Polly Barber

Barber was born on September 25, 1803 in Saint-Armand, Lower Canada to Asahel Barber and Polly Armes. Both of her parents were well situated in society, her father being the son of a physicist and her mother's family being notable for having many clergymen. Barber was able to use this situation to her advantage and became well-educated.[2]

In 1820 Polly started her teaching career in Saint-Armand, giving lessons in private homes where she was making 4 livres a week. She was able to pay her room and board through weaving and other crafting activities to make money on the side.[1] She moved to Sutton Township with her family, where she became the schoolmaster in 1834. As the schoolmaster, Barber made $1 a week in addition to room and board.

Around 1834 Barber married Stephen Scovill Jr, a farmer from Sutton Township, who possessed 250 acres of land. They were able to produce large quantities of wool and cloth. They had a successful farm when her husband died on November 7, 1847, leaving her a widow and pregnant at the age of 44. She was able to carry on developing the farm, raising children, and starting a successful clothing factory. In 1861 her farm cost $5,000. She managed to educate her daughters and her son, Smith, whom she established on a land within the township. Later, because of health problems, she left the farm near Abercorn to her eldest daughter, Judith Smith.[1]

She spent her last years with her daughter, Julia, and her son-in-law at Scottsmore in Dunham Township. On January 8, 1880, she wrote her last will and testament, where she divided all her property equally among her children. She died on February 23, 1898, at the age of 95 years old.