My Genealogy Hound

Henry J. Barker (deceased) was a native of Chester, Conn., born in 1816, and a mechanic by trade. He was educated in Essex, Conn., and at the age of eighteen began selling clocks for a Connecticut firm and traveled over most of the State. He was very successful and worked at this business for fifteen years, having his headquarters at Nashville, Tenn. About 1836 he established a merchant tailor store in Nashville, where he remained for several years. September 10, 1845, he married Julia A. Farnsworth, a native of Oxford, N. Y., born in 1827, and to them were born two children: Mary (deceased, wife of William Schell) and Julia B. (wife of Capt. Samuel Lyon). In 1846 Mr. Barker came to Gallatin and began merchandising, selling cast plows, being the first man to introduce them in Middle Tennessee. In 1851 he erected a foundry and machine shop and began the manufacture of said plows. In 1854 he sold out to Jonas Nickelson, who has since been manager. In 1853 or 1854 he, Col. Munday and Moore Bros, erected a flour-mill called Spencer’s Mills, but afterward Gallatin Mills. The last few years of Mr. Barker’s life he and Charles Hitchcock were partners. Mr. Barker died in December, 1862, and since his death Mrs. Barker has been possessor of the mill, but it is managed by her son-in-law, Capt. S. Lyon. Mr. Barker was an excellent man, was universally respected and was a natural mechanic. During the war he was a consistent Unionist. He was a member of the I. O. O. F. and was buried by that order. He was a member of the Universalist Church and Mrs. Barker believes in the same faith. His parents were Brader and Mary (Jones) Barker.