WILLIAM B. BARGER

BARGER, LEWIS, EICHELBERGER, ROBERTS, VERMILLION, SLOAN, FERRIS, EPPS, HAKES

Posted By: David (email)
Date: 1/7/2005 at 23:45:42

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa
Thursday, June 6, 1907

WILLIAM B. BARGER whose funeral was held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, and whose
remains were laid away in the Chariton Cemetery, was born at Lexington,
Virginia, and was 45 years of age at the time of his death. The deceased
removed from Virginia to this county with his parents when about thirteen
years of age and continued to reside here the rest of his life. He was a
self-made man growing up on a farm and providing himself with such school
advantages as he enjoyed. For a time he was engaged in teaching school.
Later he read law with the firm of Stuart Bros. & Bartholomew in this city
and upon being admitted to the bar engaged in the practice of his profession
first at Lucas in this county removing to Chariton in 1888, since which
time he has been here in the practice of law.

MR. BARGER was united in marriage with AMANDA LEWIS, sister of S.W. LEWIS of
Derby and JOHN W. and W.R. LEWIS of Ottumwa. The deceased is survived by
his wife and three children, LEWIS, CELENE and WILFRED, also by his brothers
D.B. BARGER of Leroy and C.S. BARGER of Albia, and two married sisters
living in this county.

W.B. BARGER will long be remembered as a forceful and original character.
Upon being admitted to the bar he at once took high rank as an able and
successful lawyer. He has from the start held a large and profitable
clientage and has been regarded as one of the most successful trial lawyers
in this part of the State. He served three terms as Mayor of Chariton, one
term as County Attorney and was the successful candidate in his party
primaries as Lucas County's choice in the judicial convention of this
district on two occasions. He was a leading spirit in organizing Company H.
I.N.G., and served as captain of that company. He was active and prominent
in the lodge life of this city being an officer of the supreme lodge of
Knights of Pythias at the time of his death.

MR. BARGER was a positive character, outspoken as to his likes and dislikes,
he was not always tactful or tolerant. He aroused strong antagonisms and at
the same time made equally strong friendships. He was honest and upright in
all his business engagements. He will be sincerely mourned by a large
circle of loyal friends, and the entire community will deeply sympathize
with his excellent family in the loss of a generous and loving husband and
father. There is subjoined here extracts from a few of the numerous letters
of tribute and condolence received by the family.

Hon. F.W. Eichelberger says:

"Mr. Barger was an able and successful lawyer, a generous and warm hearted
friend. He was true to his clients, throwing his whole soul into their
cases."

Judge M.A. Roberts says:

"He was aggressive and fearless and ambitious in the line of his profession,
an able advocate and a successful lawyer. In his death the bar of this
district has lost one of its most distinguished members."

Judge C.W. Vermillion says:

"I have just learned with sincere sorrow of the death of Mr. Barger. I knew
him to be a man whose traits of character arouse and sustain warm
friendships. As a lawyer his work was distinguished by great energy and
vigor and brought to him a large success at the bar."

Judge Robert Sloan writes:

"He was an excellent trial lawyer. He sought to impress the jury with the
merits of his case. He was pleasant and companionable, well informed in
history and general literature. A delightful conversationalist. I knew him
very well personally and as a member of the bar practicing in my court and I
can hardly realize that his life has ended."

The above sketch appeared in the Ottumwa Courier, of last Friday.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'TRIBUTES PAID'

MRS. W.B. BARGER has received many messages of condolence from friends of
her late husband, over the State: F.L. Ferris, Grand Chancellor of the K. of
P. Lodge, Sioux City, writes:

"I met Brother Barger at Grand Lodge, a number of times and was so impressed
with his high mindedness and judicial ability that it would not have
surprised me at any time, had I learned that he had been elevated to a
position for which his talents, prior to his affliction, so eminently fitted
him."

W.W. Epps, of Ottumwa, writing of his connection with the order says:

"He did special good work for the order as chairman of the judiciary
committee. His deep insight into legislation and his judicial turn of mind
rendered him a valued member of that committee. He was especially
instrumental in the construction and passage of the statute creating the
grand charity fund for the poor and distressed."

At his funeral here on Thursday his brother Knights buried him in the honors
of the order, of which he had long been an influential member. Rev. Webster
Hakes, Pastor of St. Andrew's Parish, preached a sermon of sympathetic power
and then the sad procession moved forward and deposited Knight Barger's
remains in the silent city of the dead, after the beautiful ritual exercises
of the brotherhood.
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December 20, 2004
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