30 HISTORY BEAYER COUNTY PAPERS. with proceedings, shall willingly find a place in our columns, whether for Wolf or Muhlenberg." Evidently the "Gazette" died first, followed by the death of the "Eepublican." Eeece C. Meeson was a prominent man in newspaper circles. He went to Pittsburg after the failure of the "Gazette." In the "Argus" of June 21, 1843, it is stated that "Reece C. Fleeson Esq., editor of the 'Washington Banner,' has been removed from the postoffice at Alle- gheny, and is succeeded by William Karns a rabid, noisy Loco Foco." Mr. Fleeson was editor of the "Daily Evening News," and the weekly "Spirit of Liberty," pub- lished in Pittsburg, devoted to the Liberty party, which failed in December 1846. Later he was one of the editors of the "Pittsburg Dispatch," and died Monday March 16, 1863. Abner Barker was bom near Stanton, Delaware, July 31, 1760, and died at Pittsburg, Pa., June 8, 1829. He was a son of Samuel Barker bom 1723, died 1803, — who was a grandson of Samuel Barker from Shropshire, Eng- land, who settled in Delaware in 1685. Abner Barker came to Pittsburg in the early seventeen nineties, — be- came a leading merchant there and married in 1800 Miss Eleanor Butler Scandrett, a niece of the General Richard Butler of Revolutionary fame. Abner Barker took a leading interest in educational matters, and was one of the founders of the Western University of Pennsylvania, and was a member, and a warden of Old Trinity Church, Pittsburg, Pa., in the church yard of which he was buried. His grandfather was Joseph, son of the Colonial Settler Samuel Barker. Dr. Richard Butler Barker son of Abner Barker, was born at Pittsburg, Pa., November 23, 1803. He died in Beaver, Pa., August 4, 1860. He was a fine scholar, and first studied law with Judge Walker of Pittsburg, and was admitted to the Pittsburg Bar, but not liking the
