Saline County Bios
"Portrait and Biographical Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion Counties," 1893
FRANK G. BARKER, who resides on section
4, Cambria Township, is one of the efficient County Commissioners of Saline
County, and a prominent and influential citizen.
A native of Illinois, he was born in Warsaw, Hancock County, on the 13th of September, 1854, and
is a son of James S. and Amilda (Peyton) Barker.
The father was a native of the Empire State and
in 1846, when a young man, emigrated to Illinois,
where he was married. For many years he engaged in farming, but during the war carried on
the grocery business in Warsaw. For the past
eight years he has resided with our subject.
Mr. Barker, whose name heads this record, was
educated in the High School at Warsaw, and when
a young man learned telegraphy, but has never
utilized that art as a means of livelihood. In
1878 he came to Kansas and secured a claim of
eighty acres. At that time he had less than $100,
and his possessions consisted principally of an old
team. He at once began to develop his land,
which was then wild, and has now a highly cultivated and well-improved farm. By his industry
and enterprise the uncultivated prairie has been
transformed into rich and fertile fields, which
yield to him a golden tribute in return for the care
and labor he bestows upon them. He has forty
acres planted in fruit, including grapes, peaches,
apples, pears, etc., and from his farm in 1891
cleared about $1,000. He started out in life
empty-handed but now has a comfortable competence as the reward of his own efforts.
For some time Mr. Barker was a supporter of
the Democratic party, but became one of the first
members of the Alliance in this county and has
taken an active part in its upbuilding and promotion. In 1891 he was elected
County Commissioner from the second district on the ticket of the
People's party, his opponent being one of the
most popular men in the county. He helped to
organize the County Horticultural Society and has
since been one of its most prominent members.
Mr. Barker is a man of good business ability,
and by his well-directed efforts, good judgment
and perseverance has won a well-deserved success. He is an excellent manager and can raise as
much on his land as many would on a farm three
times the size of his. He is regarded as a straight-forward and upright business man and has the
confidence and regard of all with whom he has
been brought in contact.
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This website created June 15, 2011 by Sheryl McClure.
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