Barber, Cyrus

Barber, Cyrus a Baptist missionary, was born in Portsmouth, R. I., March 27, 1807. He pursued his studies at the Hamilton Literary and. Theological Institution. The Missionary Union appointed him as one of its missionaries July 22, 1839, and he was set apart for his work by ordination at Newport, R. I.,.in September of that year. He sailed with his wife from Boston Oct. 22, 1839, and reached Calcutta Feb. 20, 1840. He and Mrs. Barber, and Miss Rhoda Bronison, a sister of Rev. Dr. Bronson, were originally designated to the department among the Nagas, but it was decided that the two former should confine;their labors to the Assamese. Accordingly, they took up their residence in Sibsagor, a town having a population at the time of eight thousand inhabitants, situated on the river Dikho, ten miles from the Brahmaputra. Here, for several years, Mr. Barber labored with great zeal, and a blessing followed his work. Officers and residents attached to the civil and military service of the East India Company rendered substantial aid to the mission. In February, 1845, a Church was formed in Gowahati, to which place Mr. Barber had removed. On account of ill-health, he left his station with the hope that a temporary absence might recruit his wasted strength. He died at sea, and was buried in Mozambique Channel Jan. 31, 1850. See Gammell, History of Missions (chapter on Assam); The Missionary Jubilee, p. 237. (J. C. S.) SEE BARKER, CYRUS.