Representing: Union
16th PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER CAVALRY
Organized: 11/18/62 Camp Simmons, Harrisburg, PA
Mustered Out: 8/11/65 Richmond, VA
REGIMENTAL HISTORY:
The 16th Pennsylvania cavalry, the 161 regiment of the line, and a three-year unit, was to spend its entire existence with the Army of The Potomac. It was to be involved in one capacity or another in all that Army’s movements from Chancellorsville, VA in May, 1863 through Farmville, near Appomattox Courthouse, VA in April, 1865.
During the closing days of the War the 16th was incessantly active in locations such as Five Forks, Amelia Springs, Sailor’s Creek and, as noted, Farmville. Following the close of hostilities the regiment was posted at Lynchburg, VA to “preserve order and guard property.”
Its final movement was to Richmond where it saw final muster.
SOLDIER:
Residence: Benezette, Elk Co., PA Age: 18.5 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 3/6/1865 Rank: Pvt.
Mustered Out: 8/11/65 Richmond, VA
Highest Rank: Pvt.
PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:
ED. NOTE: The birth-to-death biographical profile which follows is an update on a bio written during the very early days of the Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State Project. Written in June, 2018 it contains many more details than did the original, still suffers from a lack of depth and detail that generally can only be found in documents obtained from the National Archives located in Washington, D.C.
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Archibald Henry “Archy/Archie” Barr was born in Clearfield Co., PA 9/12/46 to parents John L. (b.3/18/15 Gibson Clearfield Co., PA) and Mary Lucretia (nee Lewis b. 1817 Monmouth, NY) Barr. [While his first name appears both as Archy and Archie, herein we will adopt the former spelling.]
As far as can be determined from available documents, Archy was the fourth of nine Barr children. Siblings older than he were Harrison/Hanson (b. 1837 PA), Phillip L. (b. 1839 PA), Mary F. (b. 1842 PA), Lorinda/Lucinda C. (b. 1843 PA) and William Powell (b. 1844 PA). Those younger were Ellis J. (b. 1848 PA), John (b. 1851 PA), Chancy (b. 1853 PA) and Charles (b. 1858 PA).. As noted, all were birthed in Pennsylvania.
The 1850 U.S. Census placed the Barrs in Goshen, Clearfield County, PA. In the 1860 tally they were in Lumber, Clinton Co., PA. The latter census lists John’s occupation as “sawyer”, so, likely, he and his family followed the timber industry.
In the closing days of the American Civil War Archy, a 5’ 9 ½ “ teenaged “lumberman” enlisted in the U.S. cavalry. Private Barr’s military tenure was short, and apparently, fairly uneventful. Document entries reflect only an absence or two, most likely the result of minor illnesses (fever, diarrhea), plus an inter-regimental transfer from one company to another. As this transfer occurred on 7/12/65, after the War had ended, it was likely due to company “consolidation” as enlistments ended and
soldiers were sent home.
After discharge, “home” for Mr. Barr was Cameron Co. PA where he was to reside for five years. During those years he married Josephine Elizabeth Barr – Yes. Her maiden surname as well as her married surname was Barr!! (b. 1851 PA). The union would produce six children: Calvin M. (8/2/68), Etta M. (4/26/70), Grace G. (11/2/80), Daisy M. (9/16/73), Milo S. (2/25/87), and Stanley A. (4/3/89).
While the census of 1870 placed the Barrs in Gibson, Cameron Co., PA, not long after they resettled in Benezette located Elk Co., PA. They were to farm there for thirty eight years after which, in the spring of 1908, they removed to the Puget Sound area of Washington State. Why they came here is not noted, but likely it was to be near the families of one or more of their adult children only three of the original six were then living
. Laborer “A.H.” Barr, the moniker by which he once noted he “was known,” died 5/27/16 in Lowell, Snohomish County, WA. Lowell was, and is, located on the southeastern outskirts of the present day City Of Everett. Cause of his passing was noted as: Osteomyelitis with pneumonia contributing
At death A. H. was aged 69.8 years. At the time of his passing he was receiving a $15 per month government disability stipend based on ailments or illnesses which traced back to his days of Civil War soldiering. Burial was/is in the Grand Army Of The Republic (G.A.R.) Cemetery in Snohomish, Snohomish County, WA.
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Josephine died 5/19/19. At death she was receiving $25 per month based on her late husband’s teenaged soldiering. She was/is buried beside Archy in Snohomish.
Buried at Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery Snohomish
Row: 12
Site: 4
Doug & Sherri Green
Bothell, WA
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