The Barber Story

Not a story about a barber who cuts hair for a living... but about a family named Barber. Every family has their mysteries... this one is no exception. I'm still looking for answers.

We'll start with Otis A Barber. We do not know what the A. Stands for. According to the 1850, 1870 and 1880 Census, we calculate his birth date to be between 1837 - 1838.  In the 1870 and 1880 census, Otis is listed as married, and his wife is named Caroline according to Census records.

The transcribed Warren County NY Marriages performed by George B Reynolds listed online state that Otis A Barber married Emmiline Crandall  3 March 1861. I believe this to be Caroline Emalene Crandall and she is listed by her middle name. I do believe this to be the same Otis as he is living in the right location to be listed in those records.

 Otis was in the Civil war and appears to have filed for a pension in  April of 1880. According to the transcribed civil war enlistment list online for Bolton, NY, Otis was born in 1837, his father was Ezekiel Barber and his mother was Sarah Simpson. The same information is contained in his Pension papers.

Otis died 9 Dec 1882 according to his tombstone in Federal Hill Cemetery. It states he was 44 years and 8 months old. On Dec 10th, Otis' death made newspapers all over the state. He had drowned in Lake George moving from one boat to another.

Otis appears to be the 13 year old son of Ezekiel and Sarah Barber in the 1850 census. Ezekiel is listed as 63. Otis is still living with them in 1860, listed as 23 years old . This time Ezekiel is listed as 72 yrs born in Connecticut and his wife Sarah is listed as 57, born in NY. I do not find Ezekiel in the 1870 census however  Ezekiel may be the one listed in 1820 and 1830 censuses for Bolton.

Ezekiel is buried in Federal Hill Cemetery, but the stone is broken and what is left showing does not list a birth nor a death date on it. Sarah  (also called Sally Barber) died Mar 24, 1864 at the age of 64. They had three children; Otis A, Leroy, and Henrietta.

The biggest mystery is Ezekiel.  Who his parents are as well as his birth, marriage and death dates are all unknown. We know he lived in Bolton between 1820 and 1870, but very little otherwise. Our Barber quest is to solve this mystery. Do you know anything about Ezekiel?