Charles Stephen Decatur Barker (1855-1940)

BARKER, EASTMAN, RAY, GUTEKUNST, MAXWELL

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:13

From Nevada Evening Journal February 20, 1940 (page 1)

C. D. Barker, County Pioneer, Is Dead Today

Charles D. Barker, 84, pioneer Union township citizen, died at the Iowa Lutheran hospital in Des Moines Monday evening at about 11 o'clock, from complications incident to his advanced years.

Mr. Barker whose health had been fairly good until the last 2 years, had been failing recently had submitted to an operation for prostate trouble and for the past few weeks his condition had been realized as critical. Death was due to a heart attack.

The funeral rites are to be held Thursday afternoon, Feb. 22 at 2 p. m., at the Bishop Funeral Home, and burial will be in the Nevada cemetery.

The story of the life of Mr. Barker is one of interest and covers much of the history of Story county.

Born on a farm in Steuben county, New York, Aug. 7, 1855, he spent his childhood days there and went to school in the old schoolhouse where both of his parents had attended and which is still standing. The building is over 100 years old, and still used for school purposes.

When Charles, or "C. D." as he became known, was a lad of ten years, the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Barker sold their New York state home and with a party of relatives and neighbors set out westward, there being seven prairie schooners and a considerable amount of livestock in the wagon train.

The trip to Iowa took nearly the entire summer and "C. D." recalled many interesting evens on the trip. Telling of the trip, he said, "Much of Illinois was not settled and in Iowa, west of the Mississippi, which was crossed on a raft, there was nothing much but wild prairie--no bridges and little in the way of roads."

Reaching the then village of Nevada, they stopped and the father rented a cabin to house his family while the rest of the party in the train went on the Kossuth county, where they might homestead land.

Jesse Barker, Sr. finally bought a farm in Union township, where he established himself, raised his family, and finally died. There the home was established, a large residence was erected and one of the features was what was then known as Barker's hall; where the young people of community gathered for dances and other social activities.

It was there that the subject of this sketch grew to manhood. He was married Emily Eastman in 1878 and they established their home on a farm nearby the old homestead, and it was there that their children were born and raised. The children are Ada Ray of Des Moines, Angie Gutekunst of State Center, Alta Maxwell of Albert Lea, Minn., Leslie who lives on the old Barker homestead, Jesse who had lived with and made a home for the father during the later years and Arthur who was accidentally killed by a falling three a few years ago. Son Otto Ralph died in infancy. He also leaves 13 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

Mrs. Barker passed away Dec. 17, 1931.

During his more active years, Mr. Barker did much traveling, takin a long trip almost every year, and upon the majority of these occasions was accompanied by his wife. The last 7 years before the death of Mrs. Barker, their winters were spent in Florida.

But a few years ago he stated, "Yes I have been in every state in the union, every province in Canada from Quebec to Vancouver, was 1500 miles up in Alaska; going over the famous "White Pass" where hundreds lost their lives during the Klondike rush. I have also made one trip to Cuba and sever over into Old Mexico."