James Alexander Barry (January 13, 1886
Barry was born in Winnipeg, the son of Michael Joseph Barry and Ellen Curless, who had come to Manitoba from New Brunswick in 1879. He was educated at St. Mary's and Immaculate Conception Schools. Barry worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway as head clerk of the superintendent's office in Winnipeg. He served on Winnipeg city council from 1921 to 1925. In 1927, he married Delmar Erickson.