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Barker, Harold Henry

House 1931-38 (District 48)

Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

Counties Served:  Grant

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 6/15/1889
Birth Place: Elbow Lake, Minnesota
Birth County:
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: 3/23/1949
Gender: Male
Religion: Presbyterian
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected): Elbow Lake
Occupation (when first elected): Editor, Grant County Herald

EDUCATION

Sparta Public Schools, Wisconsin; Elementary School;
Sparta High School, Wisconsin; Secondary; Graduate
University of Wisconsin; Attended College; 1909-1912

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Military: United States Army, 339 Field Artillery Division (World War I, France, First Lieutenant); 05/1917 to 02/1919
Military: United States Army and Army Reserve (World War II, Captain, Major); 194? to 19??

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Marion Grey (married on February 2, 1918; she died on September 28, 1942); Margaret (remarried on April 8, 1944)
Children: Three children: Robert, Elizabeth Anne, and Richard
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He moved to Sparta, Wisconsin when he was young, with his parents. He returned to Minnesota in 1914.

He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. He was referred to as a Liberal. (Gieske, Millard L. Minnesota Farmer-Laborism, 1979, p. 238)

He was the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party's candidate for Governor of Minnesota in the 1946 election.

He was a member of Sigma Mu fraternity.

He died, of lung cancer, at home. A funeral service was held for him in the Elbow Lake High School Auditorium. He was buried in Union Cemetery.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Elbow Lake, Minnesota.

Religion provided by his obituary.

Total Days Served: 2919

SESSIONS SERVED

50th Legislative Session (1937-1938)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 48
Elected: 11/3/1936
Residence: Elbow Lake
Term of Office: 1/5/1937 to 1/2/1939
Counties Represented: Grant
Occupation: Editor, Grant County Herald
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Liberals have controlled the House only in 1933, 1937, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1961." (Mitau, G. Theodore. Politics in Minnesota, 1970, p. 83.) He was referred to as a Liberal. (Gieske, Millard L. Minnesota Farmer-Laborism, 1979, p. 238)
Committees:
Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
Leadership Notes: "The Liberals have controlled the House only in 1933, 1937, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1961." (Mitau, G. Theodore. Politics in Minnesota, 1970, p. 83.)

49th Legislative Session (1935-1936)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 48
Elected: 11/6/1934
Residence: Elbow Lake
Term of Office: 1/8/1935 to 1/4/1937
Counties Represented: Grant
Occupation: Editor, Grant County Herald
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: He was referred to as a Liberal. (Gieske, Millard L. Minnesota Farmer-Laborism, 1979, p. 238)
Committees:
  • Civil Administration
  • Commerce, Manufacture and Retail Trade
  • Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Tax Laws
  • Printing and Publishing
  • Public Highways
  • Reapportionment
  • Taxes and Tax Laws

48th Legislative Session (1933-1934)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 48
Elected: 11/8/1932
Residence: Elbow Lake
Term of Office: 1/3/1933 to 1/7/1935
Counties Represented: Grant
Occupation: Editor, Grant County Herald
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: He was referred to as a Liberal. (Gieske, Millard L. Minnesota Farmer-Laborism, 1979, p. 238)
Committees:
  • Commercial Transportation
  • Game and Fish
  • Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Tax Laws (Chair)
  • Printing and Publishing
  • Public Highways
  • Rules
  • Taxes and Tax Laws

47th Legislative Session (1931-1932)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 48
Elected: 11/4/1930
Residence: Elbow Lake
Term of Office: 1/6/1931 to 1/2/1933
Counties Represented: Grant
Occupation: Editor, Grant County Herald
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: He was referred to as a Liberal. (Gieske, Millard L. Minnesota Farmer-Laborism, 1979, p. 238)
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Horticulture
  • Printing and Publishing
  • Public Domain
  • Public Highways
  • Public Welfare and Social Legislation
  • State and County Fairs
  • State Development and Immigration

Articles & Books About

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.