H. W. Barker

Henry W. Barker (March 18, 1860 – February 24, 1950)[1][2] was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate.

Biography

Barker was born in Leon, Monroe County, Wisconsin,[3] and attended West Salem High School.[2] After completing high school, he "went to Minnesota 'to visit' and stayed 22 years".[2] He worked in the drug business for 15 years while living in Elbow Lake, Minnesota, and owned H. W. Barker Medical Company in Sparta, Wisconsin.[1] On May 9, 1893 he was awarded a patent for a drug mixer which he claimed could also be used to pop corn or roast coffee.[4][5]

Career

Barker was a member of the Senate from 1907 to 1909.[6] Previously, he had served three terms as Mayor of Elbow Lake. He was a Republican. In the Senate, he became chair of the health and sanitation committee, where he successfully pushed for passage of a "long sheet" law "requiring hotels to use sheets nine feet in length to cover the mattresses and comforters".[2]

Personal life

Barker married Frances Mary McMahan in 1884; she died in 1933. Barker died at the home of one of his two daughters, in Sparta, at the age of 89.[2] Barker's son Harold H. Barker served in the Minnesota legislature.[2]

References
  1. "Champions Drug Legislation". The Pharmaceutical Era. D. O. Haynes & Company. 40: 767. 1908-12-17. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  2. "Former Senator Henry Barker, 89, Author of 'Long Sheet' Law, Dies", The La Crosse Tribune (February 25, 1950), p. 1, 8.
  3. "Biographical Sketches: H. W. Barker". USGenWeb Archives. Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  4. A US patent 497045 A, H. W. Barker, "Drug-mixer", published 1893-05-09, issued 1893-05-09
  5. "Drug-mixer". Google Patents. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  6. "H. W. Barker". Political Graveyard. Retrieved 2011-12-10.


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