Colonel Joseph Barker House
Encyclopedia
The Colonel Joseph Barker House is a historic residence in Washington County
, Ohio
, United States
. Located north of Marietta
, in the Muskingum Township
community of Devola
, it has changed little since its construction in the early nineteenth century, and it has been designated a historic site
.
in 1765, Joseph Barker moved his family to Ohio in 1789. After practicing carpentry
in Marietta and serving in the militia
during the Northwest Indian War
, in 1795 he settled along the Muskingum River
, about 7 miles (11.3 km) above Marietta. The family soon returned to that village, as their property and all of their stores were destoyed by fire in the following winter. Undaunted, they returned northward, becoming one of the first families to settle in Wiseman's Bottom along the river. Within a few years of settling in Ohio, Barker became a prominent member of local society: he was promoted to colonel
of the militia during the war, was named a justice of the peace
in 1799, and was elected to serve as the judge of Washington County's common pleas court
from 1830 to 1842. Key to Barker's prominence in the community was his important skilled trade
: besides being a carpenter, he was a capable architect
and shipbuilder
. Among the many ships that he built at his farm were some that were ultimately used for the Burr expedition
.
Joseph Barker's daughter, Frances Dana Barker Gage
, was a writer, and a leading American reformer, feminist and abolitionist. Barker's manuscript, Recollections, provides details of pioneer history regarding the first permanent American settlement of the new United States in the Northwest Territory
.
structure completed in 1811. Measuring three bays
wide, the facade
features a central entrance with a large fanlight
and sidelight
s flanking the doorway. All three windows on the facade's second story are placed within brick arches that are recessed into the wall of the house. Built of brick, the house rests on a foundation of sandstone
and is covered with a slate
roof. As one of Ohio's first master builders
, Barker was responsible for constructing many prominent buildings in Marietta and vicinity; as the first such structure to be completed, the Barker House occupies a significant place in the architecture of the Marietta region. Contributing to its importance is its rarity and its unusually good state of preservation: few changes have been made to the house in the two centuries since its construction, and almost none of the other buildings designed by Barker have survived to the present day.
. Qualifying it for this distinction were its historically significant architecture and its association with Barker himself. It is one of thirty-five Washington County places to be listed on the Register; among the other thirty-four is the home
of the colonel's son, Joseph, Jr., which lies along State Route 7 above Marietta.
Washington County, Ohio
Washington County is a county located in the state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 61,778. Its county seat is Marietta. The county, the oldest in the state, is named for George Washington. Washington County is included in the Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna, West Virginia-Ohio...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Located north of Marietta
Marietta, Ohio
Marietta is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Ohio, United States. During 1788, pioneers to the Ohio Country established Marietta as the first permanent American settlement of the new United States in the Northwest Territory. Marietta is located in southeastern Ohio at the mouth...
, in the Muskingum Township
Muskingum Township, Washington County, Ohio
Muskingum Township is one of the twenty-two townships of Washington County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 4,627 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the central part of the county, it borders the following townships:...
community of Devola
Devola, Ohio
Devola is a census-designated place in Washington County, Ohio, United States, along the Muskingum River. It is part of the Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, it has changed little since its construction in the early nineteenth century, and it has been designated a historic site
Historic site
A historic site is an official location where pieces of political, military or social history have been preserved. Historic sites are usually protected by law, and many have recognized with the official national historic site status...
.
Barker's life
Born in Newmarket, New HampshireNewmarket, New Hampshire
Newmarket is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 8,936 at the 2010 census. Some residents are students and employees at the nearby University of New Hampshire in Durham....
in 1765, Joseph Barker moved his family to Ohio in 1789. After practicing carpentry
Carpentry
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
in Marietta and serving in the militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
during the Northwest Indian War
Northwest Indian War
The Northwest Indian War , also known as Little Turtle's War and by various other names, was a war fought between the United States and a confederation of numerous American Indian tribes for control of the Northwest Territory...
, in 1795 he settled along the Muskingum River
Muskingum River
The Muskingum River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 111 miles long, in southeastern Ohio in the United States. An important commercial route in the 19th century, it flows generally southward through the eastern hill country of Ohio...
, about 7 miles (11.3 km) above Marietta. The family soon returned to that village, as their property and all of their stores were destoyed by fire in the following winter. Undaunted, they returned northward, becoming one of the first families to settle in Wiseman's Bottom along the river. Within a few years of settling in Ohio, Barker became a prominent member of local society: he was promoted to colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of the militia during the war, was named a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in 1799, and was elected to serve as the judge of Washington County's common pleas court
Ohio Courts of Common Pleas
The Ohio Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of the state court system of Ohio.The courts of common pleas are the trial courts of general jurisdiction in the state. They are the only trial courts created by the Ohio Constitution . The duties of the courts are outlined in Article IV, Section...
from 1830 to 1842. Key to Barker's prominence in the community was his important skilled trade
Tradesman
This article is about the skilled manual worker meaning of the term; for other uses see Tradesperson .A tradesman is a skilled manual worker in a particular trade or craft. Economically and socially, a tradesman's status is considered between a laborer and a professional, with a high degree of both...
: besides being a carpenter, he was a capable architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and shipbuilder
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
. Among the many ships that he built at his farm were some that were ultimately used for the Burr expedition
Burr conspiracy
The Burr conspiracy in the beginning of the 19th century was a suspected treasonous cabal of planters, politicians, and army officers led by former U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr. According to the accusations against him, Burr’s goal was to create an independent nation in the center of North...
.
Joseph Barker's daughter, Frances Dana Barker Gage
Frances Dana Barker Gage
Frances Dana Barker Gage was a leading American reformer, feminist and abolitionist. She worked closely with Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, along with other leaders of the early women's rights movement in the United States...
, was a writer, and a leading American reformer, feminist and abolitionist. Barker's manuscript, Recollections, provides details of pioneer history regarding the first permanent American settlement of the new United States in the Northwest Territory
Northwest Territory
The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, more commonly known as the Northwest Territory, was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 13, 1787, until March 1, 1803, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Ohio...
.
Architecture
Barker's house is a rectangular two-storyStorey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
structure completed in 1811. Measuring three bays
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
wide, the facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
features a central entrance with a large fanlight
Fanlight
A fanlight is a window, semicircular or semi-elliptical in shape, with glazing bars or tracery sets radiating out like an open fan, It is placed over another window or a doorway. and is sometimes hinged to a transom. The bars in the fixed glazed window spread out in the manner a sunburst...
and sidelight
Sidelight
A sidelight is a window, usually with a vertical emphasis, that flanks a door. Sidelights are narrow, usually stationary and found immediately adjacent doorways...
s flanking the doorway. All three windows on the facade's second story are placed within brick arches that are recessed into the wall of the house. Built of brick, the house rests on a foundation of sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
and is covered with a slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
roof. As one of Ohio's first master builders
General contractor
A general contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project.-Description:...
, Barker was responsible for constructing many prominent buildings in Marietta and vicinity; as the first such structure to be completed, the Barker House occupies a significant place in the architecture of the Marietta region. Contributing to its importance is its rarity and its unusually good state of preservation: few changes have been made to the house in the two centuries since its construction, and almost none of the other buildings designed by Barker have survived to the present day.
Recognition
In 1978, the Colonel Joseph Barker House was listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. Qualifying it for this distinction were its historically significant architecture and its association with Barker himself. It is one of thirty-five Washington County places to be listed on the Register; among the other thirty-four is the home
Judge Joseph Barker House
The Judge Joseph Barker House is a historic residence in southern Washington County, Ohio, United States. Located along State Route 7 southwest of the community of Newport, it is a brick structure with a roof of metal, a foundation of sandstone, and other elements of wood and metal. Constructed...
of the colonel's son, Joseph, Jr., which lies along State Route 7 above Marietta.