The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-12-15
HOMIE. BARKER DIES
Was Member of State Senate Eight
Years and Previously Served
in the Lower House.
He Took Great Interest i'm the Ad-
vancement of Education and
Public Improvements.

early hour Monday morning. 1t was
known that he had been ailing from
an affection of the heart but it was
thought he was in no immediate
danger, and the news of his death
was shock to his many friends in
this vicinity. The funeral was held
from the family residence yesterday
afternoon: business was entirely
suspended in Cambridge, and the i'm
mense concourse of people who
attended the services and escorted the
remains to the cemetery testified to
the high esteem in which deceased
was held in the community and the
sincere sympathy that was felt for his
sorrow-stricken family.
A large delegation of the members
Of the Odd Fellows lodge of Prince
ton-six automobile ATTENDED
the funeral and participated in the
services at the grave. Others present
from Princeton we're T. 81. Galley, S.
S. Peterson, Chas. Keith, E. L. Nc
MILAN and r. G. Dunn, all old friends
of Mr.. Barker. Several Princeton
relatives of the deceased, including
Mr.. and Mrs. Ira Stanley and Mr..
and Mrs. Oscar Stark, also attended
the funeral.
Henry F. Barker was born in
Naples, Maine, in 1850. BE came of
good old stock and was a member of
the Minnesota Society of the Sons of
the American Revolution. He received
a liberal education and was graduated
from the Albany law school. He came
TO Minnesota first in 1868, and worked
that winter ct Leavitt & Horr's camp
on Mike Drew in the present town of
Hayland, this county. He went back
to Maine in 1870, was admitted to
practice law in 1875, and returned to
Minnesota in 1876. He was elected
county superintendent of schools of
Mile Laos county in 1877. The fol-
lowing year he moved to Cambridge
and was elected county attorney of
Isanti county, an Office which he
acceptably filed for eight terms or
sixteen years. He was elected to the
lower branch of the state legislature
from the 18th district Hennepin,
Anoka and Isanti-in 1882, and again
from the same district in 1886: in 1898
he was elected to the state senate
from the 45th district-Anoka, Isanti,
Mile Laos and Sherburne-and was
reelected in 1902 by large majority
after a sharp contest. Thus he served
eight years continuously in the state
senate and in a highly creditable
manner. In 1900 he was a delegate
from the Eighth congressional dis
trict to the republican national con-
vention and several times previously
had been elected as an alternate to
republican national conventions. No
resident OF Isanti was ever accorded
more political honors than Il. F.
Barker. He took an active part in
the business affairs of Cambridge and
was interested in the Cambridge
starch factory and other manufacture
ing enterprises. For several years
Mr.. Barker was the owner and editor
of the Isanti County Press, the Oldest
county paper, which finally merged
with the Independent. Mr.. Barker
was always interested in the cause of
education and to him more than to
any other man is Cambridge indebted
for the splendid school facilities it
enjoys today.
On Nov. 81, 1879, at the Congrega-
tional church in Princeton by Rev.
David Henderson, Mr.. Barker was
united in marriage to Miss Maggie
Byers, one of Princeton's fairest
daughters. It was happy union and
was blessed with five children-Mrs.
Minerva Hixon, Ethel, Ruth, Blaine
and Henry-all of whom, together with
Mrs. Barker, and a brother, DR..
George Barker of Wisconsin, survive
him. The Oldest brother, A. P. Bar
ker of Princeton, died in 1883.
Henry F. Barker was good and
useful citizen and a considerable and
affectionate husband and father. His
death is sincerely regretted by q
large circle of friends and acquaint-
ances.
In the Union of Oct. Is, 1878,
there appeared the following reference
to Mr.. Barker, who had resigned the
Office of uperintendent of schools of
Mile Laos county and moved to Cam
bridge: ..
"H. F. Barker is a candidate for
county attorney of Isanti county; be
is the regular republican nominee and
will also be the nominee of the mass
convention that will convene at Cam