Lorenzo A. Barker

Lorenzo A. Barker, editor and proprietor of the Clarion at Reed City, was born Aug. 16, 1839, in Naples, Ontario Co., N.Y. George W. Barker, his father, was born March 1, 1815, in Deerfield, Mass., and was married Sept. 7, 1835, to Weltha Tyler. she was born June 21, 1816, and they became the parents of five children. Their first born died on the day of birth, April 6, 1837; Lorenzo, born Aug. 16, 1839, is the oldest living child; Bruce, born Jan. 13, 1842, died March 11, 1845; Alida, born Aug. 4, 1844, died Jan. 14, 1846; Eugenia, born Jan. 31, 1850, is the wife of Monroe Dickinson, a merchant at Boyne Falls, Charlevoix Co., Mich., and they have one child Vera Iona. The father was during a number of years a merchant in the State of New York, and later transferred his family and mercantile interests to Italy Hollow, Yates Co., N.Y. In 1853 another transfer was made, to Battle Creek, Mich., where the senior Barker engaged in the daguerreotype business, and is now a photographer at South Arm, Charlevoix County. The mother of the subject of this sketch died at Italy Hollow, in 1852.

Mr. Barker passed a year in farm employment after the removal of his family to Michigan. In 1854, he entered the office of the Battle Creek Journal to learn the art of printing, and was an attache of the Journal until the year in which the rebellion started abroad in the land in its blind and misguided fury. All through the course of the earlier months after the attack upon the Federal fort at Sumter, while his fingers recorded the disasters of the opening campaign and also the varied literature which arose from the exigences of the time, he was awakening to the fact that men with the true fire of patriotism blazing in their breasts were surely needed at the front, and he was led by the growing impulse to throw himself early in the contest into the heat of the fray. He enlisted at Battle Creek, Sept. 18, 1861, in Co. E., Berger's Sharpshooters. The style of the organization was changed to Company D, of the same regiment, which was known as the 66th Illinois Western Sharpshooters. Mr. Barker was in action at Mt. Zion, Mo., Dec. 23, 1861; Fort Donelson, Tenn., Feb. 13, 14, 15, 16, 1862; Shiloh, April 6-7; seige of Corinth, April 20 to May 30; Iuka, Sept. 19; Corinth, Oct. 3-4, - after which he was occupied in camp duty and guerrilla warfare until his discharge Dec. 23, 1863. He immediately re-enlisted on the same date at Pulaski, Tenn., in the same command, returning home on a veteran's furlough of 30 days. On the expiration of his leave of absence he rejoined his command at the front, and the regiment marched to Challanooga to join General Sherman in the Georgia campaign. Mr. Barker was under fire at Ball's Knob, Ma 9, 1864, and Resaca, May 14; and at Rome Cross Roads, May 16, was wounded in the left foot, but recognized no disabling injury and went into battle at Dallas May 27; Kenesaw Mountain, July 3; Nickajack Creek, July 4; before Atlanta, July 22, JOnesboro, Aug. 31; Atlanta, Sept. 2; Lovejoy Station, Sept. 3; Nashville, Dec. 16, 17, 18; Big Salt Creek, Dec. 21; Columbia, Sc.C., Feb 17, 1865; Bentonville, N.C., March 2; Kingston, March 10; Goldsboro, March 24; Rolla, April 12; Richmond, Va., May 13, and thence he went to Washington, D.C. for the final scene, the Grand Review. He was mustered out of the service of the United States at Louisvile, Ky., and received his discharge at Springfield, Ill., July 7, 1865. He retained ownership of his rifle which he had carried from 1862 - a Henry Repeater, 16 shooter - and having the names and the dates of the battles engraved beside the lock. He was discharged as Sergeant. He came to St. John's, Clinton County, whither his parents had removed.

In 1867 he went to Sioux City, Iowa, and became an employee of the JOurnal published at that place. Later he engaged on the Sioux City Times, where he continued until he founded the Sibley (Osceola Co., Iowa) Gazette, issuing its first number July 5, 1872. He continued its publication until May 30, 1873, when he sold the journalistic enterprise to Messrs. Riley & Brown. May 26, 1875, he assumed the management of the Chelsea (Iowa) Bugle, and his connection with that paper ceased in October of the same year. In 1876 he came to Michigan and took charge of the Hastings (Narry Co.) Banner, which he conducted as foreman and manager until April 27, 1877, when he established the Lake City (Missaukee Co.,) Journal, whose publication he continued until May, 1884. He then sold the paper to H.N. McIntyre, and bought the Reed City Clarion. He issued the first number May 30, 1884, and had already a fine circulation and a steady growing popularity. He has a large and increasing job patronage. The office facilities include two presses, comprising an improved C.B. Cottrell & Sons cylinder press, fitted for hand and steam power, and is the only power pres in the county.

The other is adapted to the requirements of job work. The Clarion is a nine-column folio.Mr. Barker is a Republican, and is deservedly popular in the local ranks of the party, was elected Presidential Elector in the Blaine & Logan campaign of 1884, and is a member of the West Michigan Press Association, of the I.O.O.F., the Knights of Pythias and the G.A.R., Stedman Post, No. 198, Reed City.

Mr. Barker was married April 16, 1876, in Shenandoah, Iowa, to Mrs. Eliza Jane (Reagan) Grant. She was born May 20, 1843, in Jackson Co., Mich.

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