Los Angeles County
Biographies
RAYMOND JENNESS BARBER
BARBER, RAYMOND JENNESS, Mining Engineer, Los Angeles, California, was
born in Epping, New Hampshire, August 12, 1884, the son of Albert Gilman
Barber and Annie Estelle (Skerrye) Barber. The family
of Barber is one of the oldest in the United States, the first American
ancestor having been Robert Barber, who emigrated from Yorkshire, England, in
1690, and settled in Exeter, New Hampshire. The line of descent is traced
through his son Robert, who married Sarah Bean; their son Daniel, who married
Sarah Parsons, thence through their son Daniel, who married Sarah Coffin; their
son Daniel, who married Hannah Holt Gilman, and their son James, who married
Lucinda Jenness and was the grandfather of Raymond Jenness Barber. Daniel Barber, of the third generation,
became a Lieutenant in the Continental Army and his son Daniel also took part
in the Revolution, fighting at the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Ray J. Barber married
Mabel Leonard at Norwood, New York, June 20, 1906, and to them there have
been born two sons, Raymond J., Jr., and Cedric Leonard Barber.
Mr. Barber received
his primary education in the Bigelow Grammar School, Newton, Massachusetts, then prepared for college in various institutions. Removing
to Los Angeles in 1899, he attended the High School there for a few months,
then went to Tilton Seminary, at Tilton, New Hampshire, and followed this with
attendance at the Newton, Massachusetts, High School, from which he was
graduated in 1902. He entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology the
same year and was graduated in 1906.
Following the
completion of his studies, Mr. Barber was sent West by the Boston Consolidated
Mining Company, his first position being in the engineering department of the
company’s property at Bingham Canyon, Utah. He remained there only a few months
and upon finishing his task did work in other mining camps in western United
States and Mexico. For the next two years he was not permanently located at any
point, but moved from one camp to another, holding various positions and
familiarizing himself with the practical operation of
mines and mills. After about two years of this experience he returned to Boston
and there engaged in business for the purpose of acquiring an insight into
administrative and financial methods.
In the summer of 1910,
Mr. Barber went direct to Los Angeles, now the metallurgical and mining capitol
of the United States, and there opened offices for the practice of his
profession. Entering upon his work at the beginning of one of the most
remarkable periods of development in metal mining that the industry has ever
known, Mr. Barber met with success from the outset of his career and has been
one of the active men of his profession in the Southwest. He has a splendid
professional standing and an extensive clientele.
For nearly three years
Mr. Barber has been engaged almost exclusively in the examination of gold,
silver and copper properties in various parts of the United States and Old
Mexico, especially in Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona. The copper
industry in the latter State has assumed such immense proportions within the
last few years that it now ranks as the leading copper producing section of the
Union. He is (1912-13) engaged in special investigations of properties in the
copper belt of Arizona, which have attracted the attention of Eastern
capitalists.
Mr. Barber is
fortified with splendid technical training and practical experience in the
active operation of mines. He is a member of the American Institute of Mining
Engineers and the Los Angeles Chamber of Mines and Oil. He also belongs to the
Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, Technology Club of Southern California, New England
College Club, and the Sierra Madre Club of Los Angeles.
Transcribed
by Marie Hassard 11 October 2010.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 531,
International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles,
Boston, Atlanta. 1913.
© 2010 Marie Hassard .
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPIES