Porter W. Barbe

DR. PORTER W. BARBE, a gentleman who has been eminently successful as a practitioner of medicine, is located at Oswego, Labette county, Kansas, where he commands a large and lucrative practice. He is well qualified for his profession both by nature and by years of study in schools of recognized standing in this country, and his wide experience has given him a skill in diagnosing and treating complex cases such as but few men in the county possess. Dr. Barbe was born in Bristol, Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1846, and is a son of Abraham and Lydia A. (Carlin) Barbe, and grandson of William Barbe.

William Barbe was born in Metz, Germany, and after his marriage came to this country. He settled in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, and later moved to Trumbull county, Ohio, where he was one of the earliest settlers. He died at the age of seventy-six years. His union with Mary Hammon, who died at the age of eighty-eight years, was productive of the following offspring: Jacob; William; Gabriel; Abraham; Peter; and Mary.

Abraham Barbe was born, reared and lived on the old family homestead in Trumbull county, Ohio. He was born September 17, 1809, and died January 7, 1868. He was a farmer and stock raiser, by occupation, and was a very successful man. He married Lydia A. Carlin, who was born February 5, 1813, and died March 25, 1884, and they became the parents of the following children: Mahala J. (Ives); William D.; Hannah M. (Shank); Walter T.; Sophia D. (Simpson); Joseph W.; Anna E. (Burton); Martin J.; Porter W.; Freeman D.; Celia A. (Nelson); Phoebe A. (Kibee); and Ida (Burton). He was an oldline Democrat, in politics, and a Universalist, in religious belief.

Porter W. Barbe received his primary education in the Western Reserve Seminary, at West Farmington, Trumbull county, Ohio, after which he attended Hiram College, in Portage county, Ohio. He first entered upon the study of medicine, in 1874, at West Farmington, with Dr. O. A. Palmer, now of Cleveland. In the fall of 1876 he entered the Columbus Medical College, at Columbus, Ohio, where he spent one year. He spent the two following years in the Cleveland Medical College, at Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated on March 6, 1880. He immediately began practice at Burg Hill, Ohio, where he continued for five years. At the end of this period he took a special course of study in the medical department of the Western Reserve University, of Cleveland, Ohio. In the spring of 1885 he located in Oswego, Kansas, where he has since practiced with great success. He soon established an enviable reputation as a physician, in addition to which he is looked upon, in private life, as one of Oswego's most worthy citizens.

On March 10, 1870, Dr. Barbee was united in wedlock with Florence G. Gordon, of Trumbull county, Ohio, and they have a daughter, Lulu Pearl. Fraternally, the Doctor is a member of the Knights of Pythias; Odd Fellows; Pyramids; Modern Woodmen of America; and the Rebekahs, - being medical examiner of all these orders. He is also examiner for six oldline insurance companies. He has represented each of the above named lodges at their respective state grand lodges. He is an honorary member of Trumbull County Medical Society; and of the Ohio State Medical Society; a member of the Kansas State Medical Society; and the Southeast Kansas Medical Society, of which he is ex-president. He is a Republican, in politics, and was appointed pensioner examiner in 1897, - having since served as secretary of the board. He has been a member of the local board of health for twelve years, and was a member of the board of education from 1886 to 1890. He served in the city council in 1891 and 1892, - being president of the council and chairman of the ordinance committee, for the revision of the ordinances under which the city now works. In the spring of 1900 he was again elected to the board of education, for a term of two years. He has been a member of the Christian church far thirty-three years, and of the official church board for fifteen years. A portrait of Dr. Barbe accompanies this sketch, being presented on a foregoing page.