Born: Lee County, Virginia, July 4, 1847.
Died: Sapello Valley, San Miquel County, New Mexico, July 15,
1930
SQUIRE L. BARKER was born July 4th, 1847, in Lee county, Virginia. To be born in the Old Dominion on the Fourth of July was certainly a patriotic start in the world. And his biography, if written in full, would be somewhat eventful for one of his age.
During the civil war he lived in a section of country that was alternately overrun and pillaged by the contending armies, and sometimes he could hear the roar of cannon and the clash of resounding arms, reverberating over the hills and through the valleys of his beloved State. His young heart was fired, and his sentiments he could but freely speak. And, though but a boy, he was silenced by being sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, where he was incarcerated in December, 1864. He was not liberated till the 8th of May, 1865. During his confinement he was sick a great deal, and meditated on things divine. When released, pale and emaciated, he had no thought of enlisting in any earthly army to fight with carnal weapons. He wanted to become a soldier of the cross; but how? was the question that confronted him.
On his return home, light broke in on his mind by hearing the gospel preached by Eld. Samuel Shelburn. He saw his duty clear, and resolved to obey forthwith. He was accordingly baptized, in 1865, in a beautiful running stream near a church called Mount Olivet. Three years later he took another wise step--he was married to a Miss McGuire, July 16th, 1868, which, he says, was the very making of him. In 1871 he moved to Burnett county, Texas, where he made himself useful as a Sunday-school worker. In 1882 he removed to Hulltown, Shackleford county, where he now resides, and was soon set apart as an elder in the church. A minister of one of the denominations announced that he would read from his creed, to let the people know its teachings, which he did. Bro. Barker then announced that he would read from his creed, to let the people know what it taught. He read from the New Testament. From that time he was a preacher. The brethren recognized the fact, and called in Bro. Silas Scarborough and formally set him apart. During the recent protracted drought that prevailed in Western Texas, Brother Barker became extensively known by his efforts in behalf of the sufferers.