William H. Barker

Every life has a story… William H. Barker was born January 15, 1837 in the state of New York. His friends called him Will. He was a veteran of the Civil War. Serving as a sergeant, he fought alongside soldiers of Company K, 11th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry. Shortly after the war ended, William H. Baker married Ruth Roberts Huffin of Ohio in 1866. (She was born in 1842 in Ohio.) The happy couple had a daughter Emma who was born in Illinois. Emma is the only child listed on Findagrave.com. (Side note- Emma married William Walter Gordon of Illinois in 1908. Emma and Walter Gordon had a daughter born in Friend. Her name was Phyllis Mary Gordon Cornell! Perhaps her name sounds familiar… Phyllis had been a music teacher at Friend Public Schools years ago. Phyllis and Melvin Cornell had a little girl named Prudence that was born prematurely and only lived a few hours. Later, Phyllis and Melvin had two other daughters). Ruth died February 12, 1912 at the age of 69. Wiliam H. Barker died June 11, 1922. He lived to be 85 years old. Both William and Ruth are buried in Block 10, Lot 300 at Andrew Cemetery.