Biography of John E. Barker - Conway Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Cathy Barnes Date: 21 Jun 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas. Goodspeed Publishers, 1891. page 51 Rev. John E. Barker, a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and the druggist of Ada, Higgins Township, owes his nativity to Indiana, where he was born January 1, 1852. He is a son of John M. and Lavina (Chancler) Barker; both parents natives of Kentucky, but they were married in Indiana. Two children were born to this union, our subject being the youngest, and is the only survivor. Father died in 1855, and mother was killed by an explosion of the boiler of the steamer Pocahontas on the Arkansas River below Dardanelle, in March, 1852. They were both members of the Christian Church. Mr. Barker, the subject of this sketch, was married in Yell County January 14, 1872, to Miss Missouri Allen, a daughter of Joseph and Ann (Childers) Allen. Mrs. Barker was born in this county March 27, 1854. To this union have been born eight children, four sons and four daughters, seven living and one dead. Mr. Barker began studying for the ministry in 1881, and was ordained to preach in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and now serves the church at Ada and others. He is also engaged in the drug business at Ada, and has a good store and stock and is doing a fair trade.