My Genealogy Hound

Col. James Barry Price, of Jefferson City, Mo., was born in Pittsylvania County, Va., January 19, 1832. His paternal ancestors were among the early English colonists, and were prominent for their enterprise, thrift and outspoken declaration for American independence. On his mother’s side he is a direct descendant from a family of heroes and scholars. Among his not distant collateral relations were the late Admiral Barry, of the English Navy, and Sir Edward and Sir David Barry, of London, brother and uncle of his scholarly grandfather, Dr. James Barry, who died soon after locating in America. Mr. Price at an early age immigrated with his parents to Tennessee. His maternal grandfather, James Sanders, Esq., in 1790 immigrated to Tennessee from Virginia, carrying with him a large fortune, consisting of over 100 slaves and other property, and with the foresight of a truly wise man selected and located large tracts of rich land throughout the Cumberland Valley, much of which is held by his offspring to this day. His palatial homestead was on the north bank of the Cumberland, opposite the Hermitage, home of Gen. Jackson; few men have figured more prominently in business circles of Tennessee than his father, the late Col. M. A. Price, of Lebanon. In April, 1853, Col. James B. was married to Miss Mary, only daughter of John B. and Lucy (Brashear) Murphy, a lady noted for her great beauty and grace. Her father was a prominent wealthy sugar planter of St. Mary’s Parish, Louisiana. Col. Price, outside of his sugar planting interests, was for many years more extensively engaged in the transportation of the United States mail by steamboat and stage coach than any man in the South. He has not confined himself to any specialty, but has taken a part in many enterprises, with a large measure of success. Notwithstanding he supported Bell and Everett for the presidency in 1860, and opposed the separation of the States, regarding secession a great heresy, yet when Louisiana seceded he seceded with her, cheerfully and liberally aiding the Southern cause until the close of the war. He was more than once offered high military rank, but by reason of greater usefulness in the civil service he was prevailed upon to serve his country where he could serve her best, and is accredited with being one of, if not the largest contributor of material aid to the Southern Confederacy. He enjoyed most confidential relations with the Confederate rulers, and was held in high esteem. At the close of the war he accepted the situation, and at once went to work to aid in restoring the prostrate interests of Louisiana, particularly those of his own section. His fortune was greatly impaired by the war; his large slave property was freed, his steamboats burned and his sugar property sadly out of repair. Immediately after the surrender he went to Washington and was promptly restored to the rights of citizenship by the old friend of his father, President Johnson, and soon became a leader in the most important enterprises in the State. The subject of this sketch is a cosmopolitan in the fullest sense. He enjoyed all the advantages which wealth and intelligence could bestow, few men having traveled as extensively over the world. In 1851 he visited the World’s Fair in London. In 1867 he was appointed by Gov. Wells special commissioner to the Paris Exposition, and he doubtless deserves a considerable share of credit for the distinction which Louisiana there enjoyed. In 1872 he was chosen president of the Louisiana Homestead Company, supported by Gen. Beauregard, as vice-president, and did much to enlighten the outside world of the attractions and inducements offered to those seeking homes in her genial climate. In June, 1872, the delegates of the Democratic and Reform Conventions of the Third Congressional District met in New Orleans, and paid him the compliment of inviting him to run as an independent candidate, stating in their communication that “his character for intelligence and integrity was all the declaration required.” On this the New Orleans Times complimented him highly, and the wisdom of the delegates in their nomination of Mr. Price was fully vindicated at the polls, where, notwithstanding the fact that two-thirds of the voters of the district were negroes and radicals, he received almost the entire white vote of the district, defeating his radical opponent in his own precinct by a large majority, but under the then corrupt carpet-bag regime no Democrat could have obtained his certificate however great his majority. Col. Price has been a liberal donator to all public enterprises, and the success of the South Pass Jetty Company, according to statement of Col. Elliott, its secretary, was mainly due to his timely and large subscription. Col. Price has five children, four sons and one daughter, upon whom he has lavished all the advantages of American and European culture. His first wife died in 1870, and in 1873 he married the estimable widow of his kinsman, Gen. Thomas L. Price, a lady possessed of all those sterling traits of mind and heart which have ever characterized Virginian wives, as the most queenly of matrons and devoted of mothers. References to Col. Price’s business relations are simply made to indicate that he has been one of that bold, active, enterprising and intelligent class of men whose life sparkles with the vitalized thought of executive genius. He is truly an example of temperance, never having touched or tasted a drop of intoxicating liquors of any kind, or tobacco in any form. In religious views he is a Methodist, his sainted mother having been an exemplary member of that church for nearly forty years, and in commemoration of her many virtues a beautiful tinted memorial window fills an opening in the church building in which she worshiped the greater part of her life. Col. Price is a great advocate of Sunday-schools, and has donated hundreds of volumes to same, irrespective of sect. He is a man of striking appearance, of the blonde type, is over six feet in height, straight as an Indian, noted for his genial nature and fine conversational powers; suffice it to say, he wears an extra large seven and three-quarters hat, with brains to fill it.