Morning journal and courier., 1885-06-23
JOHN WARNER BARBER.

Death of One of New Haven,s Most Venerable and Esteemed d CitIzens-His Historical and Re- lIgious works-Hts Other Fields of Usefulness.
 John w. Barber passed from life yesterday morning, June 22nd, from his home on George street in his eightY-eighth year and in the serenity of Christian faith. For more than sixty years he had lived with us and been power for good in the land None but the more aged of our people, familiar with his life work, can understand the full significance of this utterance. Five years since the late Leonard Bacon wrote: "Our venerable friend and townsman, MT. John w. Barber, has been doing good for more than half 8 century by his books and wood cut illustrations. The children of more than two generations and their parents with them have been instructed and amused by his labors as an author and engraver." Yes, for they were eminently instructive in hu- manity and patriotism.
 Mr. Barber was born in 1798 in Windsor, Conn, the son of a farmer. A studious, thoughtful boy, few strong books gave the key note to his life. These were the Bible. Pilgrims Progress, Mrs. Barbauld's hymns
 
 childhood he began making pictures. There is still extant pen and ink sketch made by him in 1905, when the tidings of Nelson # famous victory was received illustrating that event. He was then but seven years of age.
 On the opposite bank of the river in East Windsor was ct that day the famous engraving establishment of Abner Read, who engraved copper bank notes for the principal banks of this country and Canada, beside other varied work. In 1912, when in his 1dth year, he went with him to learn the art of engraving and remain ed some seven years. In 1893 he came to ou1 city and opened an engraving office His first attempt as an author was in 1S19 and was of the pictorial kind and entitled "Bun- yan's Pilgrim Progress Exhibited in 8 Met amorphosis or Transformation of Pictures. J His next was emblematic engraving is sued in 1929 and entitled "A Miniature of the World in the Nineteenth Century," It was on copper, steel then not having come into use. It was 1Sx24 inches and filled with hundreds of figures. In the hands of the American missionaries this engraving was said to have been the principal means of the conversion of the Queen of the Sandwich Is lands
 His historical books have been: History and Antiquities of New Haven, History of New England, Elements of General History,
 
 Collections of Connecticut, do Massachu- setts, do. New York, do. New Jersey, and the Past and Present of the United States. Henry Howe was ce-author on the three last named. The book on Connecticut was the model upon which those of many other State works were issued. It was published in 1888 and was il- frustrated by two hundred engravings from drawings by his own hand. These showed every town, village and object of historic in terest in Connecticut. In it multitudes had preserved pictures of the dwellings in which they were born, the school houses in which they learned to read, and the churches in which they first heard ''the everlasting gos- pei" The London Times spoke of its en- cravings as possessing great merit. 1t was book that in pictures and text mlnlstered strongly to patriotism. On it's publication Connecticut people felt proud of their little State. realizing more fully than ever the truth of it's motto, "Qui Transtulit Sustinet." :"
 The largest of MT: Barber's historical works is "The Past and Present of the United States.p It was work upon the whole Union upon the plan of that of Connecticut It was five years in preparation, from 1856 to 1861, during which MT. Barber travelled in every State in the Union excepting those on the Pacific coast. It was illustrated by 600 engravings, mostly original views. It was issued in two large octave volumes, in