Biographies Michigan Biographies Project |
Mr. Barker's mother was born in Wyoming county, N. Y., in the year of 1829. She maked her home among her children, where she is an ever welcome guest. She is a lady of refinement and culture and though past seventy-five years of age, is still able to care for herself. Robert Barker was for many years one of Lansing's most respected and prominent citizens, a man of the strictest probity of character and universally regarded with esteem. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and a Christian gentleman. He was a graduate of the Wellsville Academy of New York and after completing his studies he went to Paducah, Ky., and started a college for young ladies. A distrasrous fire destroyed the building and he abandoned the enterprise. He moved his family to Lansing, Michigan, and during the war was employed by James M. Turner in the land office of the Jakcson, Lansing & Saginaw R. R. Co. His interest in education matters gave him recognition and he was chosen a member of the school board. He was also for a period of two years Superintendent of the State School of Blind, this instutition being located in the City of Lansing. He carried on for a time a general insurance business and for twenty-five years he manufactured brick and tile near the corporate limits of the city and acquired a comfortable competence for himself and family.
William C. received his education in the Lansing High School and later completed a course at Bartlett's Business College. In 1883 he came to Mason to take charge of the brick and tile manufacturing plant, located here and owned as a partnership concern. This he managed successfully for some fifteen years, giving employment to as many as twenty men at some seasons of the year. His plant has received much patronage from the farmers for many miles around, both for building and drainage. Mr. Barker had the contract for furnishing the brick used in the erection of the new court house. He purchased the entire outfit in 1898 and is now the sole proprietor of the enterprise. In politics, Mr. Barker can always be relied upon to increase the Republican majority by one vote.
February 4, 1885, Mr. Barker married Miss Jennie R., daughter of F. M. Lewis of this city. One daughter, born April 1, 1887, is the light of their home and joy to their lives. She is a pupil in the Mason High School.
Mr. Barker is an Elk, a member of the Lansing organization. In addition to his business interests in the city he has interests in the Township of Alaiedon. Having possibly just passed the meridian of life and being well established in business, he may reasonably expect his full share of the good things of life, as a reward for his industry and enterprise.
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Biographies Michigan Biographies Project |
 Sondra Higbee
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