Willard Barker was born on April 9, 1842, in Maine to Richard Barker and Elizabeth Walker. His father was a farmer who owned $1,000 of real estate and $250 of personal property in 1860. Barker grew up and attended school in Fryeburg, Maine. He enlisted in the Union army on November 15, 1861, and mustered in as a private in Company E of the 12^th Maine Infantry on November 15.

 

Barker’s health, however, deteriorated during the war, and he was discharged for disability on March 10, 1863. He returned home to Fryeburg and worked as a farmer. He reenlisted in the Union army on December 3, 1863, mustering in as a private in Company A of the 11^th Maine Infantry. The regiment took part in the siege of Petersburg and the Appomattox campaign, and Barker earned a steady stream of promotions: to corporal on February 1, 1864; to sergeant on August 18, 1864; to sergeant on January 1, 1865; and finally to sergeant major on January 24, 1866. In December 1864, he rejoiced that "Generall [William T.] Sherman maid Lincoln a christmas present the little town of Savanna & an Hundred & fifty big guns with plenty of ammunition to go with them...they are raising perticular H--l down South." He mustered out on February 2, 1866.

 

He returned to Fryeburg after the war and eventually married Mary Pike. Their daughter Leah was born around 1870. His health, however, never fully recovered, and he died of “consumption” in Fryeburg on March 12, 1870.

SOURCES