The Newtown bee., 1879-07-02
BecollectiOns of Some of the Old New York Northumberland Bar ker.

This celebrated merchant and banker, more than a half century ago. was of Quaker origin, and died but few years since, after having attained the age of ninety years and upwards. The earliest recollection which the writer has of him was when he was the principal owner of bank in William street, New York, which had for it's paying teller the late ! Fitz Greene Halleck (the well-known poet), who was a native of Guilford, in this State, where he passed the latter part of his life in tranquil retirement Since his decease a bronze statue of him has been erected to his memory in Central Park. In this bank Jacob Little (after- wards large and wealthy stock operator) also served hls apprenticeship and in it acquired much of that shrewdness and sagacitY for which his employer, MT.
 Barker, was celebrated.
 Mr. B. was also extensively engaged in
 the shipping business--foreign and coast
 wise, and was regarded ''on change" as
 one of the most enterprising and far-see-
 
 Many anecdotes have been related o
 him, illustrating his remarkable skill il
 extricating himself from loss, which bur
 for instant action and adroit management
 on his part-not to use stronger eXpres
 sion-would have certainly ensued
 Among these was the case in which ; q vessel belonging to him was so far over k due on her voyage, that he became. ap prehensive with regard to her fate, an
 as she was not insured, lie resolved, ' possible, to shift the risk from his ow % shoulders to those of others 50 he mad
 application to one of the Marine Insul ,. ance Companies for a policy upon hel
 not however, without some fears of thei ' refusing to take the risk Overdue as sh Id then was), and, while waiting in this sus
 pense, news came of her loss, and hefor
 it spread, he hastened to the compan
 and rushing to the desk of the secretary said: "If thee has not made out Tn
 policy, you need not do so, for the shl at has been heard from, " which led the SC, - retary to infer that her arrival safe ha at been reported and eager to receive th H. premium, he replied t'It has been mac a+ out, MT. Barker, and you had better tab ' it now" which. of course, he was nc th slow in doing, and paving over the pr +h mium, he saved for himself the full valu at of his vessel, the loss of which ocean = known to the company few hours afte h, On another occasion he secured an il
 debtedness of a few thousand dolla at at from a firm, which by some means. know
 only to himself, he had discovered WI F about to fail he held it's check for u ay amount due him, but the bank refused ,o- cash it, as it exceeded the sum to the to credit and fearing that other checl R. drawn by the same concern of less snl sr,l amounts would be presented and paid u nd til the funds were entirely exhausted, or or there would be nothing left for him;
 asked the paying teller if he would ref nt. to the ledger and inform him what amou
 was needed to make his check goo
 which he consented to do, and it bel but a small sum, he immediately plac
 it to the credit of the firm, and after g ting the tellers receipt for it, drew t check for it's face. leaving the other ere itors of the firm (which that day susper J ed) to secure their dues by slower p 3 cess.
 \ He dealt also at times quite largely specie and was very troublesome to banks from which he would draw 1t, J length the officers in one of these insti tions resolved to punished him on J first occasion that offered. They had I 5 long to wait, for before many days A came down upon them with another dra s He was politely told that the amo'