BIOGRAPHIES Source: BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL MEMOIRS of the Early Pioneer Settlers of Ohio with Narratives of Incidents and Occurrences in 1775. By S. P. Hildreth, M. D. By Col. R. J. Meigs Cincinnati: H. W. Derby & Co., Publishers 1852 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z < CLICK HERE to RETURN to 1852 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX >   COL. JOSEPH BARKER was a native of New Market, Rockingham county, N. H., and was born on the 9th day of September, A. D. 1765.  His father was Ephraim Barker  The maiden name of his mother was Mary Manning of Ipswich, Essex county, Mass.  At the age of six yeas, he lost his mother, who left six children.  A few years after her death, Joseph was sent to Exeter Academy, one of the earliest classical seminaries in New England, and ranking with the best in reputation, for sound scholarship and correct discipline.  He remained in the academy for a considerable time, and laid the foundation of a good English education, which, in after-life, by reading, a clear, discriminating mind, and close observation of mankind, enabled him to appear in the several posts he occupied, of a public nature, with honor to himself, and the credit of his patrons.      His father having married again, in the year 1774, moved his family to Amherst, N. H., where he followed the occupation of a house-carpenter, to which he was bred; few of the New England men of that day being without some industrial pursuit.  His oldest son, Jeremiah, was educated as a physician, and settled in Portland, Me., where he became one of the most eminent practitioners of his time; furnishing numerous articles on the diseases of that region, for the Medical Repository, from its first establishment by Drs. Mitchell and Miller, of New York city.  This work was continued for many years, and was not only the first medical periodical published in America, but is said to have been the first in the world; opening the way to the vast amount of medical literature which is now sent forth to the public.      Joseph  was continued at Exeter until sometime during the war, probably until he was about fourteen or fifteen years old, when he returned to his father, and commenced the acquirement of the art of a house joiner and carpenter, under the guidance of his parent.  He was a youth of great spirit, courage, and activity; and many stories are related, of his pugilistic feats and wrestling, not only with the boys of his own age, but with those much his superiors in years and size.  His father lived near the court-house and jail, and Joseph became a great favorite of the sheriff of the county, who was fond of such sports as were common during the period of the Revolution, and encouraged him in the practice.  These athletic exercises invigorated and strengthened his muscular frame, and gave him that manly bearing and contempt of danger, which characterized his after-life.  When a boy he possessed a rare fund of wit and humor, with a taste for the ludicrous, which was very amusing to his companions.  One of his boyish feats was related, a few years since, by an old man of Amherst, to Mr. G. Dana, his brother-in-law, while there on a visit.      In the spring of the year, it was common for the nice housekeepers in New England, to have their rooms and dooryards fresh whitewashed annually.  Joseph had been set at this work, and when he had about completed the job, an old red mare, that belonged to a crabbed, ill-natured neighbor, came up to the gate, as she had been in the habit of doing for some time, giving him considerable trouble in driving her away.  The conceit immediately came into his head, that it would be a good joke to metamorphose the old mare, by giving her a coat of the whitewash.  She was accordingly tied up to the fence, and the operation commenced, of giving her a white masquerading dress over her red one.  When finished, she was turned loose, and went directly home.  The owner, seeing a strange horse at the stable door, threw stones at her, and drove her away, not once suspecting that this white horse could be his.  The next morning, finding the strange animal still about his premises, he set his dog on her, in great anger, following her with many curses and brickbats, determined to break up her unwelcome visits.  Several curious disquisitions were held, by the old man and his wife, on the pertinacity of the animal, while the mare was in the greatest wonder at the strange conduct of her master.  One or two of the neighbors, who were in the secret, as the man was no favorite among them, enjoyed the joke exceedingly, especially when he began to make inquiries after his own horse which had somehow strangely disappeared.  It was not until after two or three days,  when    MORE TO COME UPON REQUEST. SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of the Early Pioneer Settlers of Ohio with Narratives of Incidents and Occurrences in 1775 by S. P. Hildreth, M. D. and Colonel R. J. Meigs - Publ. Cincinnati: H. W. Derby & Co., Publishers - 1852 - Page 433   EBENEZER BATTELLE SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of the Early Pioneer Settlers of Ohio with Narratives of Incidents and Occurrences in 1775 by S. P. Hildreth, M. D. and Colonel R. J. Meigs - Publ. Cincinnati: H. W. Derby & Co., Publishers - 1852 - Page 349 Blennerhassett Mansion HARMAN AND MARGARET BLENNERHASSETT SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of the Early Pioneer Settlers of Ohio with Narratives of Incidents and Occurrences in 1775 by S. P. Hildreth, M. D. and Colonel R. J. Meigs - Publ. Cincinnati: H. W. Derby & Co., Publishers - 1852 - Page 491   ROBERT BRADFORD SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of the Early Pioneer Settlers of Ohio with Narratives of Incidents and Occurrences in 1775 by S. P. Hildreth, M. D. and Colonel R. J. Meigs - Publ. Cincinnati: H. W. Derby & Co., Publishers - 1852 - Page 370   BENJAMIN BROWN SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of the Early Pioneer Settlers of Ohio with Narratives of Incidents and Occurrences in 1775 by S. P. Hildreth, M. D. and Colonel R. J. Meigs - Publ. Cincinnati: H. W. Derby & Co., Publishers - 1852 - Page 428