James Russell Barrett was born at Murphytown, Wood Co., (W.) Va., on August 2, 1843, the son of Samuel C. Barrett, Jr. & Mary "Polly" (Kite). He was raised in the Stillwell/Murphytown area of Clay District, Wood Co., W. Va. His mother, Mary, & brother, J. Monroe, died of typhoid when he was 6 years old.

James Barrett (age 6, WM, B-VA) is listed on the 1850 Wood County (District 65/Murphytown area), (W.) Virginia, census in household with his father and siblings [mother- Mary & brother-James Monroe both died 1849 prior to this census]

James R. Barrott (age 17, WM, B-VA) is listed on the 1860 Wood County (Stillwell), (W.) Virginia, census in household with his father and brother-in-law/older sister, John & Anna (Barrett) Bennett.

At the age of 19, James R. Barrett enlisted as a Union soldier in the Civil War as a Private (in Company A, 15 th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry) on Aug. 18, 1862. He served until the close of the war, the greater part of the time under Gen. Phil Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley. After serving for almost 3 years, he was discharged as a Corporal at Richmond, Virginia, on June 14, 1865.

On September 7, 1865, James R. Barrett bought lot # 70 in Teffts Addition, City of Parkersburg, W. Va. (Wood Co. Deed Bk 24, pg 710)

On September 11, 1865, James R. Barrett was granted lot # 59 in Teffts Addition along with Squire A. Harris & George W. Johnson- for the sum of $300- from William A. Tefft. This lot was on the west side of Lynn Street and north of Grafton St. in Parkersburg, Wood Co., W. Va. (Wood Co. Deed Bk 24, pg 709)

James R. Barrett was Baptized at the Stillwell Baptist Church at Stillwell (near Murphytown), Wood Co., W. Va., in January 1866, and was added as a member of this church in January 1866.

On March 8, 1866, James R. Barrett married his 1st cousin once removed, Miss Martha Matilda (Lowers), in Parkersburg, Wood Co., W. Va.

After their marriage, James R. & Martha settled on a farm near Murphytown, Clay District, Wood Co., W. Va., were their children were born and raised. After their children were older, they moved into the town of Murphytown, W. Va. They are listed on the Clay District, Wood Co., W. Va., censuses for 1870, 1880, & 1890 veterans schedule.

Land Deed:
March 14, 1872 • Parkersburg, Wood Co., W. Va.
James R. Barrett & wife Martha M. TO Henry H. Benington, both of Wood County, Lot #70, Tefts Addition, City of Parkersburg, for $300 [Wood Co., WV, Deed Book 32, pg 405]

James R. Barrett was a farmer near Murphytown, Clay District, Wood Co., W. Va. He also bought grocery store & weigh station in Murphytown, W. Va. He owned ten rental houses in Murphytown, W. Va., at one time.

James R. Barrett filed for an invalid pension for his service in the Civil War on July 14, 1890, and also February 23, 1907.

Later, they moved across the Little Kanawha River to Elizabeth, Wirt Co., W. Va., in early 1900's for a few years. About 1917, they moved to a house on 7th Steet in Parkersburg, Wood Co., W. Va., where they spent the remainder of their later years together.

James R. Barrett was 5' 8" tall, had light brown hair, blue eyes, & fair skin complexion. He was a strong Baptist, and he and his family were members of the Stillwell Baptist Church at Stillwell, Wood Co., W. Va. He also served as a church clerk for the Stillwell Baptist Church for some years.

James R. Barrett died on September 08, 1923, in Parkersburg, Wood Co., W. Va., at his residence from arteriosclerosis at the age of 80 years, and he was buried in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Parkersburg, W. Va., on September 10, 1923, next to his wife (Section K).

James R. Barrett's will was written at Parkersburg, Wood Co., W. Va., on February 12, 1923, and probated in Wood Co., W. Va., on September 15, 1923. It lists his wife, Martha M. Barrett, and kids: H. M. Barrett, D. E. Barrett, Nellie Lee, Jessie Endsley, Eva Hoxie w/o J. W. Hoxsie, Florence Farr w/o T. B. Farr.