BARKER, John C. 1856-1931

BARKER, HARRISON

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 6/17/2015 at 07:10:35

John C. Barker Dies Suddenly Monday Night

End Comes Without Warning While Resting In Masonic Club Room

Had Lived In And Near Grundy 64 Yrs.

Most of His Life Spent as Veterinarian in Reinbeck and Grundy Center

Dr. John C. Barker died without warning while seated in the club rooms of the Masonic lodge about eight o'clock Monday evening. He had been engaged in a game of cards with other members of the Masonic lodge earlier in the evening. With the game finished, he took a seat on a chair in the billiard room and was watching a game of billiards. Those who were with him thought he had fallen asleep and did not disturb him until they were ready to leave a half hour later, when they attempted to awaken him. He had been dead probably fifteen minutes at the time. He had been in his usual health during the day and evening.

The body was removed to the Coffman mortuary. Funeral services will be held this afternoon at the Methodist church in Grundy Center with Rev. J. B. Bird officiating. The Masons and the Odd Fellows will take part in the funeral rites. E. K. Greene from Clear Lake, an old friend of the family, will be here to officiate for the Masons at the grave. Burial will be at Reinbeck.

Dr. Barker had been in rather frail health for a number of years as a result of two paralytic strokes. He had been suffering from high blood pressure for some time and he had anticipated and had expressed the hope that the end might come peacefully as it did. Since the death of his wife last April he has been living at home alone leaving for a time to be with his sons.

Dr. Barker would have been 75 years old on the 10th of next month. He was born in Norwood, Ontario, Canada. He came to Iowa with his parents in 1866. They located on a farm in north Tama. He was married to Elizabeth Ann Harrison in 1876. Two years following their marriage they lived in Dysart. From there they moved to Reinbeck in 1878. Dr. Barker was a veterinarian and he practiced his profession in the vicinity of Reinbeck until he came to Grundy Center in 1904, where he continued his work. His wife died in 1899. In 1904 he married his first wife's sister, Mary Harrison, who passed away on the 24th of last April.

Five sons were born to the first marriage. Two of the sons are dead. Frank died at the age of 17 months and Floyd's death took place about twelve years ago. The surviving sons are George from Colgate, Sask., Canada, Harry from Mason City, Al from Duluth and Percy from Virginia, Minn. The sons are all here for the funeral. The father and these four stalwart sons had a rare affection for each other and they remained real pals to the end. The wives of George, Harry and Percy are also here for the funeral.

In late years Dr. Barker was employed as delinquent tax collector. This work together with the looking after his farms in Canada kept him occupied to the limit of his energies.

The hundreds of old friends that Dr. Barker leaves in Grundy county accept his sudden passing with sincere regret and with the feeling that the grim reaper has taken another friend from them.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 19 February 1931, pg 1