His stage career began in his native city as a member of the Crescent City Serenaders, in which he was one of the end men.
With Ed Gibson, as Gibson and Maxwell, he joined Spalding and Manning’s Minstrels; other minstrel organizations he was identified with were Hooley’s; Haverly’s; Emerson and Reed’s, in San Francisco; Dockstader’s, in New York, from 1886 to 1889, and Schoolcraft and Maxwell’s Minstrels.
Mr. Maxwell was also of the team of Maxwell and Carroll.
For ten years he appeared successfully with the Chas. H. Hoyt shows, where he was called upon to play both white and black face characters, which he did with equal facility.
His portrayal of the black-face character of Othello, in the “Texas Steer,” and Sassafras Livingstone, in the “County Chairman,” received the highest encomiums from press and public.
Barry Maxwell was born in New Orleans, La., October 29, 1848.
Quilter and Goldrich ranked with the best song and dance teams of minstrelsy.
They made their first appearance in 1869 at Pittsburgh, Pa., with Harry Williams.
During their partnership they played practically every first-class variety house in the country, as well as many of the principal minstrel companies, including Harry Robinson’s, Neil Bryant’s, and Kelly and Leon’s.
July 19, 1874, they sailed for England, where on August 10 they made their first appearance in Liverpool with Sam Hague’s Minstrels; subsequently going to Moore and Burgess’ Minstrels in London, in each city meeting with pronounced success.