John Yeates Barlow — also recorded as John Yates Barlow — was born on 4 March 1874 in Panaca, Lincoln County, Nevada, to Israel Barlow and Hannah Yeates, whose family later farmed in Davis County, Utah.1 The Church History Biographical Database of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints records the same birth and names his parents as Israel Barlow II and Hannah Yeates. It also records that he served in the church’s Northwestern States mission.2 Published accounts say that, while serving in that mission, he defended plural marriage and was released, and that he was later excommunicated from the church.3

Wikipedia lists his wives as Ida M. Critchlow, Susannah S. Taggart, Ada Marriott, and Martha Jessop.4

After the death of J. Leslie Broadbent, published accounts date Barlow’s place on a priesthood council — also called the Council of Friends — from 16 March 1935, and they describe him as a senior member of that council in the Short Creek community until his death.5 The same body of writing describes him as working with Joseph Smith Jessop in the founding of Short Creek, the settlement that later became Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah.6

He died in Salt Lake City on 29 December 1949. He is buried at Bountiful Memorial Park in Bountiful, Utah.7 After his death, published accounts describe Joseph W. Musser as the senior member of the priesthood council.8

On 9 November 1942 he signed the Declaration of Trust creating the United Effort Plan and was named its president and one of the first trustees.9

Salt Lake general meeting minutes from 25 February 1940 to 14 October 1945 record his remarks with those of other speakers. Two talks also survive as separate documents: remarks at the home of Carl Otto Holm in Idaho Falls on 20 June 1943, and a sermon at Short Creek on 17 July 1949, a few months before his death. A compiled volume, Sermons of John Y. Barlow, gathers dated reports of his talks, including some that are not in the minute books.11

A silent black-and-white film connected with him survives in the archive. It shows children with the mountains behind them. The film is undated, and which person on screen is him has not been identified.