Barker, Corydon

BARKER, GRIER, CRISWELL

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 11/20/2012 at 11:25:59

1880 History of Poweshiek County Iowa

LINCOLN TOWNSHIP

Page 752

BARKER, CORYDON--Section 35, P.O. Deep River. His ancestors were natives of England. His great-grandfather was one of three brothers, who landed on the American coast during the colonial days, and settled in Vermont. From him sprang Ephraim, from whom sprang James, the father of Corydon. James was born in Andover, Vermont, in 1803; emigrated from Ohio to this county in October of 1855, and entered 296 acres. He enjoyed the distinction of serving on the Board of County Supervisors without interval from the date of its organization to the day of his death, which occurred in this township August 8, 1870. The subject of this biography was born October 26, 1834, in Grant county, Kentucky, where he was raised on a farm and educated. His father being a carpenter, he commenced learning that trade when twelve years old. He came with his father to Iowa, and has lived on his present place ever since. He became a member of company E, Eleventh Iowa regiment, September 14, 1864, and participated in the battles of Ft. McAllister and Polkletaliho, besides many skirmishes, and received his honorable discharge May 10, 1865. He married in Morgan county, Ohio, March 31, 1856, Jane Grier, who was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, September 13, 1837. The children of their union have been: Lucy D. (born June 28, 1857; married Rean Criswell, December 5, 1887), an infant (born in January, 1860; now deceased), Emma Nettie (born August 26, 1862), Cora (born December 28, 1868), and James W. (born January 3, 1873). Mr. Barker owns eighty acres of excellent farming land, in splendid condition, well stocked, and free from debt.