Richard J. Barber was born in Halifax County, Virginia in December  1839. In 1845 his parents, Dr.Thomas Barber and Harriett (Maynard) Barber removed with their family to West Tennessee, where R.J. was reared, and where he received an ordinary English education. In 1861 he esposed the cause of confederacy, and enlisted in the Twenty-seventh Tennessee regiment, Company F, and in the organization of his company was made first lieutenant. He was promated, in 1862, to the offive of Captain, and for three years shared all the experiences of his regiment, one of the most active in the Southern
ranks. He was severely wounded at the battle of Shiloh, and two days after reported for duty, was again wounded, this time at Farmington, near Corinth, during the siege of that place.  In 1864, in West Tennessee, he was made a prisioner, was paroled, and then became a resident of Paducah for the first time. He soon after engaged in mercantile business, and was a member of the firm of J.M. White & Co., but soon severed his connection wit it to engage in the wholesale grocery trade, which he conducted about five years. He then operated on the tobacco market, part of his time as inspector, until January 1883, when he opened his present business. He is located on the corner of Market Street, and Broadway, and is certainly an honor to the business circle of Paducah. Mr. Barber is an accepted member of the Presbyterian Church, Masonic order, and K. of H. He was married in Paducah, 1865, to Miss Mamie Anderson. Their two children are Samuel and Lucy Barber.