MOTHER-

Catherine Ann Denning, daughter of John and Abagail Denning, was born in Iowa, VanBuren County, Dec 22^nd, 1844, being one of the eight children of this sturdy pioneer family, she doubtless knew many of the hardships along with the joys which made life worth while. In her childhood, as it were at the age of 14 years, she accepted Christ as her personal Savior, uniting with the Presbyterian Church at Winchester and has followed him all the way- Lo! These many years. When she was a maiden of 17 years the Civil War broke out. After its turmoils were all over and the treaties of peace all signed and our boys in blue were again in the ranks of domestic life it was then that her soldier bravely claimed her as his bride and she was united in marriage to John T Barker at her home in Mt Zion, Jan 31, 1866. After her marriage they moved ot Davis County settling on the farm which has continued to be the family home. Here her eight children were born, and (with the exception of baby Emma Jane, the oldest, who died at the age of 6 months, ) were reared to manhood and womanhood. The children are her daughter, Mrs Sarah Utt, of Bloomfield, and six sons, Henry, Harry, John, Jesse, Joseph and Charles, all of whom reside near the old home except Henry who lives at Galesburg, Ill. As a result of the hardships of war Mr Barkers health was impaired; so necessarily the duties and cares of Mrs Barkers family fell heavily on her shoulders, she never wavered but carried bravely on: caring for her family and afflicted husband until death claimed him and the heavenly father took him home.