Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-01-07
ANSWERS SUMMONS.

While travelling east on a Northern
Pacific train last Tuesday morning, C.
c. Barker. president Of the Barker &
Stewart LUmber Co, of this city, sud-
denly expired, death being due to heart
failure. His son, William, accompanied
him and vas near his father at the time
of death. Mr. Barker left lis home in
Portland, Ore, the day before, bound
for Chicago, where he intended looking
after some business matters and had
planned to come to Wausau about the
middle OF the month to attend the an
nual meeting of the Barker & Stewart
Lumber company. Mr.. Barker died
when the train was within few miles
of Green River. Wyo., and the remains
were removed from the train at that
point, the son at once notifying the
family and also friends in this city of
his fathers demise.
VIM. Barker at once started back
home with his fathers remains and the
funeral was held in Portland Saturday
afternoon. The Barker & Stewart mill
in this city was closed all of Tat day.
Deceased was born about sixty-five
years ago. He spent his early life in
Bay City, Mich. That section was then
thriving lumber centre and Mr.. Bar
ker early became interested in the in
dustry. he brought his family to Wan
sau in the year 1886 and in company
with H. c. Stewart purchased the mill on
the island, which has ever since been
operated by them. Some time after he
resided here the Garth Lumber Co. was
organized, Mr.. Barker being one of the
principal stockholders. A large tract
of timber was purchased west of Good
now on the ST. Paul Ry. and a large
mill was built on the bank of a lake
and the town of Garth esta blished. The
mill was built during the winter and Mr..
Barker spent a portion of his time on the
ground, experimenting its construction
In this respect he was man who did not
pass unnoticed any of the details of his
business, no matter how small they
might appear to others. After the tim
Der in that tract had been cut and man.
1factured the company pulled up stakes
and moved over in the vicinity of
Escanaba, Mich !, where another large
tract of timber had been purchased.
Here another town of Garth was es.
tablished and another mill was built.
At about this period Mr.. Barker became
interested in other enterprises and he
decided to leave Wausau, and he moved
back to his former home in Bay City,
Mich, After that he came here fire.
quentiy and always expressed himself
as having warm spot in his breast for
Wausau and her people
His company built mill in Ashland
and this mill became quite noted few
years ago because of the fight between
the company and the Edward Hines
Lumber Co., over the cutting of timber.
Finally the latter company bought the
mill and the trouble was settled.
A few years ago Messrs. Barker &
Stewart became interested in western
timber lands, the Peninsular Lbr. Co.
was organized and large mill was
built. Mr.. Barker, to be nearer the
scene of operations, moved his family |
to Portland, Ore, and continued to
reside there up to the time of bis death
Mr.. Barker was whole-souled gentle
man whom it was pleasure to meet
In business way he was known as a
hard, persevering worker with keen
foresight, who made success of every
venture he took hold of. He was what
might be termed self-made man.
Starting as boy he worked his way up
into the lumber industry until he had
accumulated large fortune. He is
survived by his wife and three children,
William, Ada and Alice. Another
child, Miss Maude, died eight years
ago, after the family moved away from
Wausau