Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon." Vol. 3. Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 136. J. I. BARBRE Diligence and determination have shaped the career of J. I. Barbre, who has long been classed with the leading ranchers of Lane county and represents one of its pioneer families. He has also been active in public affairs. He resides near Junction City, and was born in April, 1856, near Dexter in Lane county. His father, Thomas Barbre, was a native of Virginia, and was reared on a plantation in the vicinity of Nashville, Tennessee, but in 1852 made the long overland journey to Oregon, securing a donation claim in the vicinity of Eugene, where he hewed a farm out of the wilderness. He was one of the earliest settlers in this region and purchased his supplies in Portland. He raised grain and other crops, at which period the nearest grist mill was in Cloverdale and he was endowed with the hardihood, courage and resourcefulness of the true frontiersman. He demonstrated his public spirit by road work and service on the school board. Along fraternal lines he was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was a man of exceptional worth and his death in 1904 was deeply regretted by all with whom he was associated. His wife, Margaret Anne (Hunsaker) Barbre, was born in Ohio and in 1847 crossed the plains with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hunsaker, who settled on a donation claim near Jefferson in Marion county, Oregon. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Barbre were born eight children: Elizabeth Josephine, who became the wife of Seth Simmons and is deceased; J. I., of this review; Minnette A., who is Mrs. W. Vogeli, of Talent, Oregon; Vista, who died at the age of fifteen years; Lavilla, who married H. S. Hannah and lives in Baker, Oregon; Alma, now Mrs. George Hunsaker, of Los Angeles, California; Mrs. Clyde Jenks, a resident of Fremont, California; and Earl, who died in 1925. All were natives of Lane county and rode on the first train operated in this section of the state. J. I. Barbre attended the Dexter school and aided his father in the work of plowing, planting and harvesting. He remained on the homestead until about 1880 and then started out for himself, locating on Fall creek. There he engaged in farming for about twenty years and during much of that period was an influential factor in the field of public service. For fifteen years he was a member of the school board, of which he acted as chairman for some time, and also did his share of road building, likewise filling the office of justice of the peace. In order to educate Ills children he moved to Springfield, Oregon, where he conducted a meat market for a number of years, but retained his farm. Since his second marriage Mr. Barbre has lived on the old Spencer place, which was managed for a number of years by his wife and her sister Jennie. It comprises a forty-acre fruit orchard which contains sixteen acres of prune trees and ten acres of cherry trees, while the balance is devoted to the production of apples and pears. One of the features of the ranch is a fine dairy herd of about thirty Guernsey cows, at the head of which is a registered sire. The estate is known as Ludsy Lodge and the home at Fair Oaks, the old place across the highway, was erected in 1861. Mr. Barbre has a highly specialized knowledge of agricultural pursuits, of which he has made a life study, and his work is based on system and science. When a young man of about twenty-four, Mr. Barbre married Miss Lydia A. McFarland, who passed away in 1917, leaving a family of four children: Mrs. Amy Haggenjos, a resident of Los Angeles, California, and the mother of one child, Lydia A.; Veda and Vina, twins, the former the wife of James Rivet, of Oakland, California; and Irva, who is Mrs. Charles Dick, of Eugene, and the mother of one son, Charles B. On June 1, 1920, Mr. Barbre married Miss Eliza L. Spencer, a daughter of S. H. and Mahala (Smith) Spencer, who were married in Missouri. Her father was born in St. Charles county, that state, and in 1847 started for the Pacific northwest. The family lived for a time on Camp creek, where Mrs. Barbre was born, and in 1858 Mr. Spencer purchased the present homestead, which was formerly the donation claim of Howard Maupit. Mr. Spencer was a member of the school board and did all in his power to further the progress of his community, in which he was highly respected. He passed away in 1890 and his wife's demise occurred in 1889. Their family included the following sons and daughters: Taylor, who was bom in Missouri and is survived by two children, May and Byron; Mary, who married L. H. Wheeler, of Eugene; Mrs. Barbre; Jennie L., the wife of J. S. Lucky, of Eugene; J. D., also a resident of that place; S. S., who is survived by two children, Berenice and Annette; and Charles, who died in childhood. Mrs. Barbre and her sister are Presbyterians and Mr. Barbre is a member of the Christian church. His wife is connected with the Eastern Star and he is a Mason. He has filled a number of offices in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is also identified with the Woodmen of the World and the Fruit Growers Association. He has watched with deep interest the progress of civilization in the Willamette Valley and has contributed his quota toward its development. He is known and esteemed throughout Lane county and his record sustains the high reputation which has ever been borne by the family. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2011 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.