Elliott's Civil War Vets Barker - Barton
Written by Mr. John A. Stegall < johnstegall@hotmail.com 
One installment in a series of articles Mr. John A. Stegall prepares and publishes in The Elliott County News.  This article is a continuation from Dec 8, 1995.  Transcribed with permission from the author by Samone Ratcliff on Mar 31, 2001.

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     John Barker: When the 1890 census was taken John Barker was deceased, but his widow,
Nancy Barker, was still living.  She stated that John was a Pvt., Co. K, Ohio Sharpshooters.  He
entered service on Mar 13, 1865 and was discharged July 20, 1865.  She gave her address as Ibex
and said she suffered from "Disease of heart and nerves".
     This appears to be the John Barker, Jr., who was born in Carter Co, KY in 1840.  If so, he
was a son of John Barker and Sarah (last name unknown to us today) Barker. John, Sr., was born
around 1789 in NC and died around 1850 to 1860 in Carter Co, KY.  Researchers say his parents
were Hezekiah and Susannah Sebastian Barker.  Hezekiah was born around 1760 in NC and died
in 1816 in Wilkes Co, NC.  It is believed that his father was George Barker, Sr. who may have
been born around 1730 in VA, but died in Wilkes Co, NC in 1806.
     Hezekiah Barker was in the American Revolution, and along with his brother, George,
Jr., fought in the Battle of King's Mountain.  After Hezekiah's death, his widow and older sons
supposedly sold their land in Wilkes Co, then around 1825 or 26 appeared in Monroe Co, TN. 
Around 1827 or 28, they had purchased land "...on Little Fork, Lawrence Co, KY (present Elliott
Co)".  These same researchers told me, "Most of the Barkers of Elliot and Carter Counties trace
back to Hezekiah and his brother, John".  
     On Jan 20, 1859, John Barker, Jr. and Polina Holbrook were married in Carter Co, KY. 
He later married Nancy McFarland Holbrook.  
     When the Elliott county Census was taken, John Barker, age 30, was living in Precinct
#5, Little Fork.  He stated that he had been born in "KY".  His wife, Nancy, gave her age as
being 35, and also born in KY.  Children named in the 1870 report were: Lemuel, age 15;
Mahala. 13; Hiram, 10; William, 8; Susan, 6; John, 3; and Leander, 1.  
     In 1880, John Barker's family was found living in Precinct #5, Moccasin.  John was 48;
Nancy gave here age as 47, which did not correspond withe the age given in 1870.  She also
stated in 1880 that she was born in "VA", which differs from the place of birth named in the
1870 report.  Their children named in the 1880 report were: Sousanah, 19; William, 16; John S.,
13; Leander C., 11; Elihugh, 8; and Levi C., 3.  
     Obviously, John Barker was deceased by 1890.  He is buried in the old Barker cemetery
deep in a wooded area not far from Rt. 504, but there are no dates on his gravemarker - just the
following information: 8th Co., Ohio S.S.  Nancy is also buried there and according to her
gravestone she was born Apr 18, 1832 and died on Oct 5, 1891.  I believe "Wife of John" is also
engraved on her monument.
     One fo John's sons, Levi, is also buried in this cemetery.  His marker indicates that he
was born July 15, 1876 and died on May 4, 1883.  I find no further record of John's son, Lemuel,
after the 1870 census.  There are near 20 unmarked graves in this cemetery, and it may well be
that Lemuel had died and is buried there.  I find no mention of him after 1870.

     Hezekiah Barker: There is a wide space between the name of Hezekiah and his last name
on the list from which I obtained my information.  I cannot explain this space.  He stated that he
was a Pvt., in Co., C, 22nd Ky., Inf., and that his service began on Oct 20, 1861 and ended Jan 12,
1863.  In 1890 Hezekiah stated that he suffered from "diarrhea" and that his address was Whitt,
KY.  
     When Elliott County's first census was taken in 1870, there was no one by the name
Hezekiah Barker found living in Elliott Co.  (I wonder if he might have been in Carter Co).
     The 1880 Elliott Co census does not name a Hezekiah Barker; however, if the on named
in later records is the same Hezekiah, he would have been of sufficient age to have established
his own home.
     When the 1900 Elliott Co census was taken, we find Hezekiah Barker living in Precinct
#8, Sinking.  He stated that he was 47 years of age, having been born in July 1852 in KY.  His
wife, Mary, (his second wife), was 34, and was born in Sept 1865.  They had been married 17
years and had 8 children, one of which was deceased.
     Like most of the other Barkers in Hezekiah's age range, he was born in KY; however,
while other Barkers stated that their parents were born in NC, Hezekiah reported that his parents
were born in TN. 
     Keep in mind that when Susannah Sebastian Barker and some of her sons left NC, they
settled down briefly in TN before moving on into eastern KY.  Could John, Sr., the father of
John, Jr., mentioned above, have also been the father of Hezekiah?  It is also worth mention that
Hezekiah Barker had a step-son named Hezekiah, who sometimes used the name Sebastian, but
at other times gave his name as Hezekiah Barker.
     In 1900, Hezekiah Barker named the following children: Wm., 15; Anis, 13; John, 11;
Nellie, 8; Samantha, 6; Polly, 4; and Samuel, 1.
     The 1910 Elliott Co census showed that Hezekiah Barker was still living in the Sinking
Precinct.  He said he was 57 years of age, married a second time for 27 years, born in KY, and
parents born in TN.  Mary was 45 years of age and had 11 children, on of which was deceased. 
They had 8 children still at home: Willie, 25; John, 21; Samantha, 16; Polly, 14; Samuel, 11;
Betty, 8; Frankie (dau), 6; and James A., 1 year, 11 months.
     Since Hezekiah Barker would not have been extremely old by 1920, he is probably
named in the census for that year.
     I find further record of Hezekiah Barker in the files I have at this time.

     Daniel P. Barton: Pvt. Co., 22nd VA, Cav.  He was deceased by the time the 1890 census
was taken, and his widow, Nancy, gave the above mentioned information.  Shed did not know
when he entered or left Civil War service .  She stated that her address was Stephens, but gave
no additional information.  I do not find anyone by that name in any of my Elliott Co records.

Finished