recognized auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic. It is conducting a great work in every State and Territory of the Union, and numbers over one hundred forty thousand members. It has expended more than two million dollars in relief and many thousands of dollars additional in behalf of patriotic education in the public schools, in the erection of monuments and memorial halls, in the sacred observance of Memorial Day, in securing pensions for army nurses, and in other legislative work of importance.
A National Woman's Relief Corps Home has been founded at Madison, Ohio, for the wives and mothers of soldiers and for dependent army nurses; and homes have also been founded and are being supported by the order in several States.
Mrs. Barker was deeply interested in the Soldiers' Home in Chelsea, Mass., and was one of the founders of the Ladies' Aid Association which co-operates with the Board of Trustees, of which Colonel Barker was treasurer. A room at the home, furnished by the Department of Massachusetts W. R. C., contains her portrait, and is designated by a banner with the inscription, "Dedicated in honor of Mrs. E. Florence Barker, first National President of the Woman's Relief Corps."
When Mrs. Barker, in 1884, retired from the office of President, her associates in the Department of Massachusetts presented to her an engrossed testimonial as a mark of appreciation and esteem, saying in part: "The excellent judgment ever manifested during the two years in which you served this department as President, the fidelity with which you rendered service as first National President of the order, your influence, everywhere recognized, have conferred honor upon our work, and aided in giving it a permanent endorsement by the Grand Army of the Republic throughout the land."
Mrs. Barker did not confine her interests entirely to Grand Army and Soldiers' Home work. She was one of the directors of the Union ex-Prisoners of War National Memorial Association, treasurer (and president one year) of the Woman's Club House Corporation of Boston, a trustee of the Malden Hospital, and a director of the Hospital Aid Association. She exerted an influence in public work and social life, and thoroughly enjoyed her associations in both.
In all her public work Mrs. Barker received the hearty co-operation of her husband, Thomas Erskine Barker. He was born in Canterbury, N.H., in 1839, and was educated in the public schools. He enlisted in Company B, Goodwin Rifles, Second Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers, May 31, 1861, and on the next day was made Captain. He was taken by the enemy at the first battle of Bull Run, and was confined in Libby Prison at Richmond, Va., and in Salisbury, N.C. After nine months in rebel prisons he was paroled and sent North. At his own request he was discharged from the army in July, 1862. He re-enlisted as a private, joining Company B, Belknap Guards, Twelfth Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers, and was elected and commissioned Captain. He engaged in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Va., and was wounded in the latter conflict.
Soon after the battle of Gettysburg he returned to duty and was placed in command of the regiment. Colonel Barker was in the battle of Cold Harbor, in the series of engagements in front of Petersburg, where for twenty-two successive days he was under fire, and he was also present at the capture and occupation of Richmond. He was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel in October, 1864, and Colonel in April, 1865. At the conclusion of hostilities he was placed in command of the United States forces at Danville, Va., and, after a few weeks' service there as military governor, was ordered with the regiment to Concord, N.H., where it was mustered out of service.
For some years he was in the employ of a wholesale grocery firm in Boston. In 1872 he was admitted into partnership with Wadleigh, Spurr & Co. 1880–88 he was a member of the firm of Andrews, Barker & Bunton, and on June 1, 1889, he became one of the firm of Barker & Harris, brokers and commission merchants.
Colonel Barker was a resident of Malden twenty-two years, and was prominent in many social organizations. He was a member of
