John Anthony Barker was fortunate in having had the country for his birth place. It is there the freeman is nurtured, and from thence have come the strongest of our thinkers. A native of Landaff, this state, he passed his early boyhood on his father's farm coming to Manchester with his parents when he was eight years old. Five years later he was at work in the mills, where he remaine until he was nineteen.
At this time the alarm of war spread over the country and he enlisted May 20, 1861, in Company C of the Second New Hampshire Volunteers, seeing his share of active duty. He was in the first battle of Bull Run, to be captured by the Confederates and sent to Libbey Prison. After 8 weeks he was transferred to the Old Parish prison in New Orleans. From there he was removed to Salisbury, NC where he was exchanged and returned to his regiment. A year had transpired since his enlistment and in February 1863, he was made a corporal. He was with his regiment in the midst of the Battle of Gettysburg, and on the second day he was struck on the head by a piece of shell, which completely disabled him from further service. In fact, his wound was of a most serious nature, fracturing and depressing the occipital bone to the extent of two inches square. After nearly a year in the hospital he was honorably discharged. He bore the mark of his would and suffered from it's effects as long as he lived.
Following the close of the war, he was employed by the government for a year to protect public property in Nashville, Tenn. At the conclusion of this duty he returned to Manchester, and was engaged in various positions.
The first Light Battery was organized and although he was offered a commission of the infantry service, he refused it and became one of the original members of the represent the organization. He was the last of the original members to leave it.
Captain Barker became a member of the Battery May 19, 1867. On June 4, 1873, he got his first promation made corporal, he was made sergeant on May 1, 1879. Then became the second lieutenant on June 11, 1894, he was brevetted Captain on December 16, 1901.
Whatever he undertook, Catain Barker performed with all his heart, and his association with the battery was marked with his characteristic fidelity, until the time arrived when declining health compelled him to retire from active duty. On the evening of Feb. 18, 1902 the entire command met to bid good bye to their old commarade and presented him with a sword and a copy of the resolutions. The ladies were present and it was an occasion to be remembered as long as one of its participants shall live.
He was a member of the Wildey Lodge of Odd Fellows, and Knights and Ladies of Honor, and the New England Order of Protection. His greatest interest, however, lay in his veteran organizations. He was a member of Louis Bell Post, GAR of the Manchester War Veterans and the Union Veterans' Union. Of social organizations he was connected with the East Manchester Veteran Firemen's Association and the Manchester Turnverein. He was the son of Samuel and Sarah Jackson Barker born May 1, 1842 and he died September 23, 1907, the last of seven children five boys and two girls.
He married December 4, 1869 Maria P Towne of Manchester, who with two children, a son Dick Barker and a daughter Mrs Ella Barker Davis survive him. Another daughter died in infancy.
As late as September 6. He invited the members of city government to visit him at his camp on the bank of the Merrimack but his friends could see that the Veteran must soon answer the roll call that had come to so many of his old comrades. This was his last public act. A little more than two weeks the "taps" sounded for the Veteran.
Bio from the Historic Association Collections, Manchester Vol IV Part Three 1910. pjv 1/21/2014
At this time the alarm of war spread over the country and he enlisted May 20, 1861, in Company C of the Second New Hampshire Volunteers, seeing his share of active duty. He was in the first battle of Bull Run, to be captured by the Confederates and sent to Libbey Prison. After 8 weeks he was transferred to the Old Parish prison in New Orleans. From there he was removed to Salisbury, NC where he was exchanged and returned to his regiment. A year had transpired since his enlistment and in February 1863, he was made a corporal. He was with his regiment in the midst of the Battle of Gettysburg, and on the second day he was struck on the head by a piece of shell, which completely disabled him from further service. In fact, his wound was of a most serious nature, fracturing and depressing the occipital bone to the extent of two inches square. After nearly a year in the hospital he was honorably discharged. He bore the mark of his would and suffered from it's effects as long as he lived.
Following the close of the war, he was employed by the government for a year to protect public property in Nashville, Tenn. At the conclusion of this duty he returned to Manchester, and was engaged in various positions.
The first Light Battery was organized and although he was offered a commission of the infantry service, he refused it and became one of the original members of the represent the organization. He was the last of the original members to leave it.
Captain Barker became a member of the Battery May 19, 1867. On June 4, 1873, he got his first promation made corporal, he was made sergeant on May 1, 1879. Then became the second lieutenant on June 11, 1894, he was brevetted Captain on December 16, 1901.
Whatever he undertook, Catain Barker performed with all his heart, and his association with the battery was marked with his characteristic fidelity, until the time arrived when declining health compelled him to retire from active duty. On the evening of Feb. 18, 1902 the entire command met to bid good bye to their old commarade and presented him with a sword and a copy of the resolutions. The ladies were present and it was an occasion to be remembered as long as one of its participants shall live.
He was a member of the Wildey Lodge of Odd Fellows, and Knights and Ladies of Honor, and the New England Order of Protection. His greatest interest, however, lay in his veteran organizations. He was a member of Louis Bell Post, GAR of the Manchester War Veterans and the Union Veterans' Union. Of social organizations he was connected with the East Manchester Veteran Firemen's Association and the Manchester Turnverein. He was the son of Samuel and Sarah Jackson Barker born May 1, 1842 and he died September 23, 1907, the last of seven children five boys and two girls.
He married December 4, 1869 Maria P Towne of Manchester, who with two children, a son Dick Barker and a daughter Mrs Ella Barker Davis survive him. Another daughter died in infancy.
As late as September 6. He invited the members of city government to visit him at his camp on the bank of the Merrimack but his friends could see that the Veteran must soon answer the roll call that had come to so many of his old comrades. This was his last public act. A little more than two weeks the "taps" sounded for the Veteran.
Bio from the Historic Association Collections, Manchester Vol IV Part Three 1910. pjv 1/21/2014
John Anthony Barker was fortunate in having had the country for his birth place. It is there the freeman is nurtured, and from thence have come the strongest of our thinkers. A native of Landaff, this state, he passed his early boyhood on his father's farm coming to Manchester with his parents when he was eight years old. Five years later he was at work in the mills, where he remaine until he was nineteen.
At this time the alarm of war spread over the country and he enlisted May 20, 1861, in Company C of the Second New Hampshire Volunteers, seeing his share of active duty. He was in the first battle of Bull Run, to be captured by the Confederates and sent to Libbey Prison. After 8 weeks he was transferred to the Old Parish prison in New Orleans. From there he was removed to Salisbury, NC where he was exchanged and returned to his regiment. A year had transpired since his enlistment and in February 1863, he was made a corporal. He was with his regiment in the midst of the Battle of Gettysburg, and on the second day he was struck on the head by a piece of shell, which completely disabled him from further service. In fact, his wound was of a most serious nature, fracturing and depressing the occipital bone to the extent of two inches square. After nearly a year in the hospital he was honorably discharged. He bore the mark of his would and suffered from it's effects as long as he lived.
Following the close of the war, he was employed by the government for a year to protect public property in Nashville, Tenn. At the conclusion of this duty he returned to Manchester, and was engaged in various positions.
The first Light Battery was organized and although he was offered a commission of the infantry service, he refused it and became one of the original members of the represent the organization. He was the last of the original members to leave it.
Captain Barker became a member of the Battery May 19, 1867. On June 4, 1873, he got his first promation made corporal, he was made sergeant on May 1, 1879. Then became the second lieutenant on June 11, 1894, he was brevetted Captain on December 16, 1901.
Whatever he undertook, Catain Barker performed with all his heart, and his association with the battery was marked with his characteristic fidelity, until the time arrived when declining health compelled him to retire from active duty. On the evening of Feb. 18, 1902 the entire command met to bid good bye to their old commarade and presented him with a sword and a copy of the resolutions. The ladies were present and it was an occasion to be remembered as long as one of its participants shall live.
He was a member of the Wildey Lodge of Odd Fellows, and Knights and Ladies of Honor, and the New England Order of Protection. His greatest interest, however, lay in his veteran organizations. He was a member of Louis Bell Post, GAR of the Manchester War Veterans and the Union Veterans' Union. Of social organizations he was connected with the East Manchester Veteran Firemen's Association and the Manchester Turnverein. He was the son of Samuel and Sarah Jackson Barker born May 1, 1842 and he died September 23, 1907, the last of seven children five boys and two girls.
He married December 4, 1869 Maria P Towne of Manchester, who with two children, a son Dick Barker and a daughter Mrs Ella Barker Davis survive him. Another daughter died in infancy.
As late as September 6. He invited the members of city government to visit him at his camp on the bank of the Merrimack but his friends could see that the Veteran must soon answer the roll call that had come to so many of his old comrades. This was his last public act. A little more than two weeks the "taps" sounded for the Veteran.
Bio from the Historic Association Collections, Manchester Vol IV Part Three 1910. pjv 1/21/2014
At this time the alarm of war spread over the country and he enlisted May 20, 1861, in Company C of the Second New Hampshire Volunteers, seeing his share of active duty. He was in the first battle of Bull Run, to be captured by the Confederates and sent to Libbey Prison. After 8 weeks he was transferred to the Old Parish prison in New Orleans. From there he was removed to Salisbury, NC where he was exchanged and returned to his regiment. A year had transpired since his enlistment and in February 1863, he was made a corporal. He was with his regiment in the midst of the Battle of Gettysburg, and on the second day he was struck on the head by a piece of shell, which completely disabled him from further service. In fact, his wound was of a most serious nature, fracturing and depressing the occipital bone to the extent of two inches square. After nearly a year in the hospital he was honorably discharged. He bore the mark of his would and suffered from it's effects as long as he lived.
Following the close of the war, he was employed by the government for a year to protect public property in Nashville, Tenn. At the conclusion of this duty he returned to Manchester, and was engaged in various positions.
The first Light Battery was organized and although he was offered a commission of the infantry service, he refused it and became one of the original members of the represent the organization. He was the last of the original members to leave it.
Captain Barker became a member of the Battery May 19, 1867. On June 4, 1873, he got his first promation made corporal, he was made sergeant on May 1, 1879. Then became the second lieutenant on June 11, 1894, he was brevetted Captain on December 16, 1901.
Whatever he undertook, Catain Barker performed with all his heart, and his association with the battery was marked with his characteristic fidelity, until the time arrived when declining health compelled him to retire from active duty. On the evening of Feb. 18, 1902 the entire command met to bid good bye to their old commarade and presented him with a sword and a copy of the resolutions. The ladies were present and it was an occasion to be remembered as long as one of its participants shall live.
He was a member of the Wildey Lodge of Odd Fellows, and Knights and Ladies of Honor, and the New England Order of Protection. His greatest interest, however, lay in his veteran organizations. He was a member of Louis Bell Post, GAR of the Manchester War Veterans and the Union Veterans' Union. Of social organizations he was connected with the East Manchester Veteran Firemen's Association and the Manchester Turnverein. He was the son of Samuel and Sarah Jackson Barker born May 1, 1842 and he died September 23, 1907, the last of seven children five boys and two girls.
He married December 4, 1869 Maria P Towne of Manchester, who with two children, a son Dick Barker and a daughter Mrs Ella Barker Davis survive him. Another daughter died in infancy.
As late as September 6. He invited the members of city government to visit him at his camp on the bank of the Merrimack but his friends could see that the Veteran must soon answer the roll call that had come to so many of his old comrades. This was his last public act. A little more than two weeks the "taps" sounded for the Veteran.
Bio from the Historic Association Collections, Manchester Vol IV Part Three 1910. pjv 1/21/2014
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
