John Watson Barr

John Watson Barr served as a judge for the District of Kentucky. Barr was born in Versailles, Kentucky on December 17, 1826. He read law at Transylvania University and, upon graduation in 1847, opened a practice in Versailles. In 1854, Barr moved to Louisville and practiced under his own name and in partnership with others until 1880. Barr continued in private practice until 1864, when he formed another firm with John Kemp Goodloe, an attorney and Kentucky legislator. On April 9, 1880, President Rutherford B. Hayes nominated Barr to the United States District Court, replacing Judge William H. Hays. The United States Senate confirmed Barr one week later. Barr retired on February 21, 1899 and died in Louisville at age 81.