Kirkland C. Barker
Encyclopedia
Kirkland C. Barker was mayor of Detroit, Michigan
and established the tobacco firm of KC Barker & Company.
, the son of builder and contractor Mason Barker and his wife Elizabeth Ingham Barker. Kirkland was educated in the local schools, at age 14 attended a manual labor school in Whitesboro, New York
, where he traded his labor for an education. After leaving school, he worked as a store clerk in Frankfort, New York and Utica, New York
. At age 18, he moved to Cleveland, Ohio
and worked in a warehouse. There, his ability at business was recognized by his employers, and he was frequently put in charge of ships bringing goods from New York.
Leaving the warehouse, Barker took a job as a travelling salesman for a tobacco company in Logansport, Indiana
, but himself lived in Detroit. Barker was determined to go into business for himself, and so established a partnership with other people in Utica, and built stores in Detroit and New York, and a factory in Jersey City, New Jersey
. This partnership was not successful, so Barker started anew by himself, opening KC Barker & Company (later the American Eagle Tobacco Company) in Detroit. This new firm prospered.
Barker married in 1847 to the daughter of Gilbert Bedell of Ann Arbor, Michigan
; the couple had three children.
. Barker was also the presiding officer of the Horse Association of America, and was elected Commodore of the Great Lakes Yacht Club.
During his later years, Barker took his brother, J. I. Barker, and son-in-law, Charles B. Hull, into his tobacco firm, and spent more time at his home on Grosse Ile, Michigan. Barker had purchased the "Wedding Cake House," built for Samuel Lewis on East River Road
.
On May 20, 1875, he was boating near his home, had an attack of apoplexy
, and drowned.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and established the tobacco firm of KC Barker & Company.
Early life
Kirkland C. Barker was born September 8, 1819 in Schuyler, New YorkSchuyler, New York
----Schuyler is a town in Herkimer County, New York, United States. The population was 3,385 at the 2000 census.The Town of Schuyler is located in the western part of Herkimer County. The town is east of Utica, New York.- History :...
, the son of builder and contractor Mason Barker and his wife Elizabeth Ingham Barker. Kirkland was educated in the local schools, at age 14 attended a manual labor school in Whitesboro, New York
Whitesboro, New York
Whitesboro is a village in Oneida County, New York, United States. United States. The population was 3,943 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Hugh White, an early settler.The Village of Whitesboro is inside the Town of Whitestown....
, where he traded his labor for an education. After leaving school, he worked as a store clerk in Frankfort, New York and Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
. At age 18, he moved to Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
and worked in a warehouse. There, his ability at business was recognized by his employers, and he was frequently put in charge of ships bringing goods from New York.
Leaving the warehouse, Barker took a job as a travelling salesman for a tobacco company in Logansport, Indiana
Logansport, Indiana
Logansport is a city in and the county seat of Cass County, Indiana, United States. The population was 18,396 at the 2010 census. Logansport is located in northern Indiana, at the junction of the Wabash and Eel rivers, northeast of Lafayette.-History:...
, but himself lived in Detroit. Barker was determined to go into business for himself, and so established a partnership with other people in Utica, and built stores in Detroit and New York, and a factory in Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
. This partnership was not successful, so Barker started anew by himself, opening KC Barker & Company (later the American Eagle Tobacco Company) in Detroit. This new firm prospered.
Barker married in 1847 to the daughter of Gilbert Bedell of Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
; the couple had three children.
Later life
Barker dabbled in public service, serving as an alderman of Detroit in 1863 and as mayor in 1864-1865. He was also an avid sportsman, and was president of the Detroit Audubon Club. His love of the outdoors led to a close friendship with George Armstrong CusterGeorge Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
. Barker was also the presiding officer of the Horse Association of America, and was elected Commodore of the Great Lakes Yacht Club.
During his later years, Barker took his brother, J. I. Barker, and son-in-law, Charles B. Hull, into his tobacco firm, and spent more time at his home on Grosse Ile, Michigan. Barker had purchased the "Wedding Cake House," built for Samuel Lewis on East River Road
East River Road Historic District
The East River Road Historic District is a historic district located along East River Road near the Grosse Ile Parkway in Grosse Ile, Michigan. The district includes eleven structures, including seven houses, two outbuildings, St. James Episcopal Church, and the Michigan Central Railroad depot. ...
.
On May 20, 1875, he was boating near his home, had an attack of apoplexy
Apoplexy
Apoplexy is a medical term, which can be used to describe 'bleeding' in a stroke . Without further specification, it is rather outdated in use. Today it is used only for specific conditions, such as pituitary apoplexy and ovarian apoplexy. In common speech, it is used non-medically to mean a state...
, and drowned.