Baber, Asa J.

Born: 1832-XX-XX Indiana

Died: 1915-XX-XX Paris, Illinois

Flourished: Paris, Illinois

Asa J. Baber was a farmer, merchant, county government official, and banker. Baber worked as a farmer and laborer until 1854, when he became a partner in a mercantile store in Kansas, Illinois. He remained with the store until 1859, when he won election as county treasurer of Edgar County. In 1865, he helped establish the First National Bank of Paris, Illinois, and became its cashier, serving in that capacity until 1870, whe he was appointed president. He served as the president of the institution for fifty years. In October 1858, he married Caroline O'Hair in Edgar County, and the couple had one child. In November 1862, he married Sibby N. O'Hair. Asa and Sibby had three children.

U.S. Census Office, Seventh Census of the United States (1850), Edgar County, IL, 125; Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, Edgar County, 15 October 1858; Edgar County, 2 November 1862, Illinois State Archives, Springfield, IL; U.S. Census Office, Eighth Census of the United States (1860), Paris, Edgar County, IL, 211; U.S. Census Office, Tenth Census of the United States (1880), Ward 2, Paris, Edgar County, IL, 22; The Lena Weekly Star (IL), 2 December 1915, 8:2; The History of Edgar County, Illinois (Chicago: Wm. Le Baron, Jr., 1879), 557.