George D. Barker

BARKER, WORK

Posted By: Karen DaPra (email)
Date: 10/2/2001 at 18:15:24

A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT

GEORGE BARKER SAWED NEARLY IN TWO IN A SAW-MILL

HE DIES IN TWO HOURS AFTER BEING TAKEN HOME

In the last two or three weeks Van Buren county has had its full share of accidents, but the one occurring near Mt. Zion, Wednesday forenoon of last week was the saddest of all, as by it George D. Barker, an old citizen of the county lost his life, and a wife and large family of children are bereaved with scarcely a moments warning.

He was engaged in building himself a new house on his farm about two miles east of Mt. Zion, and was having the lumber sawed at a portable sawmill owned and operated by Bordie Sherod and another gentleman about one mile distant from his home. He was needing some 2x4 scantling, and taking a log to the mill and finding them short of help volunteered to assist. He was setting the rachet and Sherod running the saw. They had made the required number of cuts and were ready to turn the log on the carriage. As Sherod started the log back after making the last cut Barker stepped on the carriage to ride, something he had not been in the habit of doing, when the lever either struck him or he slipped and his left hand fell on the log and it was cut nearly across, commencing at the outside near the wrist and extending diagonally across to the thumb, and he was whirled half way round and sat on the log leaning backward the saw striking him two or three inches above the lower end of the backbone and cut him nearly in two, sawing through the hips and lacking about ten inches, measured across the front of the abdomen, of completing the work. About four inches of the saw extended above the log, and his bowels were terribly lacerated. One man said he could lay his hand in the wound. He was taken to his home, about one mile distant, and physicians summoned, but there was no help for him. With the terrible wound he lived about two hours and was conscious to the last. After the accident he was anxious for them to get him home that he might see his family. He talked with the attendants and family, and until a few moments before death would nod his head when spoken to.

The mill was what is known as a portable saw-mill, run by a traction engine. It was located near Henry Hootman's for the purpose of sawing out some timber and was operated by Bordie Sherod, through whom the above account of the accident is learned. Mr. Sherod saw the whole thing, but is unable to tell what threw Barker. He may have reversed the carriage a little more rapid that usual or the lever that is used to move the log may have struck him as he stepped on the carriage.

George D. Barker was born in Carroll county, Ohio, in the spring of 1842, and the following fall his father Mathew Barker moved to Iowa and settled south of town near the neighborhood where the accident occurred. He was twice married, his second wife being a daughter of Joseph Work. He leaves a wife and ten children, nine of them unmarried, to mourn his terrible death. The funeral was held Friday at 11 a. m., from the Mt. Zion Presbyterian church, Rev. Breeden, the pastor, conducting the services, and his remains were buried in the Miller chapel cemetery. There was an immense attendance at the services.

He was an industrious good citizen, and will be sorely missed not only by the bereaved family, but by the entire community in which he had resided so long.

Photocopy of this obit is located on page 8 of Obit Book A found in the Van Buren County, IA Genealogical Society's collection at the Keosauqua Public Library in September 1999. Name and date of newspaper not given.) ORIGINAL POST 14 Oct 1999.

I am interested in the names of George Barker's nine children. Please e-mail me if you have further information.