Barker, Eleazer

BARKER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 13:13:59

ELEAZAR BARKER
born June 29, 1831, Indiana

E. Barker, who is numbered among Warren county's pioneers, having for thirty-five years resided in this locality, claims Indiana as the State of his nativity, his birth having occurred within its borders, June 29, 1831, His father. Daniel Barker, was a native of Massachusetts, and at an early day in the history of this community located in Warren county. In his earlier life he followed farming, but subsequently turned his attention to merchandising which he carried on at old Greenbush from 1854 until 1872. He became a well known and prominent citizen of the county, a leader in public affairs, and his life was indeed upright and exemplary. In 1880 he was called to the home beyond, and his remains were interred in Indianola cemetery, where a monument has been erected to his memory. His faithful wife also rests by his side. They were indeed worthy people, well meriting the high esteem in which they were held. Our subject was one of a large family of children, and was educated in a deaf and dumb asylum in Indianapolis, Indiana, under the direction of Professor Brown. He has read quite extensively, and is today an intelligent man. On the 21st of April 1859, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth A. Barker, a daughter of John W. and Elizabeth (Bing) Barker, who had a family of three sons and two daughters. Her mother died in Center county, Pennsylvania, after which her father was married again, and came with his family to Iowa in 1853, locating at Fort Des Moines. He was born in 1817, and died in 1854, near Keokuk, Iowa, while hauling a steam boiler. His widow returned to Pennsylvania where her last days were spent. She had one child, Franklin Pierce. To our subject and his wife have been born two children - Charles W., who resides on the old homestead; and Sybil N., who died in Indianola, Iowa at the age of nine months and five days. Mr. Barker is now engaged in merchandising and also owns a farm. He has made the best of his opportunities in life and the success he has achieved is of great credit to him and is well deserved He has found in his estimable wife an able helpmate, and throughout the community, she is widely and favorably known. In politics, Mr Barker is a Republican, having supported that party since casting his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont.
Source: A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1896, vol.1, p.470