Biography of Abbott Barker of Mazon, Illinois

Abbott Barker, farmer, P. O. Mazon, is a native of Washington County, N. Y., born January 12, 1823, son of Leonard and Hannah Barker, of New Hampshire. He was raised and educated in the common schools of his native State, then came to Illinois and settled in Putnam County, about 1857. Here he lived until 1861, when he moved to his present residence in Mazon Township, Grundy Co. He took the trade of carpenter and joiner after coming to Illinois. He was married on March 5, 1856, to Miss Malinda Hopkins, of Putnam County, Ill. She was born May 1, 1830, and died in Mazon Township May 22, 1865. They had two children – Joel H., born January 31, 1860, and H. J., born January 16, 1857, and married, December 28, 1876, to Rev. A. D. Beckhart. April 17, 1866, Mr. Barker married the second time. They own a farm of 235 acres of improved land in Sections 5 and 8, of Mazon Township, land worth $50 per acre. Mr. and Mrs. Barker are members of Wauponsee Grove Congregational Church.