ALBERT L. BARKER
Albert
L. Barker is the able and expert chief engineer of the Old
Colony Creamery and in addition is closely connected with
business interests of Humeston as manager of the Princess
Opera House. He
was born in Union township, August 14, 1871, a son of O. J.
and Eliza (Almon) Barker, the former a native of Indiana and
the latter of Iowa. Both
passed away in Wayne county, the father dying in Humeston in
1906, at the age of sixty-nine, and the mother in Union
township in May, 1872. They
were numbered among the earliest settlers in Wayne county.
Albert
L. Barker has remained continuously a resident of this section
since his birth. He
acquired his education in the local public schools and after
laying aside his books learned the carpenter’s trade, which he
followed until he was twenty-two years of age. For the past nine
years he has been at intervals chief engineer of the Old
Colony Creamery Company of Humeston and is so engaged at the
present time. He
is an expert in this line of work and has had broad practical
experience in it. In
addition to this Mr. Barker has since 1907 been manager of the
Princess Opera House and has done able and businesslike work
in this connection, securing always high class attractions. The building is
owned by the Home Bank of Humeston and is one of the finest of
its kind in the county, thoroughly equipped in every
particular, lighted by electricity and supplied with a large
modern stage upon which may be seen all of the modern
metropolitan attractions.
The people of Humeston greatly appreciate the
exceptional opportunities which this theater offers and reward
Mr. Barker’s efforts by according him a liberal patronage.
In 1894 Mr. Barker was united in marriage to Miss Ollie Stone, a native of Iowa and a daughter of A. H. and Asilee (Taylor) Stone, both of whom are residing in Arkansas at the present time. Mr. and Mrs. Barker are the parents of a daughter, Wilma S., born in 1896, who attended the Humeston high school. Mr. Barker has no political affiliations, preferring to cast his vote according to his personal convictions without regard to party lines. Both he and his wife are members of the Congregational church. A man of high worth and sterling integrity, he is highly respected and honored in the community where his entire life has been spent.