Lanson Barker

As printed in 1908

LANSON BARKER, a representative citizen of Bath Township, re.siding on his valuable farm of 155 acres, which is favorably situated within three-quarters of a mile of Ghent, was born on this farm, in Summit County, Ohio, February 6, 1857, and is a son of William and Anna Eliza (Hutchinson) Barker.

Mr. Barker is a member of a pioneer family of Ohio, of New England ancestry. The grandfather, Lanson Barker, whose honored name has descended to the grandson, was born in Connecticut, in 1791, and his father, Jared Barker, wa.s born in England. Lanson Barker moved to New York and subsequently to Ohio, settling first in Holmes County, later in Medina County, and still later in Cuyahoga County, where he died in 1855. His children were: Roxie A., William,.Jared, Jolm. Lyman, Mary, Frances and Nelson.

William Barker, the eldest of the above family, was born in New York, July 30, 1817, and accompanied the family to Ohio. After a prospecting visit to California, in 1849, he returned to the East, and in 1853 he purchased a farm in Bath Township, Summit County, Ohio. To the clearing and developing of this farm he devoted practically the rest of his life, making of it some of the most valuable land of this section. He died February 10, 1896. He was a man of sterling character, honest and up'right in his dealings with his fellow-men and was entitled to the respect and esteem in which he was held. He was a.stanch Republican and at various times held public office. He married Anna Eliza Hutchinson, who was born April 3, 1826, and died October 2, 1876. They had four children, the two survivors being: Lanson and Jared, the latter of whom was formerly sheriff of Summit County.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Mr. Barker married Alice Behmer, who is a daughter of Moses and Mary Ann (Myers') Behmer. She was born in Springfield Township, Summit County, but was reared in Richfield Town.ship. They have three children: Anna, Frederick and Alba. The son is a."student in a bu.siness college at Akron. The family residence is a commodious and comfortable frame building which Mr. Barker erected in 1895. He is a member of the Disciples Church at Ghent and one of the trustees. He takes a deep interest in educational affairs and for several years was a member of the town.ohip School Board, and a director of District No. 4, one in which Bath Township takes particular pride on account of the excellence of its schools.

As printed in Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.