Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... Barker, Irving
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File contributed for use by:
Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn

Author: History of Will County IL, 1878

Irving BARKER, foundry, Braidwood, of the firm of I. Barker & Co., foundry; this popular 
firm has been established in the city of Braidwood since 1873, and in that time, the 
superior quality of their work, coupled with their honest transactions, has lifted them 
to the front, as first-class manufacturers; both are gentlemen of long experience, and 
thoroughly practical in the knowledge of all its details; Mr. Irving BARKER was born June 
11, 18.47; his father Jas. M. BARKER, with family settled in Will Co., in 1849; when Mr. 
BARKER was 17 years old, he commenced to learn the blacksmith trade, and worked at this 
trade for four years; be then entered the foundry business with Wm. MCINTOSH, at Wilmington, 
Will Co.; he then entered partnership, in company Russell, Barker & Co., of Wilmington; 
firm changed to I. Barker & Co. his brother, Orsen BARKER, forms the company, is a native 
of Michigan; was born in November, 1844; these gentlemen came to Braidwood in December, 1873, 
and commenced business by erecting the present foundry; the machine department is 22x3O; 
two stories high; the molding department is 22x5O; they make a specialty of manufacturing 
coal mine supplies and stove castings which they find sales for in the vicinity of Braidwood. 
Mr. Irving BARKER has applied for a patent on a hand lawn mower, which eclipses anything 
of the kind now in the market, is much lighter, cheaper, and can gauge it to cut the grass 
at any height.


Additional Comments:
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.

File at: http://will.illinoisgenweb.org/bios/barkeri.txt