Wellman Vernelle Barr (1908 - 1974)

Born 9 Dec 1908 in Clinton, DeWitt, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Son of Walter Clyde Barr and Louise Marie (Barnett) Barr

Husband of Florence Agnes (Buck) Barr — married 25 Jul 1936 in Cook, Illinois, United States

Descendants

Died 19 Jul 1974 at age 65 in Lincoln, Logan, Illinois, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Brendon Barr [send private message]

Biography

Wellman Vernelle Barr was born on the 9th of December 1908 in Clinton, Illinois. He was the third child and second son of Walter Clyde and Louise Marie Barr. Census records indicate that Wellman was referred to by his middle name, at least early on by his family.^[1] He had the nickname “Red” throughout his life due to his red hair.

In about 1930, he married Emma Gertrude Connolley. The marriage produced at least one child, Elizabeth Delores Barr, and ended sometime before 1936. Records during this time indicate his name as "William", and he was working as a store clerk.^[2]

Wellman married Florence Agnes Buck on the 25th of July 1936 in Cook County, Illinois.^[3] Between them, they had several children, including five boys who survived to adulthood.

At some point later in his life, he moved from Cook County back to Florence’s home town of Waynesville in DeWitt County. His daughter-in-law Jackie recalls he worked as a salesman selling filters for the top of smokestacks, supposedly even holding a patent as an inventor for one. This coincides with the 1940 census, which lists his occupation as 'salesman'. ^[4] Wellman was living with his family in Chicago and working as a salesman for Powerplant equipment. ^[5]

Wellman died on the 19th of July 1974 at Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Lincoln, Illinois.^[6][7] He was buried in Union Cemetery in Waynesville.^[8] By the time of his passing, he had five grandchildren.

Wellman was remembered as a kind and soft-spoken man. His grandson specifically remembers him as hot-tempered but kind-hearted. People in the town of Waynesville remember him as well. According to them, he wore long sleeve shirts often (believed to protect his skin), drove a Cadillac, and taught poker to his sons and sons' friends.

DNA Confirmation

• Relationship to both parents confirmed by a 23andMe test match between Brendon Barr and a living Kraft relative, second cousins once removed. Their closest common ancestor is Walter Barr and Louise Barr (née Barnett), the great great grandparents of Brendon Barr and the great grandparents of living Kraft. 23andme predicted relationship: 2nd to 3rd cousin at 1.22% DNA shared.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJSH-S23 : accessed 12 May 2020), Vernelle Barr in household of Walter C Barr, Clintonia, Dewitt, Illinois, United States; citing ED 87, sheet 10A, line 11, family 151, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 302; FHL microfilm 1,820,302.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSTR-23G : accessed 23 February 2021), William V Barr in household of Thomas P Connolley, Westchester, Cook, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 2330, sheet 6B, line 62, family 85, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 507; FHL microfilm 2,340,242.
3. ↑ "Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1920," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q21K-K2VL : 28 November 2018), Wellman V Barr and Florence A Buck, 25 Jul 1936; citing Marriage, Cook, Illinois, United States, citing Cook County Clerk. Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm 102275390.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWY9-GBP : 8 January 2021), William V Barr, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 103-339, sheet 12A, line 1, family 392, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 931.
5. ↑ "United States 1950 Census", database, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:6X12-3G1F : Mon Jan 30 06:25:43 UTC 2023), Entry for Dennis Barr and Wellman Barr, 10 April 1950.
6. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JGZV-332 : 20 May 2014), Wellman Barr, Jul 1974; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
7. ↑ "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N3WG-R2G : 10 March 2018), Wellman Vernelle Barr in entry for Barr, 20 Jan 1944; Public Board of Health, Archives, Springfield; FHL microfilm 1,983,718.
8. ↑ "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKB-3RPF : 13 December 2015), Wellman Vernelle Barr, 1974; Burial, Waynesville, DeWitt, Illinois, United States of America, Union Cemetery; citing record ID 55220672, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

• Kirkley, Jackie. Personal Recollection as remembered 17 Jul 2020. Notes kept by Brendon Barr via Facebook.

• Barr, Brian. Personal Recollection as remembered Jul 2020. Notes kept by Brendon Barr via Facebook.

• Various recollections of residents of Waynesville while Red was alive. Notes kept on Facebook.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV57-NSLT : accessed 12 May 2020), Wellman Barr in entry for Florence Barr, Springfield, Illinois, United States, 27 Mar 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing , born-digital text.

• "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1878-1994," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MD-XGZF : 18 March 2018), Wellman Barr in entry for Barr, 21 Jan 1944; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKRX-PSVP : accessed 12 May 2020), Wellman V Barr in entry for Mr Jerrold Richard Barr, Bloomington, Illinois, United States, 04 Mar 1999; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Pantagraph, The, born-digital text.