Portrait from the Smithfield Herald, September 23, 1910
Our month-long journey through the Old Dominion State continues with the political exploits of a man named Offie--an unusual first name for sure! Despite being a well-known lawyer and former Mayor of Benson, North Carolina (not to mention serving two consecutive terms in the state senate), there is an extreme dearth of resources regarding Offie Almon Barbour. Even his 1911 North Carolina Manual legislative biography amounts to just two skimpy lines! Despite this lack of resources, the editors of the 1913 legislative manual rectified their earlier mistake and allotted Barbour several more lines of biography, which helped significantly when it came to compiling this profile!
The son of Robert C. and Louenza Lassiter Barbour, Offie Almon Barbour was born in Johnston County, North Carolina on April 1, 1882. Raised on a farm in Johnston County, Barbour attended the local high school from 1898-99 and from 1900-02 was a student at the Turlington Institute in Smithfield. He went on to attend the University of North Carolina from 1903-04 and in the last-named year earned his law degree.
Soon after receiving his law degree, Barbour established his practice in Benson and within a few years time had been elected to his first political office, that of Mayor of Benson. He served from 1909-11 and in 1910 was nominated for the North Carolina Senate from the 15th senatorial district. In a September 1910 write-up profiling his candidacy, the Smithfield Herald took note of his being a lifelong Democrat, his being mayor of Benson, and his "sturdy character", while also remarking:
"Ever ready to go where his services are required, or where his party's interests called him, his nomination by the Democrats for the State Senate is but a fitting recognition for his devotion to duty. No stronger man could have been nominated to represent Johnston, Sampson, and Harnett Counties in the State Senate. Strong and clean ''in public life and private thinking,'' he will conduct a campaign worthy of one of Johnston County's most scholarly sons."
In November 1910 Barbour won his Senate seat and at the opening of the 1911-13 session was named to the Committees on Appropriations; Corporations; Distribution of the Governor's Message; Education; Institution for the Blind; Internal Improvements; Legislative Apportionment; Mining; Public Roads; Revisals; and Shellfish. He would also chair the committee on Senate Expenditures during this term.
In 1912 Offie Barbour won his second term in the state senate, and from 1913-15 held seats on the following committees: Banking and Currency; Constitutional Amendments; Counties, Cities, and Towns; Education; Fish and Fisheries; Game Law; Immigration; Insane Asylums; Judiciary, No. 1; Salaries and Fees (chairman); and Trustees of the University. Barbour married during his term in October 1914 to Emily Canaday (1888-1979), who survived him upon his death in 1955. The couple later had two sons, Offie Almon Jr. (1916-1986) and William Woodall (1920-2011).
Nothing is known of Barbour's life following his second Senate term, excepting notice of his death in a Smithfield, North Carolina hospital on November 28/29, 1955, at age 73. Both he and his wife Emily were interred at the Benson City Cemetery following their deaths.
From the Carolina Alumni.
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