James S. Barcus

On April 13, 1914, "The Governor's Boss", an original play written by Barcus, opened at Charles Frohman's Gerrick Theater in New York. The next year, The Governor's Boss Photoplay Co. released a screen version of the play.

When Holliday received the nomination again, Barcus abruptly resigned from the state legislature in September 1905 and returned to New York. He did retain his Terre Haute newspaper for several years afterwards. Apparently his publishing empire continued to grow. His success persisted. Names associated with Barcus' triumphs include "The Classic Library of Famous Literature" and "The Consolidated Library".

In 1902, to support his political ambitions, he bought the Terre Haute Tribune, one of the city's daily newspapers, and was elected to the Indiana Senate. "The Messages and Papers of Congress", a multi-volume set published by J. S. Barcus Co. , made "enormous profit", triggering a congressional inquiry. Re-elected to the state senate, Barcus again tried to secure nomination to Congress. To aid that effort, he bought another local newspaper, the Terre Haute Gazette, and merged it with the Tribune, naming it the "Tribune-Gazette".

When Republican Congressman George Washington Faris chose not to seek re-election in 1900, Barcus placed his hat in the ring to succeed him, campaigning on his record as a success as a publisher. He lost the nomination by three votes. Though residing in Indiana, Barcus maintained his New York publishing houses and acquired Success Magazine.

By the time he earned a law degree in 1899, Barcus was 36 years old, affluent, a member of the Republican Party's committee on national affairs and an officer of several New York social clubs. Though admitted to the New York bar, Barcus made an unconventional decision.

In July 1899, James and Bettie Barcus bought a large home in Terre Haute, Indiana, and made it the most luxurious residence-law office in western Indiana. Barcus promptly became immersed in politics.

" During the 1896 presidential campaign, he wrote "The Boomerang", a satirical analysis of one of Democratic presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan's speeches. The book was published by J. S. Barcus Co. The volume earned high praise among Republicans.

Widely known by 1895, Barcus wrote "The Science of Selling," a practical guide for canvassers. The proceeds allowed him to enroll at Columbia University School of Law. Solomon J. Barcus was a fervent Republican. Raised in a hotbed of conservatism, James "spent his childhood fighting Democrats.

Bettie's older brother William attended the University of Michigan, graduating from its law school in 1893. Barcus worked his way through college selling books. Sometimes he had to pawn his watch, a cherished heirloom, to advance freight expenses.

By the time he graduated from Michigan in 1891, publisher R. S. Peale & Co. hired him. Soon he was a full partner. Two years later he co-founded Clarke, Barcus & Co. in New York and secured exclusive rights to print and distribute "The Century Dictionary and Encyclopedia. " He also formed J. S. Barcus Co. , a publishing firm, and was president of Globe Publishing Co.

Meanwhile, in 1884 he married Bettie Belle Tichenor, a native of Pierson Township in Vigo County, Indiana.

A native of Sullivan County, Indiana, James Solomon Barcus was born March 18, 1863. Solomon, his father, was a blacksmith; his mother Martha was a granddaughter of Nathan Hinkle, the erstwhile Revolutionary War veteran. During his youth, the Barcus family struggled to make ends meet. Barcus dropped out of school frequently to work on his parents' farm. He finally earned a teaching certificate and taught at a school near Hymera, Indiana, for three years. To better himself, he became a traveling book agent, peddling his wares by horse and buggy to farmers, preachers, doctors and lawyers. With scarcely enough money to pay railroad fare, he enrolled at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.