John T. Barrett Family
[see Barrett Family Page for latest known dates and genealogy]
John T. Barrett was my great grandfather's older brother, born in St Louis in 1850. [1]
He apparently achieved enough prominence to be written up in the History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford and Gasconade Counties (Goodspeed):
John T Barrett, a farmer, stock raiser, and dealer in agricultural implements, is... the eldest of ten children born to Patrick and Mary (Gardiner) Barrett, native of County Mayo, Ireland.
Patrick Barrett, a farmer by occupation came to this country with his parents, who first settled in St. Louis, Missouri, where they remained about nine years.
Mrs. Mary Barrett came to the United States with her brother, landing at New Orleans, where the latter died of yellow fever, and she proceeded alone to St. Louis.
When John T Barrett was eight years old his parents moved to the farm where he has since resided. He was educated in the public schools of the county, and was principally engaged in farming until his marriage, when he began handling all kinds of farm machinery, at which he was exclusively engaged eight years, since which time he has divided his attention between his business and the management of his farm.
In 1877 he was united in marriage with Miss Catherine A Brennan, a daughter of Thomas and Ann (McAllaster) Brennan. They are the parents of five children, viz.: Mary Ann, Jane, Catherine, Martin, Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Barrett are members of the Catholic Church. He is also a member of AOUW [2] lodge of Pacific, and in politics is a Democrat.
Between 1900 and 1910 — probably after John's parents die in 1905 and 1906 — John and Catherine have had enough of farming. They are in their fifties. They and their grown up children move back to St. Louis, to 4041 Connecticut Street, some time before the 1910 census.
We don't know how or when all the farmland is sold. A look at the 1900 census suggests that the Timlin family (John's sister Katie) is living with parents Patrick and Mary on their farm.
In St Louis, John gets a job as a watchman — clearly not retired. The four oldest children, in their twenties, get jobs as milliner (Mary Ann), saleslady (Jane), dressmaker (Catherine), and chauffeur (Martin).
In 1920, they are still hanging in together on Connecticut Avenue, except for son Martin. At the age of 70, the year he dies, John is still a watchman (for a railroad). Mary (milliner), Jane (saleslady), Catherine (seamstress), and Tom (billing clerk at a construction company) are still at home, now in their 30s. Martin has married and lives at 2859 Union with wife Anna and 2 oldest children.
1930 census: John's widow Catherine is still living on Connecticut St, with their 3 oldest daughters: Mary (milliner), Jane (file clerk) and Catherine (seamstress). Martin is working as a meat butcher in a grocery and living at 9020 Burton Av, in Overland, MO. His children are Loretta (b. 1914), Martin T (b. 1918), George B (b. 1924).
6.11.06
[1] Graphic : detail from 1850 U.S. Census, City of St Louis.
Map: farmland owned by the Barrett family in 1898 in Calvey township, near Catawissa, MO. From Franklin County plat book.
[2] AOUW: Ancient Order of United Workers. A fraternal benefit society founded in 1868, the first of its kind in the U.S. Its insurance program provided financial protection to its working class memebers. Based on the tenets of Freemasonry.
[3] Bridget Geatley, Catherine Timlin, Mary McLoughlin.
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