and we know that the early settlers of Scituate were called "the men of Kent," which would seem to indicate the English home of Robert and John, the Scituate pioneers.

(I) Asa Barker was born at Medford, Massachusetts, in February, 1749. Owing to the number of early immigrants bearing the name, and to the absence of records, it is impossible to tell from which line he is descended. There is a tradition that he was one of "the embattled farmers" of the revolution. There are no less than five Asa Barkers recorded on the Massachusetts rolls as serving during that war, but only two of them took part in the Concord fight. One was Asa Barker, of Andover, a private in Lieutenant Peter Poor's company, whose service amounted to three days and a half. The other was Asa Barker, of Ipswich, a corporal in Captain Nathaniel Wade's company, whose service amounted to twenty-one days. There is some reason to suppose that the latter one may have been the one born at Medford, because many of the early settlers of Bridgton, Maine, came from Ipswich. Asa Barker moved to Bridgton in 1793. and the next year his name appears on the list of the town's inhabitants as being at the head of the largest family in town, consisting of seven males and four females. The name of his wife was Lucy, but the date of his marriage is unknown, and only four of his children are recorded: Lucy, William, Jonathan, whose sketch follows, and Asa.

(II) Jonathan, son of Asa and Lucy Barker, was born at Medford, Massachusetts, September 18, 1785. At the age of eight years he moved with his people to Bridgton, Maine, where his father, one of the pioneers, subsequently developed a fine farm. Jonathan attended the public schools in his new home, and when he had attained his majority, turned his attention to the lumber business. In later life he owned the canal boats on the Cumberland canal. He was a prominent citizen, and was justice of the peace for many years. In 1806 Jonathan Barker married (first) Mehitable Farnum, of Sebago, Maine, who bore him two children: Elmira, May 7, 1807; and Timothy June 8, 1809. He married (second). Catherine Mitchell, daughter of Josiah Mitchell. There were nine children by the second marriage: William, born April 15, 1812; Asa, December 19, 1814; Mehitable, January II, 1816; Jonathan, October 13, 1817; Benjamin, April 12, 1819; Charles K., February 18, 1821; James L., September 10, 1822; Cyrus I., whose sketch follows; Otis B., November 13, 1830.

(III) Cyrus I., seventh son of Jonathan

Barker and his second wife, Catherine (Mitchell) Barker, was born at Bridgton, Maine, November 11, 1827. Being next to the youngest in a family of eleven children, he was early thrown upon his own resources. His elder brothers had left home as soon as they were able to work, and Cyrus I. thought it was his duty to follow their example. He had already been employed upon neighboring farms and in a quarry, but his tastes were mechanical, and he wished to go out into the world. His father gave him ten dollars, and Cyrus I. set forth to seek his fortune. He first went to Portland, but finding nothing there kept on to Boston. Being again unsuccessful in obtaining employment suited to a boy of his years, he returned to Portland with only a few pennies in his pocket. While there he heard of a position at Brunswick, which he might get if he could reach the place. Having no money, he was obliged to ask the loan of a dollar from the man with whom he was staying. By this means he was enabled to pay his fare to Brunswick, where he obtained the situation and stayed .some time. In 1845, at the age of eighteen, he went to Saco, Maine, to enter the York Mills, and it was there that he began his long and notable career and laid the foundation of his thorough knowledge of cotton manufacturing. He started at the lowest round of the ladder by tending a "lap alley" in the York Mills. By degrees his diligence and painstaking were rewarded by promotion, which advanced him through the various grades to the position of overseer. During the fifteen years he was employed in these mills he became thoroughly conversant with the business of cotton manufacturing. In 1860 Mr. Samuel M. Batchelder, treasurer of the York Mills, who had watched Mr. Barker's progress with friendly and business interest, bought the Everett Mill in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and employed him to take charge of the carding department. Eight sets of woolen machinery had been placed in the mill and the starting and oversight of these were intrusted to Mr. Barker. He soon familiarized himself with the details of woolen manufacturing, and in 1865 was appointed general manager for A. Campbell and Company, a firm just beginning the manufacture of cotton and woolen goods in Philadelphia. In the three years that he was their agent, Mr. Barker planned and erected a stone and brick mill, six hundred feet long, seven stories high, with forty thousand spindles. Early in 1868 Benjamin E. Bates induced Mr. Barker to give the advantage of his skill, experience and business energy to the development of manufactur