. Then there were his son George and family; Mr. and Mrs. Van Winkle, (Mrs. V. being a daughter;) Mrs. Benjamin Barrere and daughter; Mr. and Mrs. R. Fulton, of our city (Mrs. R. being a niece) and a host of others. A splendid birthday dinner was given, which was enjoyed by everyone. Uncle John was once again in his teens…

Less than nine months later, a somber story appears in The Highland News entitled, “Death of Postmaster Barrere.”

The May 20, 1880 death notice read: Postmaster J.M. Barrere, who has been lying ill for several months past, died at his residence at 2 o’clock last Monday afternoon. He was born in Fleming County, Ky., July 11, 1800 and was one of the oldest residents of our county. He was a sincere Christian, a good citizen and had been a brave soldier. He was one of the oldest Masons in the state, and at the time of his death was Prelate of the Highland Commandery. He had also been Past Master of the Grand Council of the State. A want of space prevents a more extended notice at this time. The funeral services will be held at his late residence on South High Street, at 3 o’clock to-morrow (Wednesday) afternoon, and he will be buried with Masonic honors, the Highland Commandery acting as an escort.

Just shy of his 80th birthday, John Mills Barrere died May 17, 1880.

A report from the May 27 edition of The Highland News read: The funeral services of Hon. J.M. Barrere, whose death we announced last week, were held under the shade of the trees of the lawn of the family residence on South High Street last Wednesday afternoon, and were attended by a very large concourse of the relatives and friends of the deceased.

The ceremonies were those peculiar to the orders of Masonry and Knights Templar, of which the deceased was one oldest and most eminent members in the state, and were conducted by the Highland Commandery of Knights Templar, which he so largely aided in founding and in whose welfare he took so great an interest. Rev. L.F. Van Cleve officiated as Chaplain, and delivered an able discourse, after which the remains were escorted to the Cemetery by the Knights in procession, without music, and followed by one of the largest funeral trains ever witnessed in our city, thus testifying the high respect and esteem in which the deceased was held by all who knew him, and the entire community.

As a mark of respect to his memory, the Court adjourned for the afternoon and most of the bar attended the funeral procession.

At the grave, the solemn and beautiful ceremonies of the Masonic fraternity were observed, and all that was mortal of a good man, a true patriot and an honored and useful citizen, was left to repose in the quiet shades of the Cemetery, until the resurrection morn.

Let’s pause for now and we’ll continue next week.

Steve Roush is a vice president of an international media company and a columnist and contributing writer for The Highland County Press. He can be reached by email at roush_steve@msn.com.