O. O. BARKER, M. D.
O. O. Barker, M. D., is one of the younger members of the medical profession in Atchison county, located at Muscotah, Kan. During the nine years which he has been located in Muscotah, he has built up an excellent practice in his profession, and has demonstrated that he has an accurate knowledge of the art and science of medicine. Dr. Barker was born March 30, 1885, in the town of True, Sumner county, West Virginia. He is a son of J. Lee and Anna (Milburn) Barker, the former having been born in 1860, and the latter in 1862, in Virginia. Both parents still reside at True, W. Va. J. Lee Barker was a son of M. Calloway Barker, also a native of Virginia, and a descendant of an old Virginia family. The history of the Barker family dates back to the birth of Chaplain Barker, of Liverpool, England, who was born in 1750, and immigrated to Virginia in 1785. David Barker, a son of Chaplain Barker, distiller, in Richmond, Va. William Barker, the son of David, was a tanner by trade, and had three sons: William A., Joseph, and Isaac. Of these sons, Joseph was killed by Indians; Isaac lives at Liberty, Va., and reared the following children: James M. Calloway, Mary E., A. L., Thomas J., Francis, and Joseph G. Thomas J. Barker immigrated to Kansas and became a wealthy citizen of Kansas City, where he died. M. Calloway Barker lived at True, W. Va., and reared a family of twelve children: William A., who died in the Confederate service during the Civil war; Mary E., deceased; R. J., residing in Kansas City, Kan.; J. W., deceased; Thomas B., living near Hinton, W. Va.; James L., deceased; Dr. Joseph L.; J. Lee, father of Dr. Barker; David M., of Parsons, Kan.: Francis I.; Ollie, living at True, W. Va., and Maria, deceased. J. Lee Barker has always been a farmer, and has made a success of his life’s vocation. He is one of the prominent and well known citizens of his section of West Virginia, and for several years has served as president of the school board of True, W. Va. He has reared three children: Orus O., with whom this review is directly concerned; Mrs. Grace M. Skaggs, Topeka, Kan., and Mrs. Nellie B. Deeds, of Hinton, W. Va.
Dr. Barker received his primary education in the public schools of his native town in West Virginia, and then decided to take up the study of medicine. He studied for two years in the medical department in the University of Maryland, and completed his medical education in the University of Louisville, Ky., from which institution he received his degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1906. After his graduation he came to Kansas, visited for a few months with an uncle in Kansas City, Kan., and after passing an examination given by the state board of medical examiners of Topeka, he opened an office at Muscotah, Kan., October 1, 1906. Dr. Barker is a member of the Northeast Kansas Medical Society, the Kansas State Medical Association, and the Country Doctors’ Business and Social Club. He endeavors at all times to keep abreast of the latest advancement in medical science, and has built up an excellent practice in Muscotah and the surrounding country. He was married June 2, 1906, to Miss Ethel M. Morton, a daughter of G. W. Morton, of Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Barker is a fraternal member of the Knights and Ladies of Security, Modern Woodmen of America, and Mystic Workers of the World.