We Remember

Our History

Armstead & Hester Barker

Favorite childhood memories of mine were times when cousin Cuney Franks would relate the stories of our ancestors to us.

My great‑grandfather, Armstead Roderick Barker was born October 1837 in North Carolina. He was first sold as a slave at the age of two years old and separated from his family. During 1854 he was sold as a slave to Dr. W. C. Larkin’s father in Mobile, Alabama.

The word, Texas, had a ring of magic, opportunities looked promising for young slave owners. Grandpa Roderick and several other choice slaves were given to Dr. W. C. Larkin by his father to accompany the family and other members to Texas. In December 1859, Dr. W. C. Larkin and all of his properties left Mobile, Alabama for Texas.

Grandpa was one of the scouts. He would tell of the hardships they encountered crossing the swamp lowlands in the winter months. The men took turns sitting up at night by the fire to keep wild animals and Indians out of their camp.

They traveled for four months by oxen‑drawn covered wagon, train and on foot and horseback.

April 1860, Dr. W. C. Larkin and his slaves pitched camp and settled in Henderson County northwest of Athens on Caney Creek, once known as the Larkin Farm. The members of the family and slaves lived in covered wagons and tents while the land was being cleared, the building of log cabins and houses for dwelling. The large trees were cut and rived to make boards and split to make rails for fences.

The slaves were clearing farmland with tools and planted crops with seeds they brought with them from Alabama.

With the Emancipation of slaves, Dr. W. C. Larkin gave his free slaves a choice to remain on the Larkin’s farm or live in a Free Slave Quarter, an area of land he had purchased for his free slaves to live. The quarters were between West Larkin Street and the TNO Railroad track, known as “Lick Skillet.”

Grandpa Roderick lived in the quarters for a few months. Opportunities were very limited if he remained in the quarters, so he started share‑cropping for Dr. W. C. Larkin and Nat Coleman.

Grandpa Roderick was a strong man physically, courageous and ambitious. He had learned the lessons of thrift, economy, and the desire for better qualities of life that were achieved through hard labor.

He married Hester Stovall, one of the 77 slaves freed by Nat Coleman. Hester and Roderick started their marriage life struggling to become landowners. They realized that no family could take roots unless they became landowners; then they could take their rightful place in society and become productive in the community.

On January 6, 1871, Grandpa Roderick purchased a 160 acre tract of land in the John Loop survey southeast of Athens, near Baxter community. This tract of land was purchased at the price of $2.00 per acre from George Lee. Grandpa built a small cabin on this acreage north of the TNO Railroad track, where one of his great‑great granddaughters, Mrs. Poe Hunter, resides.

On November 20, 1880 he purchased 320 acres from W. H. Carpenter. It took Grandpa Roderick 17 years to pay for this acreage by selling cotton at $15.00 a bale, a cow and calf for $8.00, and a sow and pig for $5.00.

Notes were found where the land was mortgaged several times to the bank to get money to raise a crop.

Farming was the family occupation, raising most of the food, along with the wild game that was hunted. Cash crops were also produced for seasonal sale.

A small fruit orchard consisting of 100 trees, such as peaches, pears and figs, were planted; some of the fig trees are still producing crops yearly.

Ribbon cane and sorghum cane were produced for syrup and livestock feeds. A syrup mill was purchased and was needed in Gum Creek, so Grandpa purchased a syrup mill and was the first black farmer in Gum Creek to own a syrup mill. He would make syrup on halts and store in the wooden kegs for further use.

Grandpa Roderick believed in the Golden Rule and was one of the founders of the Gum Creek African Methodist Episcopal Church where the family worshiped and took an active part in religious activities of the community.

When Grandma Hester passed in 1894, Grandpa realized there was a need for a community cemetery. He gave four acres of land. On October 9, 1920, during the division of the Roderick Barker Estate, it was found that the cemetery had not been deeded to the community but was a portion of plat #6 to which Lazarus (Babe) Barker was heir. On January 13, 1934, the citizens of Gum Creek purchased the four acres from Lazarus Barker for $50.00 and the deed reads “Barker Cemetery”.

Grandpa married Ann Guyden. He passed during 1919 and is buried in Barker Cemetery. Grandpa Roderick and Grandma Hester had eight children all buried in Barker Cemetery: Nancy Franks, George Barker, Margaret Dever, Roxie Burlington, Julia Burrell, Henderson Barker, Lazarus (Babe) Barker and Marion Barker.

Grandpa Roderick had the reputation of being one of the most industrious and energetic black farmers of his time. As a result of his economy and foresight, he was successful in leaving an estate of 535.5 acres to his heirs, known as the Barker’s Community.

The largest portion of the Barker’s estate is owned by the third and fourth generation of Barker’s descendants, and they are proud to be descended from a pioneer family who helped the county grow.

Gilson H. Westbrook
Great‑great‑grandson