Simon Barker

Simon Barker, son of George Barker and Sarah Gerrard was born in Shelfanger, Norfolk, England on October 1, 1826. His brothers were Frederick, Ellis who died in infancy, James, and Simon. In the spring of 1830, at the age of four, Simon's parents, his two brothers, his Aunt Harriet and others crossed the mighty deep on the ship “New Brunswick,” an old war vessel equipped with armory. Sarah Gerrand, their mother, died of smallpox just before landing at Staten Island and was buried at sea.

The family located at LeRayville, Jefferson County, New York. Simon attended school at Watertown, a nearby city, and on February 24, 1844 was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He received the gospel at the hands of Dimick Huntington, Benjamin Brown, and Jesse W. Crosby, who had formed several branches for the church. Most of the Barker family accepted the gospel restored through the prophet Joseph Smith, and particularly in this family the gifts and graces of the gospel were freely manifest. From that time, Simon enjoyed the gift of tongues and the gift of healing to a very marked degree.

Scarcely a year had passed when Simon’s father, George Barker, accompanied by his brother James and a friend, Ephraim Green, were on their way to visit the saints in Nauvoo. By the slow and labored means of transportation then available, they made their way to Nauvoo in the fall of 1845. They found the people persecuted and oppressed and their beloved prophet Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, slain. George Barker was undaunted, and was soon seen patiently standing guard to those who were working on their beautiful Temple.

Early in 1846, George made his way back to New York and in a few months, the entire Barker family was making its way to Nauvoo. On their arrival at Nauvoo, they found the city nearly deserted. After a short visit while they viewed the Temple as it had been completed and then abandoned by the exodus of the Saints, they went sorrowing into the wilderness of Iowa and the West.

Delays occasioned by poverty and hardships kept them from immediately crossing the plains. Under the advice of the leaders of the Church, they located temporarily near Winter Quarters where they farmed and otherwise obtained supplies and equipment for their journey to the mountains of Utah. After three years, they had made a marked progress in a material way, and on July 5/6, 1849 they made their way across the plains by ox teams. Simon was 22 years old at this time. His family joined the Allen Taylor Company. There were in the company 205 souls and 65 wagons, 292 oxen, 127 cows, 34 yearlings, 21 horses, 1 mule, 146 sheep, 9 pigs, 25 dogs, 15 cats, 2 geese and 5 turkeys. They arrived in Salt Lake City on Sunday, October 20, 1849.

From a letter written by George A. Smith and Ezra T. Benson to Orson Hyde dated August 5, 1849 is this description of an experience of this wagon train: “We found a note from Capt. Allen Taylor, left on the grave of a gold digger, a few days ago, informing us, that his company had found a few miles below the Fort, fifty-one head of oxen and steers and four cows, and from some men that has been from the camp to the Fort we further learn this morning, that between the Fort, and where they found the first cattle, they, found some fifty head more. The company stopped opposite the Fort, sent over for the officers, to come and see if the cattle belonged to them, ie. The Government, the officers said they did not, and they proceeded on with them. In the note Capt. Taylor wishes "we had a few yoke of them to help us" we have accordingly sent on Capt. Patton with three on four others to get a few yoke, as our wagons are heavily laden, with Church property, &c., and the roads has been very heavy, muddy, and miry, rendered so by the incessant rains we have had on the Plains. Yesterday morning we experienced a very heavy shower of thunder, lightning, wind and rain, mingled with hail, some was supposed to be one and a half inches in diameter.”

From a letter written by Captain Allen Taylor to Brigham Young dated September 3, 1849 is this description of the trek:

“President Brigham Young,

Dear Brother: Feeling a desire in my heart to write you a few line I embrace the opportunity as the express are now in our camp. We have got along so far with good success, our teams are in tolerable condition. We have, however, had 2 or 3 heavy stampedes and unfortunately considerable damage was sustained and one life lost. Sister Wm. Hawk who was run over by the cattle and lived only 24 hours. The first stampede we had 2 wagons broke, 6 sheep killed and 20 horns knocked off cattle. The same morning, after we got them in the corral and yoked up, they started again and nearly killed 2 men, but are both nearly well. We feel, however, as tho' we had got thro' our stampeding, having had none since we left Chimney Rock and many in our companies [illegible] feel sanguine that they can go to the Valley without help, should they be so providential as to keep their cattle alive thro' the alkali regions. Many of us, however, would be glad of a little help and indeed will undoubtedly require it before we can climb the mountain heights. We expect, however, that Geo. A. is heavy laden, have in having much Church property, etc., and will need the most help, but if the friends of those in our companies can send a little to them, it will be a great accommodation to them and will be most thankfully received by all the company for what will help one heavy laden, wagon that had light team, helps us all, and we all wish to go on together and not leave one behind, because his team may give out, or his load may be too heavy. We do not expect to dictate to you what shall be for us or what shall be for Geo. A. but we look to you for dictation for counsel and for help. <* * *> Bro. Campbell and those whom Geo. A. has sent to accompany him are here, <and> we are doing the best we can for them in getting them fresh animals, flour, etc. They can report from us anything we may neglect to write. We send a list of all the individuals in our Camp. Brother Andrew Perkins is president of 100 with his counselors (Absalom Perkins and Isaac Allred). I am Captain of this the 2nd Hundred. [Reddick Newton] Allred is Captain of the 1st Fifty. Enoch Reese is Captain of the 2nd Fifty. We have only sent the names of head of families. We will furnish the historian on our arrival <with> all the names, cattle, wagons, horses, mules etc. (in camp). I remain your brother in the new and everlasting covenant, Allen Taylor."

Soon after arriving in the valley, the family proceeded north to what afterwards became Ogden City and Weber County. They located for the winter at Brown’s Fort, near the junction of the Ogden and Weber Rivers. Joined later by the Farrs, Moores, Folkers, Chases and others, they participated in the settlement of Farr’s Fort and finally in the settlement of Mound Fort, named because of a large mound of sand and clay with a large battle trench near the top on the west side, to be used in case of trouble with the Indians. Most of this land is still owned by the Barker family. A few building lots have been sold by the grandsons of this noble pioneer who held the original deeds.

All through the history of the development of these valleys, now filled with the comforts and luxuries of modern civilization, these men took an active part, always working for the comfort and education of the people. They were active, also, in the development of irrigation and agricultural resources of the country.

Simon Barker was not a man familiar with ancient or modern history, but was one who studied every moment of his life. He studied the principles of right from the thought and spirit, the soul and mind. He studied the soil in all its phases. He always had a new idea or a better theory to acquire more grain, more cattle, more sheep, more of anything off the same ground than any other man in Weber County.

He assisted in hauling stone with an ox team for the foundation of the Salt Lake Temple.

He was one of the men who went as a volunteer to Echo Canyon in 1857 to resist the approach of Johnston's Army. He accompanied his family on the move southward, going as far as Payson, but almost immediately returned with a few brave companions to care for the crops which they had planted before leaving.

Simon Barker despised hypocrisy, wrong and error. He faced danger like an angel of light. He feared nothing, always satisfied that the God he worshiped would preserve his body, his soul and his family. His life's ambition was to see that his family and his friends were provided for. He would withhold nothing that he had from the needy. He was a peacemaker, was honest, and his word was his bond, and could always be relied upon. The family shared in many thrilling experiences with the Indians, but always friendly and his father was known among them as "Uncle” George Barker.

During many years, Simon was prominent in the Thirty-second Quorum of Seventy, and later as a high priest. Meetings were often held in their log cabin home by the Mound.

On December 12, 1878, the old rock schoolhouse opposite his home, caught fire from an overheated stove during a mountain wind. The burning shingles were carried to his barns and stacks of hay and they were totally destroyed. In the summer of 1891, he was again robbed of everything but his house, by fire. A match in the hands of a neighbor child burned the straw stack, a one hundred foot shed of new hay and several hogs and chickens. Simon helped to turn the smouldering hay over with a pitch fork and the heat was so intense that it almost ruined his eyes.

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Jemima Newey’s family left Liverpool, England on February 27, 1855 and arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 20, 1855. They sailed on the ship Siddons with 430 Latter-day Saint immigrants under the leadership of John S. Fullmer. Jemima had crossed the plains in the Jacob F. Secrist/Noah T. Guymon Company which left June 13, 1855 and arrived in Salt Lake City on September 7, 1855.

In 1855, Simon met the Newey family who had just immigrated from England and settled near the Barker home in Ogden.

Simon and Jemima, daughter of John Newey and Leah Welland, were married on November 3, 1855 in the Endowment House. Their home was on Main Street, a two-room log cabin. Five children, three girls and two boys were born in their new cabin home. They are: George Simon, Clarissa Ann, Frederick Ellis, Leah Jemima, and Eveline Barker.

Jemima Newey died April 12, 1866, leaving four little ones (Leah Jemima had died as an infant) to be cared for by Simon with the aid of hired help.

On the November 16, 1869, Simon married Ann Barlow Dana in the Salt Lake Endowment House. She was the widow of Charles R. Dana. She was faithful and kind in her duty until her death March 25, 1895. She had no children of her own.

Headstone reads:

Ann Barlow

Wife of Simon Barker

Nov. 16, 1836

Mar. 25, 1895

In the early 1870s, Simon built a nice brick residence on the property south of his old home, and after the death of Ann, resided in a part of this home with his son George's wife, Alice, keeping the rooms clean and furnishing his food either at her table or on a tray. She, with her family of five small children, lived next door. Simon Barker's farm was near the intersection of 12th and Washington. Simon rode his horse around his farm, bareback, and worked his farm. He often carried a shovel with him to redirect the water to different areas of his farm. He always rode horseback as he did it; he did a lot of irrigating. As his grandson, Al, remembers him, he wasn't very tall, and he walked with a bit of a stoop. He had long white hair and a full beard. His eyes were dim. His grandson, Al, stated that his grandfather always had sort of a glaze over his eyes.

Simon spent some time with his son, Fred's family in Salt Lake City, a year or so with his daughter Eveline, and the last eight years were spent at the home of his older daughter, Clarissa Ann Barlow, at 708 12th Street, where he died January 1, 1917 at the age of 91 years. After very appropriate services, he was laid to rest in the Ogden City Cemetery.

There were three children, twenty-six grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren living at the time of his death.

Headstone reads:

Simon

Son of George and Sarah Gerrard Barker

Born Oct. 1, 1826

Died Jan. 1, 1917

Compiled and edited by Ruth H. Barker

Sources: Clarence Sharp Barker Life History, by himself

History of Simon Barker by May Barlow Watkins, a granddaughter

A Recording of Al Barker made in November 1977 by his daughter Marjorie B. Sorensen

Smith, George A. and Ezra T. Benson, [Letter to Orson Hyde, 5 Aug. 1849], Frontier Guardian, 19 Sept. 1849, 4.

Taylor, Allen, [Letter], in Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3 Sept. 1849, 5-6.

http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/pioneercompanysources/0,16272,4019-1-298,00.html