Dr. Ralph Raymond Barrett served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War in 1939-40. He lived and practiced medicine in Huntington Park, California and was a member of the General William S. Rosecrans Camp 2, in Los Angeles. He served as Department Commander in 1933-34, Commander-in-Chief in 1939-40, Commander of the General Rosecrans Camp in 1943-44, and Commander of the California and Pacific Department in 1949.

Ralph Barrett was born June 20, 1874, the son of Ashley A. Barrett and Lovisa (Tripp) Barrett, in New London, Ohio. His father was a farmer and served in the 12th Ohio Independent Light Artillery Battery during the Civil War. Ashley's uncle, Ransom Barrett, served in the same unit as Ashley. Another uncle, Erastus Barrett, died in the War. Ashley married Lovisa Tripp on July 7, 1868. He was a member of Runyon Post 147 GAR.

Ralph Barrett joined the SUVCW on April 16, 1897, in New London, Ohio. From 1898 to 1902, he attended Eclectic Medical Institute in Cincinnati, where he obtained his MD degree. He married Mary Arabella McEl Hinney on April 23, 1902 in New London. After practicing for a short time there, he moved to Mansfield, Ohio where he served his patients for 20 years. He was a member of the SUVCW in Mansfield.

In 1922, Ralph Barrett moved with his wife and three children to Huntington Park, California. He joined the General W.S. Rosecrans Camp in Los Angeles. Following the death of his first wife on October 2, 1931, he married Lena May Gulick-Hewitt on September 1, 1937. He had first met Lena at a SUVCW meeting in Patriot Hall in downtown Los Angeles. She was president of the Auxiliary of the Sons of Union Veterans in 1948.

Ralph Barrett was a very active member of the Congregational Church in Ohio and California. In Ohio, he served as Assistant State Moderator of Congregational Churches. He was a member and deacon at First Congregational Church in Los Angeles. In addition, he served on three occasions as President of the California Eclectic Medical Association.

On May 27, 1954, Dr. Barrett passed away after over 50 years in the medical field. His wife, Lena, survived him. Also surviving him were his three children from his first marriage, Elisabeth (Barrett) Ross, Mary L Barrett, and Ruth (Barrett) Lampman.

Dr. Ralph Barrett served the Sons of Union Veterans for 57 years.

Submitted June 2000 by:
Professor Gary M. Lampman, Grandson of Dr. Ralph R. Barrett
Department of Chemistry
Western Washington University
Bellingham, Washington 98225
Lampman@chem.wwu.edu