John Edward Barry, Mexico, 1939
Mexico Historical Society
Text by Irene Hutchinson
Images contributed by Mexico Historical Society
About 1998, Jim Stone and Everett Quimby, residents of Rangeley, found an old suitcase while renovating the Rangeley Inn. The battered suitcase was packed with keepsakes relating to someone named John Barry, who had ties to Mexico, Maine. After a few years of looking for John's family they gave the suitcase to the Mexico Historical Society for its Museum.
John attended and graduated from St.Theresa's Catholic School where he received many certificates of honor and was a 1943 graduate of Mexico High School. His diplomas were found in the suitcase.
John was the son of Thomas R. Barry of Portland and Dorothy Mullaly of Fall River, Massachusetts. As they were unable to care for John he was made a ward of the State and came to Mexico to start his life with Farnum and Fannie Bishop and their three sons Kola, Nelson, and Edward. He seemed to care a lot for his family and had a good childhood. In a letter found in the suitcase he addressed Fannie as Aunt Fannie and Farnum as Dad. He also asked about things relating to the farm and about things back home
John Edward Barry's baby shoes, ca. 1920
Mexico Historical Society
His baby shoes, birth certificate, his mother's picture, and his high school athletic letter were found in the suitcase, as were his prayer book, rosary, and cross. His letters reveal that he helped get in the ice for summer, wood for winter, and hay for the animals. He lived on a farm on Roxbury Road in Mexico.
John joined the Marine Corps Reserve in 1943 after graduating from Mexico High School. He was in the initial assault on Peleliu Island, where he was killed by mortar fire on September 20, 1944. He was buried in Grave 95, Section 3 in a cemetery on Peleliu Island.
A letter received from Lieutenant Colonel K. H. Boyer of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve assured Fannie that Private Barry served the battalion and Corps both efficiently and loyally, and that he would be missed by his comrades during the days to come. John was a Marine that he was proud to have had in his command, as he knew she was proud to have had him as a ward. Fannie also received a telegram from the government and was recognized as the beneficiary of his life insurance issued by the United States for servicemen. His valuables were returned to Fannie on December 23, 1944.
Fannie requested his body be sent home. She received a telegram that she should schedule a Funeral Director to meet the train in Rumford to pick up his body. Arrangements were made for John to be buried in the family plot in the Roxbury Cemetery.
John Edward Barry suitcase, ca. 1925
Mexico Historical Society
Fannie may have been the one to pack his belongings in this old suitcase for safe keeping. The question remains: why was this suitcase at the Rangeley Inn?
