J. R. Barry, a farmer of the Tenth District, was born three miles west of Gallatin, in 1836. He is one of six children born to the union of Thomas and Sarah H. (Peyton) Barry. The father is of Irish descent, born in 1806, two miles west of Gallatin, on the Nashville Turnpike. He began the practice of law when thirty years of age. In 1865 he was appointed chancellor and circuit judge of the Sixth District. The latter position he retained for six years. He has since been a pension and claim agent a portion of the time. He now resides in Gallatin, at the advanced age of eighty-one. His wife was of English origin, born in 1812 or 1814, three miles west of Gallatin, on the Station Camp farm. She died in 1877. The subject of this sketch was educated at Gallatin. He was engaged in farming until 1866, when he was appointed clerk of the county court, retaining the position until 1882, when he resumed his agricultural pursuits. His farm is at Elmwood, six miles northeast of Gallatin, on the Scottsville pike, and contains 565 acres. In 1865 he married Martha Douglass, a native of Lebanon, Tenn. Their union resulted in the birth of Mary Elizabeth and Young Blythe; the latter died July, 1873. Mrs. Barry departed this life in 1877. In 1879 our subject married Mrs. Mary L. (Alexander) Barr, who bore him three children: John A., Sally Peyton, and Laura. Mr. Barry entered the Confederate Army in the spring of 1861, Company A, Twentieth Tennessee Regiment, under the command of Col. Joel Battle. He took part in the battles of Millsprings, Murfreesboro, and the seven days' fight before Richmond. He was discharged in the fall of 1862. He is a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for James Buchanan. He is a highly respected and valuable citizen.