Richard James Barr (November 28, 1865 – June 11, 1951) was an American politician and lawyer.

Biography

Born in Wilton Center, Will County, Illinois, Barr went to

University of Illinois The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U of I, Illinois, University of Illinois, or UIUC) is a public land-grant research university in Illinois in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. It is the flagship institution of the University ...

and then received his law degree from University of Michigan Law School. He was admitted to the Illinois bar and practiced law in

Joliet, Illinois Joliet ( ) is a city in Will County, Illinois, Will and Kendall County, Illinois, Kendall counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. At the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the cit ...

. He served as Joliet city attorney and was mayor of Joliet. The 41st district was created by the 1901 reapportionment process and included DuPage and

Will Will may refer to: Common meanings * Will and testament, instructions for the disposition of one's property after death * Will (philosophy), or willpower * Will (sociology) * Will, volition (psychology) * Will, a modal verb - see Shall and will ...

counties. Barr was elected to represent this district in the 1902 general election. From 1903 until 1951, Barr served in the Illinois State Senate and was a Republican. As the legislature was never reapportioned during his time, Barr would represent this district as-is for his entire tenure. Previously, Will County was in the 25th district. In the 1903 Joliet mayoral election, Democratic candidate William C. Crollus defeated Barr's reelection effort. He served as the president pro tempore of the Illinois Senate during the 53rd, 54th, and 55th General Assemblies. Barr died in a hospital in Joliet, Illinois. He died in June 11, 1951. His son

William G. Barr William G. Barr (January 18, 1920 – February 25, 1987) was an American businessman and politician. Barr was born in Joliet, Illinois. His father Richard J. Barr was a lawyer and served in the Illinois Senate. Barr attended Joliet public schools ...

also served in the

Illinois General Assembly The Illinois General Assembly is the legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. It has two chambers, the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in 181 ...

References

1865 births 1951 deaths People from Will County, Illinois University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumni University of Michigan Law School alumni Illinois lawyers Mayors of Joliet, Illinois Republican Party Illinois state senators {{Illinois-statesenator-stub