The BARKER family has been a part of the Benton Community for over 100 years.

Reuben BARKER, born [January 27, 1824] in North Carolina, moved with his family to Indiana, then settled in Ringgold County until his death [December 30, 1907, interment at Benton Cemetery]. [Sarah A. BARKER, spouse of Reuben, was born in 1826, and died July 11, 1903 with interment at Benton Cemetery.] His son, William G., married Angeline MARSHALL and moved to a farm he had purchased west of Benton in 1880. The farm is still in the BARKER family and his great grandson, Dan BARKER and family, lives in the house he built in the 1880's. William and Angeline had five children: Harry, Fred, Nellie, Florence and Cora. Harry, the oldest son, married Alice EVANS of California, and to this union were born six sons: Harold and Lawrence (now deceased), of California; Clarence, of Benton; Raymond (deceased); Donald, of Las Vegas; and Marshall, of Mount Ayr.

Harry and his family resided on his father's farm and always maintained an interest in the business and political affairs of the community. He was a member of the Christian Church, the I.O.O.F. of Benton, served as a member of the school board, and was a township trustee for several years. Alice was also active in community affairs. She was a Sunday school teacher and gave piano lessons to many children of the community.

All the BARKER sons attended the Benton school. Clarence and Marshall chose to be farmers, and the other boys went into other lines of work.

SOURCE: 1887 - Benton, Iowa Centennial - 1987. p. 143. Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library, Mount Ayr IA

Transcriptions and notes by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2012

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