ASHLEY BARBER, Supervisor of Harlem Township, is the son of Henry S. and Mary (Fisher) Barber, and is their second child. He was born in Rock Grove Township, Nov. 22, 1844. For the most part his early teachings were those that pertain to farm life. He received, however, a common-school education. He plodded along as do country boys, and continued to live at home until his marriage, which occurred on Dec. 28, 1876, at Shannon, Carroll Co., Ill., with Miss Mary J. Haughey, daughter of John Y. and Mary J. (Ewing) Haughey, who were natives of Ohio, but came to Stephenson County, this State, where they lived for several years and then removed to Carroll County, where Mrs. Haughey died on Feb. 14, 1870. They had a family of nine children, four of whom survive; these are James H., Mary J., John E. and Laura.

Mary J., Mrs. Barber, was born in Rock Run Township, June 29, 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Barber have had three children – Harry H., Herbert L. and Grace M. Harry was born Jan. 18, 1878; Herbert was born Oct. 5, 1882, and died March 4, 1884; Grace M. was born July 22, 1886. Mr. Barber was elected Supervisor of Harlem Township in April, 1887. During the short time he has held public office he has earned a record for probity, and bids fair to be called still higher by an admiring constituency. In politics he is a Republican, of a fearless and uncompromising type.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), pg. 694