The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-07-16
THOMAS BARKER,
Born In Stratham N. H., Died July 25th 1919.
He left a wife and twelve children"

From the great weight Of Mr.. Barker, a
scaffold had to be built outside Of his chamber
window, the coffin strengthened with iron,
and pulleys rugged before 1t could be lowered
to the ground. Mr.. Barker was noticed in
the street for his uncommon stature and
commanding presence. He was Of few words
and had the confidence of all who knew him.
His oldest child Miss Susan M. Barker took
charge OF the Barker motel at once. and made
1t success. She was good business woman
married a Mr.. Cross Of Lancaster N. III. and
and Barker fashion, with the aid of a sister,
she built hotel at Lancaster and kept 1t for
years.
The twelve children who were left father
less, by their own energy and that of the
grand children aided by fortunate and
judicious marriages, with the WadswoIths
Springs, Trues, Chambers. Pixies Eastmans
and others, have made the family as we'll
known as were the Motley family, who were
reared In the same tavernhOuse. Peleg
Barker the well known merchant, who with
his brother-in-law, Hon. John Lynch, for
years shipped lumber to the West Indies,
and imported the produce Of those islands, is
a grand son of Thomas Barker the giant
tavern keeper. His last movement was the
building of wharf adjoining Custom House
wharf which he owns, which has caused
almost as much tumult as the proposed ferry
landing. Clark Barker the late postmaster,
Is OF the same family. After the death of the
had several landlords of the same name and
blood.
These annals Of the Barker tavern and
family, obtained from the late +. G. Messer
who at the time had a country store at Ian
caster and made frequent visits to Portland
driving his own team and always stopping at
the Barker tavern here. The last keeper
OF the house was Samuel Ryerson. de
modernized the exterior by adding piazzas,
and some other improvements. 1t was
burned 10 1S4S while Bangor fire company
M wi.h Sutton into; tub was staying here over
performance at the fire, with their machine,
playing two streams for an hour, was most
extraordinary, with two supply engines try
ing In vain to wash her. 1t was the first hand
engine Of that build to play here.
The last Of the three taverns of Main
street going down, was square three wooden
house without ornament, which stood on the
south corner OF Beaver, now Brown street
1t had two-story wing on Beaver street,
and the stables beyond, with an entrance
In 1872. In 1923 John Pattep, an other
weighty landlord kept 1t. In 1888 it was kept
by George Otis under the name of the Frank
lin House. which fact suggested the name for
the present building on its site. boarded
here with Otis while the extension of the
to occupy in 1888. The Franklin House was
burnt in the great fire of November 1842
which destroyed all the buildings on both
sides of Brown street from Congress to Free
streets.
With the present facilities for travel and
the conveyance of heavy merchandise, the
three taverns of Main street., with their
acres of sheds, yards and stables were, not
needed to accommodate trade and travel and
they were not rebuilt. Their sites are now
occupied by splendid shops for the exhibition
and sale of rich goods that were almost I'M
In INN