Kentucky: A History of the State. Perrin, Battle & Kniffin, 6th ed.,1887, Spencer Co. THOMAS J. BARKER was born April 20, 1827 in Spencer County, Ky. His father, Thomas Barker, was born near Trenton, N.J., June 2, 1783, and died in Spencer County, Ky., September 1, 1857. He was of English ancestry, was a farmer, and lived near Taylorsville. After adopting Spencer as his home he held the office of sheriff and deputy-sheriff for several years, also was appointed justice of the peace, which position he held for many years. He married Elizabeth Morgan, daughter of William Morgan, of Virginia. She was born March 14, 1783, and died March 24, 1854. Thomas J. Barker is the youngest of seven children and was educated at Taylorsville. He began reading law in 1851 in the office of Mark E. Huston, of Taylorsville. In 1854, however, he was elected circuit court clerk, and continued to act as clerk until 1868, when he was admitted to the bar, and has continued to practice on since in Spencer and adjoining counties. He served as master commissioner of the Spencer circuit court for several years. In 1873 he was elected State senator from the Fourteenth District, composed of Shelby, Spencer and Nelson Counties. Thomas J. was married November 17, 1864, to Jennie Owen, daughter of Richard Owen, of Shelby County, Ky. Her father was for some time engaged as a manufacturer of woolen goods at Shelbyville, Ky., and afterward became a farmer. He was of English extraction, and was born in Shelby County, Ky., November 18, 1798, and died April 13, 1856. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Barker three children were born: Thomas A., born September 17, 1867; William Owen, born December 22, 1869, and Jennie O., born November 2, 1869. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Taylorsville, Ky. Barker Morgan Huston Owen = Mercer-NJ VA Shelby Nelson http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/spencer/barker.tj.txt