07/25/2026
Today Obediah would have been 201. The Swamp Explorer: Born in Bryan County, Georgia, Barber moved near the Okefenokee in 1854, establishing a frontier lifestyle.
Tall Tales and Skills: He was famous for his storytelling, fearless hunting, and wilderness savvy. One famous tale claims he beat a black bear into submission with a piece of wood when unarmed.
Family and Later Years: He married three times and fathered 20 children, witnessing the transition of the frontier into a modern timber and railroad region before passing away in 1909.
