Simon Barker Obituary

Ogden Standard Examiner, January 4, 1917

Pioneer of '49 Buried With Impressive Ceremonies; Large Attendance at Services.

Funeral services for Simon Barker, pioneer of '49, were held in the Seventh ward meeting house, Ogden, January 3rd, Bishop Arthur Budge presiding.

The musical numbers consisted of: Duet, "Beyond the Shining Gates of Gold," Messrs. Arthur G. Bassett and Clarence M. Barker; solo, "Calvary," Mrs. Maude Dee Porter; solos, "Face to Face" and "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere," Mrs. Melba Read Jones.

Patriarch George W. Larkin offered the opening prayer and Bishop Miles L. Jones the benediction.

The speakers were: Elder John L. Wilson, Patriarch James Ward, Patriarch Levi J. Taylor, Patriarch James Taylor and Elder James J. Barker. The latter also read the following biographical sketch:

Simon Barker, son of George and Sarah Gerrard Barker, born in Shelfanger, Norfolk, England, October 1, 1826. Died Ogden, Weber County, Utah, January 1, 1917.

In connection with his father and others, constituting quite a large family of the Barkers, he immigrated to the state of New York in the spring of 1830, losing his mother en route, who died of smallpox and was buried at sea. The family located in Jefferson County, New York, where, in the neighborhood of Watertown, he was reared, and early in the year 1844 was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, receiving the gospel at the hands of Dimick Hunnington, Benjamin Brown, and Jesse W. Crosby through whom several large branches were raised up. Among these and particularly in the Barker family, the gifts and graces of the gospel were freely manifest, and from that time the subject of this sketch enjoyed the gift of tongues and the gift of healing.

Early in 1846 the family emigrated westward. They had been preceded to Nauvoo in 1845 by the senior member of the family, George Barker, father of the deceased, who assisted in guarding the temple then in course of building, during troublous times, and then returned and headed his family in their journey westward in the spring of 1816. On their arrival at Nauvoo they found the city nearly deserted and after a short visit, during which they viewed the temple, they proceeded to the camps of the saints near Council Bluffs, Iowa. Under the advice of he leaders of the church they located temporarily, in the then territory of Iowa, where they farmed and otherwise obtained supplies and equipment for their journey to the mountains. In 1849 they made their way across the plains, by ox teams in the company of Allen Taylor, arriving in Salt Lake City, Sunday, October 20th. Soon after they proceeded northward to what afterward became Ogden City and Weber County, locating near the junction of the Ogden and Weber Rivers tor the winter. Thereafter, joined by the Farrs and others, they participated in the settlement of Farr's Fort and finally Mound Fort, where the subject of this sketch finally located and resided until the time of his death.

He was particularly active in the development of irrigation and the agricultural resources of the county. He also shared in the thrilling experiences with the Indians incident to those days. In 1857 he participated as a volunteer in the campaign in Echo Canyon, whose object was to resist the approaches of Johnston's army.

The following spring he joined in the "move" southward, accompanying his family as far as Payson,

but immediately returned with a few brave companions to care for the crops, which they had planted before leaving.

In 1855 he was married to Jemima Newey, who had shortly before immigrated from England, and by whom he had five children. Of these one died in infancy, and his oldest son, George S. Barker died In 1895, whose five children yet survive. The other children were Clarissa Ann Barlow and Eveline James of Ogden and Frederick E. Barker of Salt Lake City. There are also 26 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren surviving.

In 1866 his wife Jemima Newey died, and in 1869 he married Ann Barlow, who also died in 1895.

He assisted in hauling stone, with an ox team, for the foundation of the Salt Lake temple, and throughout his whole life he was characterized for his liberality and activity in ecclesiastical work. During many years he was prominent in the thirty-second quorum of seventy and later as a high priest.

Interment was in the City cemetery, the grave being dedicated by Newman Barker.

Transcription by Ruth H. Barker, submitted 2010.