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Note: John studied to be a machinist in Scotland. There is some speculation that this was the stage of his life that he embraced the Presbyterian faith. Completing his apprenticeship in 1850 at the age of 25, he left England and came to the New World. He was 60 days coming over in a sailboat with a friend who was a cotton manufacturer, landing in Charleston, SC. This friend established a cotton mill in the Chilhowee Valley of east Tennessee near Abrams Creek in Blount Co. John worked as a turner making bobbins in the mill.
Shortly after his arrival in Tennessee, John met Martha Ann Hudson. They were married in November of 1853. By the time of the 1860 census John, Martha Ann and their first three daughters were living near Rockford in Blount Co., TN. John and Martha Ann belonged to a Presbyterian Church in this area.
In the early spring of 1868, while still living in Rockford, TN, John Barker learned that he was to receive an inheritance from his uncle, John Walker in England, if Barker would return to England to claim his share of the estate. He made the trip to England and returned to the US, sailing from Liverpool on SS "City of Antwerp" on June 3, 1868 (probably landing in New York, NY).
Early in 1869, John moved his family from Rockford to Cherokee Co., NC. With his inheritance John bought property on Long Creek, about 2 � miles from present Robbinsville. On this property he built a house for his family and a gristmill to earn his living. Until the house he was having built could be occupied, they lived with the Clinton Hudson family. Being a turner by trade, John opened a shop to make furniture. He also operated a wool-carding machine on the premises. People from all over Cherokee came to use his services. John served as first county treasurer when Graham Co. was organized and also served with the county officials in selecting the site for the new county seat, Robbinsville.
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1860 Blount Co., TN census
Dist. 11; p.3; Rockford P.O.; #17
BARKER
.... John...35 M...Turner...$200...England
.... Martha Ann...25 F...TN
.... Mary...5 F ...TN
.... Sarah...2 F ...TN
.... Martha ...6/12 F ...TN
1870 Cherokee Co., NC census
Cheoah Twp.; p.260-B; #5
BARKER
.... John...45 m...Farmer...England
.... Martha...35 F.....TN
.... Sarah...12 F.....TN
.... Martha...10 F.....TN
.... Samuel...7 m.....TN
.... George...5 m.....TN
.... Hellen...10/12 F.....NC (Jul)
1880 Graham Co., NC census
Cheoah Twp.; p. 82-01; #6
BARKER
.... John...55 m...Miller...Engl Engl Engl
.... Martha A....45...wife...House Keeping...TN TN TN
.... Sarah...22...dau...TN Engl TN
.... Martha...20...dau...TN Engl TN
.... Samuel...17...son...TN Engl TN
.... George...15...son...TN Engl TN
.... Ellen...10...dau...NC Engl TN
.... Louise...8...dau...NC Engl TN
.... John...5...son...NC Engl TN
.... Fanney...3...dau...NC Engl TN
1900 Graham Co., NC census
Robbinsville Twp.; p. 6-05a; #84
BARKER
...Martha A....Head...Jul 1834...65 F...Wid.....12/9...TN Engl TN
...Nellie...Dau...Jul 1869...30 F...Single.....NC Engl TN
...John...Son...Mar 1875...25 M...M/0.....NC Engl TN.....Farm laborer
...Florence...Dau Law...Jul 1881...18 F...M/0.....NC NC NC [wife of John]
...Ernest...Gr son...Jan 1887...13 M...NC NC NC.....Farm laborer [son of Helen]
...Martha L....Dau Law...Dec 1896...3 F...NC NC NC [G-dau of Martha; dau of Helen]
...Sadie B....Dau Law...Jan 1898...2 F...NC NC NC [G-dau of Martha; dau of Helen]
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