Havard Grafton Barrett

Havard Grafton Barrett was born on September 20, 1879, to Jacob and Eliza Barrett, on their farm in East Brandywine Twp., PA. He was the youngest of seven children^[1]. His parents presented him for baptism on August 26, 1880, at the Hopewell Methodist Church near Guthriesville, PA^[2].

The family moved to West Chester Borough in 1895 when Havard’s brothers William and Frank purchased an established confectionary and bakery^[3]. His sister Stella acted as the clerk, with Harry as a driver^[4]. Judging from West Chester’s tax list for 1899^[5], Havard also worked in the bakery.

Havard was a poplar young man around town. He was a half back on the Active Athletic Association football team and organized their Minstrel shows^[6]. He was a talented singer performing with a quartet^[7] and singing in the West Chester Methodist church choir^[8]. The social page reports his attendance at many parties^[9] around town and active in the Epworth League^[10].

Havard seemed poised for a successful career. His brother William financed the set-up of a photo studio, establishing Havard in a new business endeavor.

On February 22, 1899, the Morning Republican reported: “Havard Barrett, an enterprising young man of this borough, has fitted up the third story of Thomas Hogue’s store building, corner of High and Gay Streets, for a photograph gallery, and in the course of a few weeks will be ready to conduct business.^[11]”

On March 17, 1899 the Morning Republican announced that he was open for business, “Havard G. Barrett, an energetic and well-known young man of this borough, has opened out a photograph gallery in the third story of Thomas C. Hogue’s building on the corner of High and Gay Streets, and newly fitted out with the best of everything in the photographic line. An elevator adds to the comfort of aged and infirm patrons. Mr. Barrett is an experienced photographer, and his many friends wish him success.”^[12]

The Chester County History Center Photo Archives only has only one example of Barrett’s work as a photographer – a mediocre printing-out-paper penny photo portrait. The mount has the following inscription: “Outdoor and flash light work of all descriptions. Special accommodations for amateurs. Fine Portraits, Crayons and Pastels.”

Barrett sounded like he was poised for success with the new gallery. No other photographer in town had an elevator, and no location could be better than High and Gay Streets. Then another article in the Morning Republican published on July 29, 1899, painted the picture of a ne’er-do-well who had skipped town,

Since West Chester did not work out for him, Barrett moved on to Trenton, New Jersey, where he is recorded in the 1905 Fitzgerald’s Trenton and Mercer County Directory as the photographer for the Artisto Gallery at 538 S. Clinton Ave.^[14] The following year he made a career change, now the manager for Cunningham Pianos^[15], with a sales room in Trenton and in West Chester, PA. Havard married Ada Van Hise of Trenton on April 13, 1907^[16]. But Havard was again in trouble, and no one would bail him out this time. The December 11, 1907, Daily Local News tells the tale:

Havard and Ada divorced, and according to the 1910 U.S. Census, she was living with her parents.^[18] Havard is listed again as a photographer for the Aristo Studio on 320 E. State Street in Trenton, New Jersey in the Fitzgerald’s Trenton and Mercer County Directory for 1909.^[19]

In 1912, Havard was living in Berwick, Columbia County, Pennsylvania where he was engaged to a young socialite^[20]. According to a newspaper article published in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania he was living beyond his means, and subsequently embezzled money from his employer. He again found himself in trouble with the law. He was incarcerated on May 8, 1912, in the Eastern State Penitentiary, to serve a sentence of two years and six months up to ten years, fine of $500 for forgery. When he entered prison, the Convict Reception Register offers a description of him and inventoried what he brought with him. Havard Barrett was 147 pounds, 5 feet 6 ¾, with brown hair and blue eyes. He was wearing five finger rings, two stick pins, a watch with chain and fob, tie clasp, a full set of stud buttons and cuff links^[21]. Released on November 7, 1914, he followed his parole and was pardoned on May 22, 1917^[22].

After prison, Havard moved away to start life anew. In 1917, he was recorded as registering for the draft in Stark County, Ohio^[23]. At that time he was married to Minnie and lived at 135 Arch St. where he was working as an inspector for the Diebold Safe and Lock Company. According to veteran grave records he served in the Army during World War I. The couple’s daughter, Marion, was born on December 2, 1920.^[24] His life seemed to be coming together from his advertisement in the Canton Official City Directory for 1921, this time he is President of H. G. Barrett Co., investing in real estate^[25]. His business is located at 104 Market Ave., Canton Ohio.

Havard again got himself into trouble as is evidenced in the 1930 U.S. Census, where we find him in the Ohio State Penitentiary^[26]. According to records of the penitentiary, he was convicted of embezzlement in a real estate investing scheme and was sentenced to a minimum of eighteen months to a maximum of ten years in prison. He entered prison on November 1, 1929, and was paroled on June 16, 1931. His wife, Minnie, divorced him in November of 1930.

However, he violated his parole on July 9, 1932, and was reincarcerated on November 9, 1937. At that time his sentence was changed to a maximum of fifteen years. He was transferred to the London Prison Farm in Ohio on March 28, 1938, where he died on December 29, 1943, at age sixty-four^[27]. It is interesting that on his death certificate his occupation is listed as photographer, when this profession played only a minor role in his life.

He was buried in the London Prison Farm Cemetery according to prison records. However, his name and dates were inscribed on his parent’s monument in the Hopewell Methodist Cemetery in Chester County, Pennsylvania^[28]. His former wife, Minnie H. Hallum, and daughter Marian Eloise Barrett filed for Barrett’s social security benefits after his death^[29].

© Pamela C. Powell, 2019