Putnam patriot., 1908-10-02
John Warner Barber. Author of Goa,
 necticui Historical Collections.
ns MISS s Ap~

Readers of the Wlndham County l Transcript have lately had the nrisi. lege of enjoying anew the historic data preserved in these "Celleetlons '---a most unique and timely work just be- fore the advent ef the laiiroad--gath- esing material and engraving pictures which would soon have been lest to us forever.
 Easing historic facts and statistical reports upon "rrumhnll's History oi Connecticut and the Niles Gazetteer. his lecal details and incidents were gathered by personal intrespeetien. With hts one horse wagon, pencil and anaycrss implements, he ttasersed sv- cry town iH the State, interviewing the residents and sketehing those inimita- ble and imperishahle pictures. His success in collecting material depended upon hts meeting the right persons. In some towns, as in kiiiingiy, finding those who had not oaly stored but writ. ten down traditional history; gather ing in others but mere outline. This work, published in isSa.ss, became i'm. mediately popular, eNceeaing the eN. pectation of the author in not only in. i teresting the old but even more keenly the younger portion of the readers, vie ing in favor with Pilgrims process and 1 Robinson Crusoe. And as time passed on its author became as remote and mythical as Bunyan or nefee--the picturesque figure rambling about the towns with hts old horse and wagon found ne place iu his "Co,leetions. ' Few whose works have been so widely read have gained so little personal re. I cognition,
 1 l was never more surprised than to learn, in 1872, that John W. Barber, the author of the Historical Collections, was then living in New Haven, and there found him In a printing office. He was little old man, with very black eyes and very white hair alert and sivacioas manner. He had vivid remembrance oi his tramps about the State, the characteristics of the towns, and the people he saw In them; told me whence he received his story of the Ashford whipping for ncn-ehurch at- tendance, which had been disputed; how he himself escaped threatened whipping by timely withdrawing an offensive story from the copy.
 Our old delineater lived thirteen years after this interview, but heard nothing more of him and do not recall any obituary or biographical notice. Biographical Dictionaries give only birthplace, dates oF birth and death and list of public works; bul from n sketch In hls latest work we glean some personal details.
 lie was scion of true. blue Gonnec- ticut stock, born in Windsor, February ?, tfoS, nourished by Scripture, spell. Ing book and primer, trained by work rather than schooling. Losing his fa- ther when thirteen years old, he thence forward labored for the support of the family. In Barber, as in oar own Frank Alexander, the pictorial impulse deve' loped spontaneously in childhood. Ills first attempt at depietufe was called out when only seven years of age by the report of Nelson's "Battle If the Nile.n Most fortunately there was then in south Windsor one of the best engraving establishments in the coun. try. and there young Barber was able te qualify himself for his especial work and mission.
 His first work, published in lsl9, was series of wood cuts entitled "Bunyan s Pilgrims Progress Exhibi- ted in Metamorphosis or Tfansfaf. nation Of Pictures
 In 1893 lie removed to New Haven and opened an engraving office. His first historical work WAS, 'sTi,r History and Antiquities Of New Hsyen.s His great work upon Connecticut involved many years of labor and preparation. Numerous other state compilations were prepared under this mo Tel, and were fayorably received. His most ela- borate work, "The Past and Present of the United States, ' in two large yol- umcs, with six hundred engrayings-- published in Issi, just at the close Of l the Bull Run disaster, suffered similar defeat.
 But while thus interested in pnrsu- ing history, MT. Barbef's chief desire and inspiration was "to preach the Gospel truth and moral truth by means Of pictures. 4 compilation entitled, 'The Bilde Looking Glass. made up Of four emblematical works. namely, The Christian Pilgrim, the Christian ssimilitndes, Religious Ailegorien and Religious EmbIems, had an immense cifenialion--earrying his Gospel pie lures s'ffom the kennebec to the Rio Grande.v still more pronounced in it's object was his iast published scl- tune, .The Picture Preacher, Book Of Morals, Amusing and Instructive, l Alike 10 Old and Young, iI5 Bold. Quaint Old style Engfayings. The accompanying portrait k thus endors- cd: ssThe above, according to the opin- ion of my friends, k aorfect portrait oi myself at ihis time Feb. 2z, iss). my birthday. John ". Barber This book may be ranked among the .Curiosities of Literatufe,n for the age of the author and nature and variety Of contentx-tabIes old and new, scrip tune texts, moral sentiments. ancient