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    Barker, Harold Henry

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1931-38 (District 48)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

    Counties Served:  Grant

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 6/15/1889
    Birth Place: Elbow Lake, Minnesota
    Birth County:
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 3/23/1949
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Presbyterian
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Elbow Lake
    Occupation (when first elected): Editor, Grant County Herald

    EDUCATION

    Sparta Public Schools, Wisconsin; Elementary School;
    Sparta High School, Wisconsin; Secondary; Graduate
    University of Wisconsin; Attended College; 1909-1912

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Military: United States Army, 339 Field Artillery Division (World War I, France, First Lieutenant); 05/1917 to 02/1919
    Military: United States Army and Army Reserve (World War II, Captain, Major); 194? to 19??

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Marion Grey (married on February 2, 1918; she died on September 28, 1942); Margaret (remarried on April 8, 1944)
    Children: Three children: Robert, Elizabeth Anne, and Richard
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He moved to Sparta, Wisconsin when he was young, with his parents. He returned to Minnesota in 1914.

    He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. He was referred to as a Liberal. (Gieske, Millard L. Minnesota Farmer-Laborism, 1979, p. 238)

    He was the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party's candidate for Governor of Minnesota in the 1946 election.

    He was a member of Sigma Mu fraternity.

    He died, of lung cancer, at home. A funeral service was held for him in the Elbow Lake High School Auditorium. He was buried in Union Cemetery.

    He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Elbow Lake, Minnesota.

    Religion provided by his obituary.

    Most recent term photo
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    Total Days Served: 2919

    SESSIONS SERVED

    50th Legislative Session (1937-1938)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 48
    Elected: 11/3/1936
    Residence: Elbow Lake
    Term of Office: 1/5/1937 to 1/2/1939
    Counties Represented: Grant
    Occupation: Editor, Grant County Herald
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Liberals have controlled the House only in 1933, 1937, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1961." (Mitau, G. Theodore. Politics in Minnesota, 1970, p. 83.) He was referred to as a Liberal. (Gieske, Millard L. Minnesota Farmer-Laborism, 1979, p. 238)
    Committees:
    Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
    Leadership Notes: "The Liberals have controlled the House only in 1933, 1937, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1961." (Mitau, G. Theodore. Politics in Minnesota, 1970, p. 83.)
    term photo
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    49th Legislative Session (1935-1936)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 48
    Elected: 11/6/1934
    Residence: Elbow Lake
    Term of Office: 1/8/1935 to 1/4/1937
    Counties Represented: Grant
    Occupation: Editor, Grant County Herald
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: He was referred to as a Liberal. (Gieske, Millard L. Minnesota Farmer-Laborism, 1979, p. 238)
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • Commerce, Manufacture and Retail Trade
    • Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Tax Laws
    • Printing and Publishing
    • Public Highways
    • Reapportionment
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    term photo
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    48th Legislative Session (1933-1934)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 48
    Elected: 11/8/1932
    Residence: Elbow Lake
    Term of Office: 1/3/1933 to 1/7/1935
    Counties Represented: Grant
    Occupation: Editor, Grant County Herald
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: He was referred to as a Liberal. (Gieske, Millard L. Minnesota Farmer-Laborism, 1979, p. 238)
    Committees:
    • Commercial Transportation
    • Game and Fish
    • Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Tax Laws (Chair)
    • Printing and Publishing
    • Public Highways
    • Rules
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    term photo
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    47th Legislative Session (1931-1932)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 48
    Elected: 11/4/1930
    Residence: Elbow Lake
    Term of Office: 1/6/1931 to 1/2/1933
    Counties Represented: Grant
    Occupation: Editor, Grant County Herald
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: He was referred to as a Liberal. (Gieske, Millard L. Minnesota Farmer-Laborism, 1979, p. 238)
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Horticulture
    • Printing and Publishing
    • Public Domain
    • Public Highways
    • Public Welfare and Social Legislation
    • State and County Fairs
    • State Development and Immigration
    term photo
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    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    "1,000 Attend Barker Rites at E.L. School on Sunday. Herald Publisher Died at Home on March 23 (Obituary)." Grant County Herald, March 31, 1949.

    In Memoriam for the Honorable Harold Barker. Minnesota Journal of the House, March 29, 1949, p. 1421-1422.


    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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