by Leslie Beesley

Perry Bigelow Barber was born on November 18, 1873, to Oliver P. Barber and Frances “Fannie” Bigelow Barber. Oliver was a druggist; he and his brother John owned and operated the Barber Brother’s Drug Store at 909 Massachusetts Street in Lawrence.* The drug store was a family tradition for 75 years, from 1872 to 1947. Perry joined the family business after the death of his Uncle John. In 1906 the name reflected that change as it was now known as Barber and Son. Oliver and Perry operated the family drug store together until Oliver’s retirement in 1919. Perry carried on with the Barber Drug Store until shortly before his death. 

On August 14, 1901, Perry married Lena Sutter. To this union one child, Oliver Perry Barber, was born. The Barber family home was on Tennessee Street at 1026; this is the same house that Perry grew up in. Perry’s folks now lived in the house next door, at 1020 Tennessee Street.  The two homes still stand today.

Perry came from notable people. His grandfather Oliver Barber was a member of both the Territorial and State Legislatures. His Great Uncle Thomas Barber was part of the Free State movement and killed by border ruffians in 1855. He was the subject of poet John Greenleaf Whittier’s poem “Burial of Barber.”  Perry died on March 2, 1948. He is buried with most of his family in Section 1 of Oak Hill Cemetery. 

*Side Note/Related History:  The location of the Barber Drug Store (909 Massachusetts Street) would later become the short-time location of Dick Raney’s first drug store. 

Photographs courtesy of the author.