W. H. Barker
Sanborn Pioneer, Sanborn, IA
William Henry Barker was born in Kilburn City, Wisc., December 22, 1863 and passed away on December 9, 1952 at the Sheldon Hospital, having suffered a stroke of paralysis on November 23. Had he lived two more weeks, he would have reached the age of 89 years.
He was the second son of William F. and Helen Blunt Barker and one of six children. When he was nine years old, his family moved to Waverly, Ia, where he grew to manhood.
In 1886, he came to Sanborn to work for E.J. Drake as a jeweler. Several years later he decided to go into business at Hartley, Ia, but returned to Sanborn in 1893 and bought Mr. Drake's Jewelry store, thus becoming one of the pioneer business men of the town. In 1898 he bought the drug store which occupied the other half of the same building, operating them together. Also at the same time he was watch inspector for the Chiciga, Milwaukee, and St. Paul railroad and from the necessity of checking the correct time with the depot daily, was developed the first telephone line in Sanborn between his store and the depot. It was not until 1901 that he built the first telephone system of 18 telephones for the town. He continued that business until his retirement from active business in 1935. The present telelphone company in Sanborn is operated by his son Wm. E. Barker, who took over when he retired.
One of the high spots of his jewelry days was his first Edison phonograph which drew people from teh surrouding territory to listen to the wonders of the new talking machine. Evening programs were given in his jewelry store.
Mr. Barker was united in marriage on August 3, 1897 to Miss Anna J. Weintz. To this union were born two children, a daughter, Helen H., and a son, William E.
Mr. Barker was a very active man all his life and never happier then when he was busy. He was always enthusiastic about sports, following them closely. He enjoyed baseball very much and took a keen interest in local football and basketball games and the young people of the community.
He was an ardent chess fan, organizing several chess clubs of different times. his enthusiasm brought chess tournaments to Sanborn with champions and well known players participating. He was president of the Northwest Iowa Chess Association. In his later years, he took great pleasure in teaching chess to young people.
He had great initiative and was thorough in all his work. There are many of the young peple of Sanborn who remember with appreciation his interest and patient assistance in their games, especially instruction in chess and was a dependable "manager" at their basketball games for many years.
Another hobby was bees, which gave him great pleasure the last few years of his life. He was know as "Barker the bee man" around the community.
He had been very active up until his last illness seeing his friends and neighbors daily. His warm enthusiastic personality will be greatly missed by young and old alike. Mr. Barker was devoted to his family and community.
He was preceded in death by three sisters: Mrs. John Hutehinsan, Mrs. George Barber and Mrs. Jennie Foote, and one brother, Mr. E.C. Barker.
He is survived by his widow, one daughter Helen H. Barker of New York City, and one son, Wm. E. Barker of Sanborn, one sister, Mrs. Ethel Dent of Ocheyedan and three grandchildren, Wm.C., Jean Ann and Carol Barker.
Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Dean Williams on Thursday afternoon Dec 11, a family service at home at 1:30 and at the Sanborn Funeral Home at 2:00, Mrs. Ellis Miller and Mrs. John De Gooyer rendered two selections "No Night There" and "Beyond the Sunset" accompanied by Mrs. Earl Mayne.
Pallbearers were M.J. Shanahan, Earl Mayne, Kenneth Tifft, Justin Foley, John Hofman, and Dick Vander Woude, all neighbors and friends.
Interment was in Roseland Cemetery
Sanborn Pioneer, Sanborn, IA
William Henry Barker was born in Kilburn City, Wisc., December 22, 1863 and passed away on December 9, 1952 at the Sheldon Hospital, having suffered a stroke of paralysis on November 23. Had he lived two more weeks, he would have reached the age of 89 years.
He was the second son of William F. and Helen Blunt Barker and one of six children. When he was nine years old, his family moved to Waverly, Ia, where he grew to manhood.
In 1886, he came to Sanborn to work for E.J. Drake as a jeweler. Several years later he decided to go into business at Hartley, Ia, but returned to Sanborn in 1893 and bought Mr. Drake's Jewelry store, thus becoming one of the pioneer business men of the town. In 1898 he bought the drug store which occupied the other half of the same building, operating them together. Also at the same time he was watch inspector for the Chiciga, Milwaukee, and St. Paul railroad and from the necessity of checking the correct time with the depot daily, was developed the first telephone line in Sanborn between his store and the depot. It was not until 1901 that he built the first telephone system of 18 telephones for the town. He continued that business until his retirement from active business in 1935. The present telelphone company in Sanborn is operated by his son Wm. E. Barker, who took over when he retired.
One of the high spots of his jewelry days was his first Edison phonograph which drew people from teh surrouding territory to listen to the wonders of the new talking machine. Evening programs were given in his jewelry store.
Mr. Barker was united in marriage on August 3, 1897 to Miss Anna J. Weintz. To this union were born two children, a daughter, Helen H., and a son, William E.
Mr. Barker was a very active man all his life and never happier then when he was busy. He was always enthusiastic about sports, following them closely. He enjoyed baseball very much and took a keen interest in local football and basketball games and the young people of the community.
He was an ardent chess fan, organizing several chess clubs of different times. his enthusiasm brought chess tournaments to Sanborn with champions and well known players participating. He was president of the Northwest Iowa Chess Association. In his later years, he took great pleasure in teaching chess to young people.
He had great initiative and was thorough in all his work. There are many of the young peple of Sanborn who remember with appreciation his interest and patient assistance in their games, especially instruction in chess and was a dependable "manager" at their basketball games for many years.
Another hobby was bees, which gave him great pleasure the last few years of his life. He was know as "Barker the bee man" around the community.
He had been very active up until his last illness seeing his friends and neighbors daily. His warm enthusiastic personality will be greatly missed by young and old alike. Mr. Barker was devoted to his family and community.
He was preceded in death by three sisters: Mrs. John Hutehinsan, Mrs. George Barber and Mrs. Jennie Foote, and one brother, Mr. E.C. Barker.
He is survived by his widow, one daughter Helen H. Barker of New York City, and one son, Wm. E. Barker of Sanborn, one sister, Mrs. Ethel Dent of Ocheyedan and three grandchildren, Wm.C., Jean Ann and Carol Barker.
Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Dean Williams on Thursday afternoon Dec 11, a family service at home at 1:30 and at the Sanborn Funeral Home at 2:00, Mrs. Ellis Miller and Mrs. John De Gooyer rendered two selections "No Night There" and "Beyond the Sunset" accompanied by Mrs. Earl Mayne.
Pallbearers were M.J. Shanahan, Earl Mayne, Kenneth Tifft, Justin Foley, John Hofman, and Dick Vander Woude, all neighbors and friends.
Interment was in Roseland Cemetery
W. H. Barker
Sanborn Pioneer, Sanborn, IA
William Henry Barker was born in Kilburn City, Wisc., December 22, 1863 and passed away on December 9, 1952 at the Sheldon Hospital, having suffered a stroke of paralysis on November 23. Had he lived two more weeks, he would have reached the age of 89 years.
He was the second son of William F. and Helen Blunt Barker and one of six children. When he was nine years old, his family moved to Waverly, Ia, where he grew to manhood.
In 1886, he came to Sanborn to work for E.J. Drake as a jeweler. Several years later he decided to go into business at Hartley, Ia, but returned to Sanborn in 1893 and bought Mr. Drake's Jewelry store, thus becoming one of the pioneer business men of the town. In 1898 he bought the drug store which occupied the other half of the same building, operating them together. Also at the same time he was watch inspector for the Chiciga, Milwaukee, and St. Paul railroad and from the necessity of checking the correct time with the depot daily, was developed the first telephone line in Sanborn between his store and the depot. It was not until 1901 that he built the first telephone system of 18 telephones for the town. He continued that business until his retirement from active business in 1935. The present telelphone company in Sanborn is operated by his son Wm. E. Barker, who took over when he retired.
One of the high spots of his jewelry days was his first Edison phonograph which drew people from teh surrouding territory to listen to the wonders of the new talking machine. Evening programs were given in his jewelry store.
Mr. Barker was united in marriage on August 3, 1897 to Miss Anna J. Weintz. To this union were born two children, a daughter, Helen H., and a son, William E.
Mr. Barker was a very active man all his life and never happier then when he was busy. He was always enthusiastic about sports, following them closely. He enjoyed baseball very much and took a keen interest in local football and basketball games and the young people of the community.
He was an ardent chess fan, organizing several chess clubs of different times. his enthusiasm brought chess tournaments to Sanborn with champions and well known players participating. He was president of the Northwest Iowa Chess Association. In his later years, he took great pleasure in teaching chess to young people.
He had great initiative and was thorough in all his work. There are many of the young peple of Sanborn who remember with appreciation his interest and patient assistance in their games, especially instruction in chess and was a dependable "manager" at their basketball games for many years.
Another hobby was bees, which gave him great pleasure the last few years of his life. He was know as "Barker the bee man" around the community.
He had been very active up until his last illness seeing his friends and neighbors daily. His warm enthusiastic personality will be greatly missed by young and old alike. Mr. Barker was devoted to his family and community.
He was preceded in death by three sisters: Mrs. John Hutehinsan, Mrs. George Barber and Mrs. Jennie Foote, and one brother, Mr. E.C. Barker.
He is survived by his widow, one daughter Helen H. Barker of New York City, and one son, Wm. E. Barker of Sanborn, one sister, Mrs. Ethel Dent of Ocheyedan and three grandchildren, Wm.C., Jean Ann and Carol Barker.
Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Dean Williams on Thursday afternoon Dec 11, a family service at home at 1:30 and at the Sanborn Funeral Home at 2:00, Mrs. Ellis Miller and Mrs. John De Gooyer rendered two selections "No Night There" and "Beyond the Sunset" accompanied by Mrs. Earl Mayne.
Pallbearers were M.J. Shanahan, Earl Mayne, Kenneth Tifft, Justin Foley, John Hofman, and Dick Vander Woude, all neighbors and friends.
Interment was in Roseland Cemetery
Sanborn Pioneer, Sanborn, IA
William Henry Barker was born in Kilburn City, Wisc., December 22, 1863 and passed away on December 9, 1952 at the Sheldon Hospital, having suffered a stroke of paralysis on November 23. Had he lived two more weeks, he would have reached the age of 89 years.
He was the second son of William F. and Helen Blunt Barker and one of six children. When he was nine years old, his family moved to Waverly, Ia, where he grew to manhood.
In 1886, he came to Sanborn to work for E.J. Drake as a jeweler. Several years later he decided to go into business at Hartley, Ia, but returned to Sanborn in 1893 and bought Mr. Drake's Jewelry store, thus becoming one of the pioneer business men of the town. In 1898 he bought the drug store which occupied the other half of the same building, operating them together. Also at the same time he was watch inspector for the Chiciga, Milwaukee, and St. Paul railroad and from the necessity of checking the correct time with the depot daily, was developed the first telephone line in Sanborn between his store and the depot. It was not until 1901 that he built the first telephone system of 18 telephones for the town. He continued that business until his retirement from active business in 1935. The present telelphone company in Sanborn is operated by his son Wm. E. Barker, who took over when he retired.
One of the high spots of his jewelry days was his first Edison phonograph which drew people from teh surrouding territory to listen to the wonders of the new talking machine. Evening programs were given in his jewelry store.
Mr. Barker was united in marriage on August 3, 1897 to Miss Anna J. Weintz. To this union were born two children, a daughter, Helen H., and a son, William E.
Mr. Barker was a very active man all his life and never happier then when he was busy. He was always enthusiastic about sports, following them closely. He enjoyed baseball very much and took a keen interest in local football and basketball games and the young people of the community.
He was an ardent chess fan, organizing several chess clubs of different times. his enthusiasm brought chess tournaments to Sanborn with champions and well known players participating. He was president of the Northwest Iowa Chess Association. In his later years, he took great pleasure in teaching chess to young people.
He had great initiative and was thorough in all his work. There are many of the young peple of Sanborn who remember with appreciation his interest and patient assistance in their games, especially instruction in chess and was a dependable "manager" at their basketball games for many years.
Another hobby was bees, which gave him great pleasure the last few years of his life. He was know as "Barker the bee man" around the community.
He had been very active up until his last illness seeing his friends and neighbors daily. His warm enthusiastic personality will be greatly missed by young and old alike. Mr. Barker was devoted to his family and community.
He was preceded in death by three sisters: Mrs. John Hutehinsan, Mrs. George Barber and Mrs. Jennie Foote, and one brother, Mr. E.C. Barker.
He is survived by his widow, one daughter Helen H. Barker of New York City, and one son, Wm. E. Barker of Sanborn, one sister, Mrs. Ethel Dent of Ocheyedan and three grandchildren, Wm.C., Jean Ann and Carol Barker.
Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Dean Williams on Thursday afternoon Dec 11, a family service at home at 1:30 and at the Sanborn Funeral Home at 2:00, Mrs. Ellis Miller and Mrs. John De Gooyer rendered two selections "No Night There" and "Beyond the Sunset" accompanied by Mrs. Earl Mayne.
Pallbearers were M.J. Shanahan, Earl Mayne, Kenneth Tifft, Justin Foley, John Hofman, and Dick Vander Woude, all neighbors and friends.
Interment was in Roseland Cemetery
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