George W. Barker (February 22, 1804 - April 7, 1873) was an American businessman and public official in Vermont and Wisconsin. He was notable for his service as United States Marshal for the District of Vermont (1835-1837), Sheriff of Washington County, Vermont (1843-1845), and Judge of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin (1864-1869).

Biography

George W. Barker was born in Randolph, Vermont on February 22, 1804, the son of Daniel Barker and Anna (Lathrop) Barker.^[1] He was raised and educated in Randolph, where he went into business as the proprietor of the Randolph Hotel.^[2] Barker later sold his holdings in Randolph and relocated to Montpelier where he worked as an auctioneer and was employed as an officer of the Vermont House of Representatives.^[3][4] In 1833, Barker was appointed a deputy sheriff of Washington, County.^[5] Active in the Democratic Party,^[6] in 1835 he was appointed United States Marshal for the District of Vermont, succeeding Heman Lowry.^[7] He served until 1837, when Lowry returned to the Marshal's position.^[8] In 1836, he was hired by Montpelier's village government to conduct a census of its population and businesses.^[9] From 1837 to 1840, Barker served as Montpelier's postmaster.^[10]

In 1839, Barker and partner J. T. Martson purchased Montpelier's Vermont Patriot newspaper, a leading Democratic outlet.^[11] Other ventures in which Barker was interested included acting as the sales agent for several Vermont counties in retailing two patent medicines, Goelicke's Matchless Sanative and Phelps' Compound Tomato Pills.^[12][13] From 1843 to 1846, Barker served as Washington County Sheriff.^[14]

In the 1840s and 1850s, Barker received construction contracts during the creation of the Central Vermont Railroad and his successful execution made him wealthy.^[6][15] He then received contracts to construct portions of the Rutland and Washington Railroad; when this venture failed during the Panic of 1857, Barker lost his fortune and moved to Painesville, Ohio.^[6][15] His railroad construction efforts there also proved unsuccessful, and Barker moved to Manitowoc, Wisconsin.^[6][15]

In Wisconsin, Barker undertook construction for the Appleton and New London Railway (later the Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western Railroad).^[15] The railroad was a success, which enabled Barker to restore his finances.^[15] Still active in politics as a Democrat, Barker served as Manitowoc County Judge from 1864 to 1869.^[16]

Barker died in Manitowoc on April 7, 1873.^[17] He was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Manitowoc.^[18]

Family

In 1827, Barker married Julia Geer of Chaplin, Connecticut.^[19] She died in 1864^[20] and in 1865 he married Mary Coventry, the widow of Washington Goodnow.^[21] With his first wife, Barker was the father of a son, George (1837-1851).^[22]

References

Sources

External links

George W. Barker at Find a Grave^{[lower-alpha 1]}

Notes