Amos W. Barber

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Amos W. Barber, official portrait

Dr. Amos Walker Barber (April 26, 1861 – May 19, 1915) was an American surgeon and politician. He was one of the first Governors of Wyoming after that state joined the Union in 1890.

Amos Barber was born in Doylestown, Bucks County, in Pennsylvania, to Alfred H. Barber and Asenath Walker. He studied literature and medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, then worked as a staff physician at the Pennsylvania Hospital after graduating. In 1885, Barber moved to Wyoming to take up a position as surgeon in charge of the military hospital at Fort Fetterman. After resigning from the United States military, Barber began private practice in Cheynne.

In 1890, Barber was elected Secretary of State for Wyoming as a Republican. Just eleven months later, however, Governor Francis E. Warren resigned to take up a United States Senate seat, and Barber was catapulted to the position of Acting Governor. He served as Governor from November 24, 1890 until John E. Osborne was elected in January 2, 1893. Barber continued on as Secretary of State under Osborne, his term running out in 1895.

Barber rejoined the military in 1898, acting as assistant surgeon for the Spanish American War. He died in Rochester, Minnesota in 1915, and was survived by his wife, Amelia Kent, whom he had married in 1892. Barber was buried in Cheyenne.

[edit] References

State biography
[1], [2] – University of Wyoming library entries
Executive Officers of the States and Territories

Preceded by Francis E. Warren	Governor of Wyoming 1890–1893	Succeeded by John E. Osborne

Governors of Wyoming
Warren • Barber • Osborne • W. Richards • D. Richards • Chatterton • Brooks • J. Carey • Kendrick • Houx • R. Carey • W. Ross • Lucas • N. Ross • Emerson • Clark • Miller • Smith • Hunt • Crane • Barrett • Rogers • Simpson • Hickey • Gage • Hansen • Hathaway • Herschler • Sullivan • Geringer • Freudenthal