Orion Metcalf Barber

Orion Barber
Associate Judge of the United States Court of Customs Appeals
In office March 30, 1910 – September 30, 1928
Appointed by	William Taft
Preceded by	Seat established
Succeeded by	Irvine Lenroot
Auditor of Vermont
In office October 6, 1898 – October 3, 1902
Governor	Edward Smith William Stickney
Preceded by	Franklin Hale
Succeeded by	Horace Graham
Personal details
Born	July 13, 1857 Jamaica, Vermont, U.S.
Died	March 28, 1930 (aged 72) Bennington, Vermont, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Mab Barber (1868–1952)
Children	Lucia Mabel
Alma mater	Albany Law School

Orion Metcalf Barber (July 13, 1857 – March 28, 1930) was a Vermont state politician and a judge of the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals.

Early life

Barber was born in Jamaica, Vermont on July 13, 1857.^[1] He received an LL.B. from Albany Law School in 1882 and became an attorney in Bennington.^[2]

Start of career

A Republican, Barber was state's attorney for Bennington County from 1886 to 1887.^[3]

He served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1892 to 1894, and in the Vermont State Senate in 1894.^[4]

From 1894 to 1896 Barber served as a member of the state railroad commission.^[5][6][7]

Barber served as Vermont's State Auditor from 1898 to 1902.^[8]

From 1906 to 1908 Barber was chairman of Vermont's Special Tax Commission.^[9] In 1909 he was chairman of the Special Commission to Prepare and Publish the Digest of Reports of the Vermont Supreme Court.^[10]

Judicial career

Nominated by President William Howard Taft to the U.S. Court of Customs Appeals, Barber received his commission on March 30, 1910. He retired from active service on September 30, 1928.^{[11][12][13][14][15]}

Retirement and death

Barber continued in senior status until his death in Bennington, Vermont on March 28, 1930.^[16][17] He was buried in Bennington's Park Lawn Cemetery.^[18]

Family

On July 2, 1898 Barber married Alice Mabel "Mab" Norton (1868-1952) in Arlington, Vermont, and they were the parents of twin daughters. Lucia Pierce Barber (August 24, 1899 - September 30, 1984) was the wife of Clarence Edward Howard (April 16, 1881 - April 4, 1975). Mabel N. (August 24, 1899-May 13, 1991) was the wife of United States Army officer Notley Young DuHamel (1895-1970).

External links

• Federal Judicial Center entry on Orion Metcalf Barber

References

1. Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont, by Hiram Carleton, pages 391 to 293
2. The Law Student's Helper, published by The Collector Publishing Co., Detroit, Volume 19, page 15
3. Encyclopedia of Vermont Biography, edited by Prentiss Cutler Dodge, 1912, page 111
4. Article, Republican nominees, The Vermonter magazine, July, 1900, pages 230 to 231
5. 10,000 Famous Freemasons, by William R. Denslow, Harry S. Truman, Part One (A to J), 1957, page 56
6. Biennial Report, by Vermont Railroad Commission, 1896, page 121
7. Vermont Legislative Directory, published by Vermont Secretary of State, 1900, page 375
8. Who's Who in New England, by Albert Nelson Marquis, Volume 1, 1909, page 68
9. Report of the Commission on Taxation, published by the commission, 1908, page 4
10. Biography of Orion M. Barber, published in Judges of the United States, by Bicentennial Committee, Judicial Conference of the United States, 1983
11. Newspaper article, New Commerce Court Head, New York Times, March 10, 1910
12. Newspaper article, Customs Court Ready, New York Times, June 6, 1910
13. Official Congressional Directory, published by Joint Committee on Printing, 1921, page 387
14. Official Congressional Directory, published by Joint Committee on Printing, 1922, page 397
15. Newspaper article, Orion M. Barber Dies, New York Times, March 30, 2011
16. Report of Proceedings of the Annual Meeting, published by Vermont Bar Association, 1930, page 72
17. Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, record for Orion Metcalf Barber
18. Gravestone photos by contributor Mann, Orion Metcalf Barber page, Find A Grave.com web site, accessed November 27, 2011