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.
Meanwhile, in 1884 he married Bettie Belle Tichenor, a native of
Pierson Township in Vigo County, Indiana. 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.
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." 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. 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.
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. 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 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". 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.
Before his death in Newark, New Jersey, at age 57 on May 3, 1920,
Barcus wrote the novel, "The Repentance of Croesus", and published "The
Governor's Boss" in novel form.
