William C Barker and Elizabeth Hurtt

Burwell Barker (1787-1844 also "Burrel") was married to Nancy Holloway. They had several children in Wake County. Burwell's will mentions Henderson, Gray, Brinkley and Zachariah. Also Mary, Margaret, Mark, and Lydia Barker Hunter. I have a copy of the will. I also have found a copy of Zachariah Barker's will. There are some interesting congruences, and one surprise. Zachariah mentions a brother, William C. Barker. Researchers have been of two minds I think on whether to actually include William C among the children of Burwell. I have decided to make the leap, and to hope for greater clarity someday. There is a good bit of information about William C Barker. William C Barker married Elizabeth Hurtt Roberts. She was the

Oldest child of William F and Martha Barden Hurt, she married James D Roberts in Halifax Co, NC on Oct 24, 1857 and had a daughter, Almedia Robert, born Jul, 1858. after death of James Roberts (war casualty), she married William C Barker on Apr 27, 1865 in Raleigh, Wake, NC and had two sons, John Quenton Barker and William Barker. Her second husband died in 1871. By 1880, she migrated to Forest Hill, Summers Co, WV with brother John Thomas and her mother, Martha Barden Hurt. 

It would seem then that some time after the death of William C Barker, Elizabeth (Betsy) moved to where others of her family were living in West Virginia. By that time she had two sons of William C in addition to her own daughter from her first marriage. This is where the story gets more interesting, because there is a great deal of information on one of the sons, John Quinton Barker. It is he and his family that I have been researching this weekend.

John Quinton Barker (Quenton) according to a newspaper article of 1934 was born in Wake County and moved to WV with his family. (I have discovered that some of the facts in the newspaper article are a bit jumbled.) He attended "Athens College in Hinton, WV." That was probably Concord College in a town once known as Concord, but which changed names in 1896 to Athens. It is indeed about 20 miles from the town of Hinton, WV. John Quinton Barker moved to Andrews, NC in 1897 and established a lumber business. He was also instrumental in the incorporation of the town, the establishment of its road system, a school, and in building a short railway to move lumber from the forests to the mill. He was such a key figure in the history of Andrews, NC that in 1934 a portrait of him was placed in a new gymnasium at the Andrews High School (along with a portrait of DS Russell).

John Quinton Barker had eleven children with Deborah Keeney. I'll go into more detail about his family in another post. He resided in Andrews until 1912 when he joined the business interests of EW Grove (of Grove Park Inn, Grovemont, and Grovestone fame). He managed Grove's affairs in Florida living the remainder of his life in Gainesville.

Since railroads were such a vital part of the history and economic development of the region, there is a fair amount of information about the Snowbird Railway. You can read a summary about it here. Notice the name of the organization's treasurer, William Lewin. John Quinton Barker named one of his sons John Lewin, no doubt honoring his business partner.

I came across some of this information a few years ago, but never did much with it, as my own family line breaks with this one in William C Barker's generation (my own line descends from his brother Mark). But one wonders if there is family around wherever one is, so I have pursued this a bit further to this point because of the local connection.There is a family of Barkers who live in Montreat, NC, near us, and I am often asked if we are related. That family, I believe, moved to the area with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, perhaps from the upper mid-west. So I do not think we are directly related. But you never know. My goal in life now is to try to find an image of the portrait that was hung in the high school of John Quinton Barker.

Iredell County, NC Barkers

A chance encounter through my work recently gave me reason to explore Love Valley in Iredell County. The person I was speaking with had Barkers in his family by marriage, and he said the founder of Love Valley was a well-known Barker. He was in fact Jeter (Jetter) Andrew Barker who died in 2011. The name "Jeter" made me take especial notice since my dad and grandfather were both Jeter. It's not all that common, and I have never known how it happened to begin appearing in our family. I am no closer to a real answer, but I did find a bit of information. I recall that about the same time my family moved from VA to Wake County other Barkers in VA moved to Iredell County. I don't recall anything more than that, but it will bear exploration because of that naming pattern. Here's what I found right off the bat this morning. The names Howell and Gillam which appear in the sources are likewise vaguely reminiscent of Virginia Barkers.

https://www.journalnow.com/news/local/andy-barker-founder-of-love-valley-dies/article_9aff0405-137c-5265-b963-5c2dc3561d03.html

John T. Edwards + Martha Jane Covington
(Rev.) Reuben Howell Washington Barker + Jo Alice Edwards
or Rubin Howe Washington Barker
(https://www.ancestry.com/search/categories/42/?name=Hailey_Barker&death=_TX)
(https://www.myheritage.com/names/jo_barker)
31 August 1844 Iredell County- 12 July 1928 Randolph County
married 1881
children:
William H Barker 1881-1962
Simon C Barker 1822-1937
Tom Derr Barker 1886-1978
Felice Barker Barkley 1894-1964
Jetter Andrew Barker 1897-1978
Julia Barker Williams 1898-1991
Alice Ophelia Barker 1904-1905
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/145907728/jeter-andrew-barker

Jetter Andrew Barker (1897-1978) + Mary Elizabeth Hunnicutt (1905-1991)
Jetter Andrew Barker (1924-2011)
Alice Barker Gordon

Jetter Andrew Barker Jr + Elenora Spratt
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74881643/jetter-andrew-barker
BARKER LOVE VALLEY, NC - Andy Barker July 4, 1924 - August 11, 2011 Jetter Andrew "Andy" Barker, Jr., founder of North Carolina's Cowboy Capital, Love Valley, has passed away at the age of 87. With his health declining in recent months, and more rapidly in recent weeks, Andy was admitted to Gordon Hospice House of Statesville on Saturday. He died Thursday, August 11, 2011, with family at his side. A native of Mecklenburg County, Andy was a distinguished military veteran, contractor, and philanthropist. His most distinguished work, however, came in 1954 when he fulfilled his dream of founding an Old West-style town. Founded in 1954 and incorporated in 1963, Love Valley has become the destination of horse lovers, tourist and outdoor enthusiast for nearly 60 years. With Love Valley Presbyterian Church as its anchor, the community has evolved from a dream to an iconic North Carolina community. Though he made two unsuccessful attempts to become our governor, at his passing Andy was the oldest seated and most tenured mayor in the history of North Carolina. He is also listed in the Who?s Who of America, the Mayors Hall of Fame, the Cowboy Hall of Fame, and the Southeastern Rodeo Hall of Fame. He was the Co-Founder and President of the Southeastern Rodeo Association and Founder of the Chickasaw Horse Association. Andy was predeceased by his son, Jetter "Jet" Andrew Barker, III. He is survived by his wife, Ellenora Spratt Barker, his daughter, Tonda Barker Trivette and her husband Ron, and his former daughter-in-law, Cindy Barker Allison. He is also survived by four grandchildren and their spouses: Jeffrey Allen Smith and his wife Kim of Clinton, SC; Angela Smith Stringer and her husband Maynard of Sarasota, FL; Jetter Andrew "Drew" Barker IV of Love Valley; and Victoria Allison Barker of Love Valley. Andy was also blessed with four great grandchildren: Mary Grace and Holt Smith of Clinton, SC; Sam Stringer of Sarasota, FL; and Skye Greene Barker of Love Valley. He is also survived by his loving sister, Alice Barker Gordon and her husband Bill, and nephews of Charlotte, NC. And his Love Valley family. The family invites you to join them for a celebration of Andy's life on Sunday, August 14, at 6:30 p.m., on Main Street in Love Valley. We will celebrate Andy with a barbeque and covered dish gathering. Barbeque will be provided. Please bring a dish to share. On Monday there will be a private graveside service for family members only. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Andy?s honor to the Love Valley Building Fund, for the Future Museum, Town Hall and Library which will showcase the history of Love Valley and the many accomplishments of its founder. Arrangements are being handled through Nicholson Funeral Home.

Possible lineage:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/130275422/howell-barker

The "Olive" in Jeter Olive Barker

For the longest time, it was somewhat of a mystery where the name "Olive" came from in our family. My grandfather was Jeter Olive Barker, and my dad was Jeter Olive Barker, Junior. My dad went by Bud; my grandad by Jete. Family lore has it that my grandfather offered my dad $100 to name me the third. While I can appreciate the historic nature of the name now, I cannot imagine going through school with it. So I _really_ appreciate my dad turning down the $100.

But the question has lingered, where did the name come from? I have no answer regarding Jeter, but I think I have the Olive part figured out. My great-great-great-grandfather Mark Barker married Gilley (Olive) in Wake County. Hers was a rather large family in Wake, and a history has been published. This weekend along these lines I was reviewing some information I got from a cousin, Mark Victor Barker, Junior, in Florida a few years ago. He is descended from Brinkley Barker, brother of my own Hosea Jackson Barker. Their parents were Mark Barker and Gilley Olive. Mark in Florida had never been able to go further back than that. I had not been able to know Gilley's last name for sure, so we were able to help one another out. I got motivated to do some of my own research based on his notes. Gilley's parents were Burrel (John, James, William) Olive and Polly Johnson. As I was researching on line I found a digitized copy of Burrel's family Bible, which lists several family members. Gilley is listed there, along with other names that in turn show up in the names of her children, siblings of Hosea and Brinkley. I was delighted to find this information and confirm my suppositions and solve the mystery of where the Olive name came from in our family.

Mark and Gilly Barker

I have been working with some documents that belonged to my grandfather, Jeter Olive Barker. Among them are several helpful genealogical articles related to our family. Most recently I have been working with one I call the "Mark and Gilly Barker family notes." It lists Mary and Gilly and then several children, spouses and grandchildren. I believe this may have been written by Ellen Margaret Barker, sister to my great-grandfather Walter Graham Barker. I have not yet been able to nail down that Gilly Barker was Gilly Olive before she married. But I suspect so, and that would explain my grandfather's middle name (and my dad's). I have an Olive family genealogy in the files that I need to plow through to see if it can confirm my supposition. One of the most interesting things to glean from this document is the fact that two children of Mark and Gilly Barker, Hosea Jackson Barker and Delia Barker, married siblings in the Holleman family. Also among the papers of my grandfather is a handwritten summary of the Holleman family. I have not yet integrated it into what I have, but intend to. For now, here is the notes page and my transcription of it.

Mark - Gilly

Hosea Jackson B- married Lucilla Jane Holleman ( 8 ys dec) daughter of Edwin and Sallie Johnson Holleman...boys and Ellen

Henderson Calvin b- married Salllie Wilson, daughter of Houston and

Arzilla Johnson Wilson

Burrell Quinton Barker married Nancy Hunter ?

Dickerson Barker married Martha Johnson
child

Oscar & - Cecil Barker & Mrs. Gypsy Hiatt of Greensboro

Delia or Dilly Barker married Rev Monroe Holleman (my mother's brother) 
one son- Harvey M. now dec-

Arzilla married Junius Edwards - one daughter Mrs. Carrie E. Womble

lives in Cary, NC. Another daughterLenna E. Saunders. Durham

Laura Barker married Faust Johnson.

Re-grouping

A computer virus deleted all of my documents in 2012. I lost everything in our genealogy folders. Every now and then I get a query from a cousin, so I have decided to try to begin to rebuild. I just purchased new software, Legacy Family 8, and entered my own information. In a sense this will be good because some aspects of my earlier database had gotten really messy. This will give me a chance to tidy some things up. What I won't enjoy is re-scanning all the documents I have. I'm also going to try to keep a narrative record of my work here. We'll see how long I can keep that up.Luckily I had a great deal of information on genealogy websites, so I can access somethings there. Plus my dad's site is still up and running. So we're off and running again!

Elizabeth Hurtt Barker

I traded information on Elizabeth Hurtt Barker recently with Sandra in NY...


Hi: I've been going through your wonderful website on genealogy.com regarding the Barkers of Wake, NC. William C. Barker (b. @ > 1824) was the son of William and Zillah. He married the sister of my greatgreatgrandfather who was Mary Elizabeth Hurt Roberts after she was widowed in the Civil War and they had two sons, John Quinton and William > Barker. I have long looked for a death date and burial information for Mary Elizabeth; she is in the 1910 WV census in Ronceverte, Greenbrier County, having moved to WV after William C. Barker died in 1871 in Wake NC. Do you have any information about her or William C. Barker? Thank you very much,

Sandra Hurtt Raviv

And my reply...

I have attached a document showing what little information I have on Roberts herself. Of particular interest is the rather lengthy article related to her son, John Q. Barker, which was here in the Asheville, NC area. I have no information about Roberts' family, her parents or any siblings. I have fairly extensive information on her husband's family, that being my own. I can provide generations backward from what appears in this document if you would like (for the Barker family). Perhaps you can discern estimates which may prove helpful in learning more about Roberts from something contained here.

Here is an image of the first part of the information I shared. If you can share more, or anything, let me know. I know it ain't much, but...

Benjamin Barker

I have recently been sharing information with Teresa regarding Benjamin Barker. I have several in my database as I mention below, so I'm not sure we are talking about the same person. If anyone has any information on anyone named below, I would be happy to hear about it and share it around.

The last communication comes first; if you want chronological order, start at the bottom. I think the mother's name on Ben's DC is Julia (instead of Juda) and perhaps Jonas or Jones is the last name. You can click on the images to get a larger view.

Hi Mike

I found Benjamin W. Barker's death certificate who married Amanda C. Cleaton - found her death certificate also.
Thought you may find these interesting.

This proves his father's name - but--------------- the certificate does not have his full name. Just Ben. I just need to keep looking.

Teresa Barker Hughes
Dinwiddie Barkers
____________________________________________________________

I have four Benjamin Barkers in my database. One seems a possible fit to your parameters.Benjamin Barker b.11/1775. S/O Ambrose Barker and Mary Ann Ragland. Ambrose Barker (ca. 1750-1815) was in Surry County VA for some time. Many in this family group migrated toward what is now Mecklenburg County over the course of time. Ambrose is the s/o John Barker and Lucy Reeks.This is not my line, so my information is sketchy at best from Ambrose forward. I have nothing at all on Benjamin other than the birth date.Hope this helps. If you find this is the correct person, I can give more information going further back in time, and would appreciate the details you have of the family going forward.

__________________________________________________

Hi my name is Teresa Barker Barkers of Virginia ] Do you have information on a Ben W Barker born abt 1785 - in 1850 located in Regiment 98, Mecklenburg, Virginia

Wife Juda _____ (that is all I have)

Son Benjamin Barker born abt 1831

Son Richard Barker born abt 1827

Benjamin W. Barker (I believe Junior) was born Oct 1831 - married a Amanda Cleaton both living in Namozine Dinwiddie Virginia in 1880

Their children:

Mary J. Barker born 1859 Mecklenburg Virginia married John Alfred Springfield

Sarah E. Barker born 1860 Mecklenburg, VA married William Holt Dabney

Andrew Barker born 1863 Mecklenburg - died ?? Married ??

George Benjamin Barker born 22 Dec 1863

I have more info - hoping you have info too

Keeping with the Barker Pioneering Spirit, Teresa Barker