Life Sketch Of Charlotte Ann Wilkes
By daughter, Fern Barker Heap

Charlotte Ann Wilkes was born July 23, 1882 in a little log hut down in the field in St. Charles, Idaho.

Her parents moved to Star Valley when she was very small. Her mother ran a boarding house and mother and her sisters helped. They were very poor and learned how to use all their food with no waste. Grandmother Wilkes as a very good cook and was well known for her flakey pie crust throughout the valley.

Grandfather would kill a bear and Grandmother would render the fat into extra white lard to make her pie crust. After they swept the floor, they would sift through the dirt and even a crust of bread was picked up and thrown out to the birds to eat. They burned nothing that an animal or bird could eat. They remembered how hungry the pioneers would get crossing the plains and how happy they would be when they would see some thistles so they could have some thistle soup.

She married George Hyrum Barker November 28, 1904 in Paris, Idaho. They lived in St. Charles, Idaho for a year and Dad got a job with the Burton Brothers in Afton. They moved into the Burton Brother's home. Burtons had 15 or 20 cows and Dad had 8 or 9 of his own. When the hay was up on the Afton ranch they would move to the meadows to put up about 900 more acres of wild hay.

They lived in a two room log cabin with a dirt roof. Burtons hired 25 or 30 men to help put up the hay and mother cooked for them besides milking the cows. In the winter they would feed the hay to five or six hundred head of cattle.

Dad killed lots of ducks for their meat and mother made down pillows and a mattress with just the breast feathers. The mattresses for the kids wee made out of wild hay.

They were still working on Burton's when Dad bought the house where we were all raised. (On the Afton-Grover road approximately one mile north of Afton, on the west side of the road. L.B.) Later he bought 40 more acres from Nephi Hill, and he quit working for the Burtons.

It was hard to make a living. Dad worked in the Afton (Burton) creamery for years and when the three oldest boys got big enough they went to the canyon for wood. They took contracts for 500 to 600 cords for the creamery and another 500 cords for the school.

Mother had eight children and her ambition in life was to be of service to others and especially to her family. She would never steal or do wrong to anyone. All of her hard work and worry about her family ruined her health and she was sick for many years with a bad heart, but she kept right on going.

They sold the ranch and moved to Afton where she only lived a few years. She died of heart failure October 28th 1946 at 64 years of age.

When Dad's wonderful companion was taken from him, he was very lonely and lived a short time. He died of a heart attack July 15th 1947 at age 73.

FUNERAL SERVICE FOR LOTTIE WILKES BARKER
Held in Afton 1 Nov. 1946 at 1:30 p.m.

The services were conducted by Councilor A. Dixon Burton of the Afton North Ward bishopric. He announced the program as follows:
The processional music by Sister Margaret Winters at the organ and Sister Meldum on the violin.
Song by the North Ward Choir - "I Need Thee Every Hour"
Open Prayer: Adolph Jensen
Talk by Bishop Franklin R. Gardner
Vocal solo by Arch Gardner, "When I Take My Vacation in Heaven"
Talk by President Albert Barrus
Vocal solo by Ernest Turner, "That Wonderful Mother of Mine"
Talk by Bishop E. Francis Winters (later Stake President)
Just prior to the commencement of the funeral service, the family requested that Ernest Allred, cousin to Aunt Lottie, of St. Charles, speak prior to the conclusion of the service.

The entire service has been recorded and is in the hands of the immediate family, but only a review mainly pertaining to the family's and Aunt Lottie's history will be included in this review.

Bishop Franklin R. Gardner: "Brothers and Sisters, I can assure you that I feel very keenly the sacredness of this hour and the responsibility that is mine in speaking to you for a few moments. I feel grateful Brothers and Sisters, in my heart today that I was asked to occupy this position. It is a position that I always dread and worry about. To know that Brother Barker and his family have confidence in me and desire that I be one of the speakers today is a satisfaction and I hope that I may be led to say a few words that will be of some benefit to those present, especially to Hyrum and his family. It seems that on occasions like this - and it takes occasions like this - to bring families together and I see today many who have come from foreign parts, many old acquaintances and friends and many whom I have not seen for years, and, in meeting them and shaking their hands and renewing old acquaintances, it brings a grand feeling to us. I have been trying to recall the past, thinking of what has taken place in the years that have slipped by since the Wilkes family established themselves here if Afton. Some of us perhaps do not know just where the home was, but still some us probably do know the old home stood where the Haderlie Motor building is now (he was referring to the town home the family built and moved into about 1895 across the street from the old Burton home. L.B.) I remember as a young boy through the years that have passed, the associations that I have enjoyed with members of that family. I have known Lottie all of my life. She was associated with those of just a few years older whom I and a group of young boys of Afton in those early days and I was not one of that group, being a few years younger, but I have recalled the times that the older group - Lottie included - was in our home. Our younger group, likewise, would meet in the homes of our friends and enjoy ourselves in the different homes of Afton. There was only a few homes - hardly one, I would say, to a block in town in those early days; just a few houses in all of Afton.

I remember well the time that Hyrum came here and he and Lottie were married and established themselves on the ranch north of Afton. (Approximately one mile north on the west side of the road. L.B.) It hardly seems possible that the years have slipped by so fast and they have raised a family, all of whom have married and gone to themselves and now Hyrum is left to occupy his home which he has already occupied here a few years in Afton which he has enjoyed with his wife and I think he will probably have many lonely hours before him. I know of no person of my acquaintance, Brothers and Sisters, with a sweeter disposition and character than had Sister Barker. You who knew her best knew what a fine person, what a fine character she was. Her whole desire in life was for others; she didn't care so much for her own self; her whole ambition and desires were for her husband and family and what she could do for them. She was kind and sweet throughout her life. It seems to me that the life the Savior would have us live and the example He would have us follow was followed as nearly by Sister Barker as any person I know of. I don't know of any faults and sometimes on occasions of this kind we don't see faults in those who have gone beyond but I dare say there aren't many people here today that can point out very many faults in Lottie Barker. I know of none. She lived the gospel. Her whole ambition in life was to do good and be of service to those she associated with and especially be of service to her family. The greatest joy I believe that came to her in life was in her home with her boys and girls. She loved to see them grow up and when they were in the line of their duty she was happy. Sorrow only came when missteps were taken and when, in that home I remember in time of sickness and death her attitude and her sweet kind ways. I am sure the Lord loves a person of this kind. We are taught by the Savior to live that kind of life and to have virtues that she possessed.

Much more was spoken by Bishop Garner relative to the need for each of us to review our lives and to ascertain how closely we are living the lives we should. Musical numbers were given as programmed as were other speakers to give expressions of love and sympathy and counsel, each admiring the fine qualities and beauties of character Aunt Lottie possessed. These were quite well enumerated by the first speaker.

Let us review the few comments expressed by Cousin Ernest Allred who, when he appeared for the service was invited by Uncle Hy to speak although the printed program did not include his name. Most of his brief remarks will be quoted verbatim:

"I trust that the few moments I stand before you this afternoon, that I may have the faith and interest in your faith and prayers that I may have the assistance of our Heavenly Father and I may say a few words that will be of interest to us and words of encouragement to Brother Hyrum and his family. I have enjoyed listening to the words of truth that have been spoken this afternoon. Words that I already knew because of our relationship, our association with the Wilkes family. I will not dwell along this line but I think that I will go back more to the foundation of the Wilkes family and this afternoon my mind goes back along that long winding road known as life. My thoughts go back to a little log hut down in the field below St. Charles where my Uncle and Aunt lived - the father and mother of Sister Lottie. (He of course was referring to John and Martha hunt Wilkes. L.B) sister Lottie comes of Pioneer stock. Her Grandparents on both sides were early settlers in the salt Lake Valley; were early settlers in the Bear Lake Valley. Her Uncle on her mother's side was the second bishop in the St. Charles ward. There was one before him who served just a year or two, but I remember in that little log hut that I spoke about I remember my mother (Grandpa John's sister, Sarah Ann) coming home from where she had been called due to the illness of Lottie's mother and telling us that Aunt Lizzie (the name Grandma Martha Elizabeth Wilkes was known by her family. L.B.) Had a baby girl. That baby girl was Lottie. I was a tiny boy at that time, but I remember it. I remember how anxious my sister and I were to go down and see this baby. I remember when we went and just a year and a half or so after the birth of Sister Lottie, her parents, together with her moth's children and a bachelor son, another brother and his wife and I believe four children, came to Star Valley before any settlers were in this Valley." (Cousin Ernest's listings of the group going to Star Valley confirms Aunt Mattie Wilkes Walker's list as noted far earlier in this history. A chart may help to clarify.)

Now to continue with Cousin Ernest's funeral service talk:

"Brother Gardner referred to the little home where they lived here on the corner which was true but that was not their first home in Star Valley. These pioneers built down below town here a log cabin, partitioned it off with three rooms and those three families wintered there. I believe that was in about 1883. If I remember right, your valley was settled in about 1885. They lost every horse that they owned, if I remember right, and I remember the next Spring when one of them came back for help. I remember how we as children, rejoiced when they moved back to St. Charles. Brother Ed, here, was my first playmate that I remember of. We shared each others sorrows; we shared each others joys as boys. They built a home just a block from my parent's home. I remember how we used to associate together and then a few years later they again moved back to Star Valley. I think, and in fact, I know there had been a number of settlers moved in before this. I think it was, perhaps, about eighty-six or eighty-seven when they came back to Star Valley, so I say she not only comes of pioneer stock - she was a pioneer.

"They have told us of the characteristics and good qualities of Sister Lottie. I am reminded to an incident that took place when Uncle Johnnie and Aunt Lizzie (Grandpa and Grandma John and Martha Wilkes) were like the rest of our parents. They were not blessed with worldly goods. At times it was almost impossible to get the wherewith that their children might be clothed properly and perhaps sometimes have the food they needed and upon one occasion it seems there was to be a party. Lottie and Sister Hettie here, were both in need of clothes and a dress that they might go to this party. They were only able to obtain one dress. Sister Hettie said, 'Let Lottie have the dress and go, she is the oldest'. Lottie said, 'No, let Sister Hettie have it.' I mention this to show the characteristics and kinds of character - Sister Lottie would rather give than receive any time. She would rather be injured than to injure the other party and I believe it could well be said of her that she lived her life in her home centered around her children and her children's children and never complained but giving much in her own roll of a wife and mother. Brother Hy's folks also were of pioneer stock and Sister Lottie became grown to a young womanhood she married Brother Hy, a boy from her home town (of St. Charles). They lived the first year after they were married in St. Charles then, I believe, Brother Hy obtained employment from one of the Burtons and they moved back here and you know what they have been and what they have done in your community.

"May I ask at this time that God's blessings will be with Brother Hy and help him to acknowledge the hand of the Lord in this trial that has come to him and these children, Sister Fern and these boys and all who have lost the greatest and best friend they have ever had - this wonderful mother. May you children be what your father and mother want you to be. May God's blessings be with you all."

A. Dixon Burton who was conducting the service concluded by saying: "The pallbearers have been four of Sister Barker's sons: Neldon, Ardell, Merl, and DeVere Barker, and a son-in-law, Blaine Heap, and Murray Wilkes. The grave will be dedicated by Brother Ozro B. Gardner. Never again will her sons or her husband listen to her voice. She will live only in their memories and I hope, especially the children, that they will never forget their mother, how she looked the last time they looked upon her. Not many have the privilege of being buried in the robes of the Priesthood. How many honor that privilege only we and our God know, but we have, at least, been obedient to the commandments and only those who attain to that privilege and take advantage of that privilege in this life will receive the privileges and blessings in life that come to those who are obedient here in this life - those who wait and let someone else do it in the temple will never have the rights and privileges of those who do it in this life and I hope they will remember it was worth life itself to be born under the covenant; it was worth life itself to be worthy to wear the robes of the Priesthood and those memories will be sweet unto them.

"Our closing song will be by the North Ward choir, "When We Meet Beyond The River", and the benediction will be offered by Brother Benjamin W. Hale."

George Lorel Barker
Written by his wife, Elfonda Hale:

George went to school in Afton and finished the eighth grade. He married Frances Elfonda Hale December 1, 1926 in the Logan Temple.

We moved from Afton in the spring of 1927 to North Ogden where he found occasional employment doing odd jobs including work on the Ben Lommond fruit farm where he worked for a year.

Our daughter, Nondas, was born there on the 4th of July 1928. We moved to Ogden and then to Bountiful during which time George got a job with the Bamberger - a train that ran from Ogden to Salt Lake City. We then bought a home in Salt Lake City.

The depression of the 1930s came and George lost his job and because of that we lost our home. During the depression George worked for the WPA (a public works program sponsored by the government to provide work for the nation's unemployed.) During this time we raised chickens and made enough money to move to California.

George started to work for Pacific Gas and Electric Company in the fall of 1937 and worked from then until he was forced to go on disability in 1969 because of a bad heart.

His hobbies were fishing and hunting.

In a letter dated 6 Aug 1984 Elfonda reported: George and I have had a bad year. I have been ill for over a year - inflamation of the vascular system. On the 24th of December 1983 George had a bad stroke. We were both in the hospital. George is only able to say a few words that we can understand. His right side is paralyzed. He is able to walk with a cane and a brace - is very weak.

Our daughter, Nondas, does much for us. She takes us to the doctor and buys our groceries. I haven't driven the car for eight months and George hasn't been able to drive for two years.

This writer is sure George and Elfonda have our love and faith and prayers.

John Devere Barker was the second child of eight children born to George Hyrum and Charlotte Ann Wilkes barker. He was born 24 July 1908 at Afton, Wyoming. As a young boy he worked hard helping Dad on the farm. When he grew up he became a wanderer. He left home and Mother and Dad didn't know where he was. We would sit up to the table to eat and Mother wouldn't eat. She often said, "I can't eat - I just know DeVere is out in the world someplace, hungry. After about two months had passed by my folks finally heard from him. He was in Phoenix, Arizona. He caused my folks many heartaches by doing this.

He finally wandered back and went to St. Anthony, Idaho, where he met and married Lula Abbeglan. He still wandered from place to place, so it was difficult making their marriage work and they were divorced. When Mother became bedfast he came back to Afton to help care for her. Following her death he stayed with Dad for a while.

He was very talented and had many trades. He was a good carpenter and helped Dad finish things around the house that Mother always wanted done. He also helped build a back room on the house.

After Dad died on the 15th of July 1947 - Mother passed away on the 26th of October 1946 - DeVere went back to Idaho and we never had a word from him for about twelve years. In late spring of 1959 his body was found in the Boise River and it was determined his death, probably by drowning, was about May 20th 1959. We never did know exactly how he came to be in the river. He was 51 years old and was buried in Afton. - Written by DeVere's sister, Fern Barker Heap August 31, 1984.

Merl Barker written by himself:

I am the third child of eight children born to George Hyrum and Charlotte Ann Wilkes Barker. I was born January 10th 1910 at Afton, Wyoming and lived my early life in Afton on the farm. I went to the afton grade school and the Star Valley high school at Afton. I liked sports and dancing. I was particularly fond of basketball and have received several trophies. Dancing was also very interesting to me and I enjoyed it very much.

It was at one of the dances that I met my wife, Virginia. We dated for some time before we were married on April 14th 1939. After we were married we moved to Pocatello, Idaho were I worked for the Wilkes' Grocery for about a year. I then went to work for Kraft Foods Co., working there for thirty four years before retiring in 1974.

Since retiring we have enjoyed going camping in our 25 foot trailer up in the hills in summer time and down south in the winters. We enjoy this very much. I have held several positions in church work. I have had exceptional good health for which I am very grateful. We take this privilege of sending our love to all our dear relatives. We have 15 grand children with one having passed away and have five great-grandchildren, two of whom having passed away.

Merl added a note to his letter containing his history which we shall take the liberty of repeating for it shows the ideal way to spend one's retirement: "We are getting ready to go up to Island Park (West Yellowstone) to spend a few weeks. We have been fixing up our house which has been a big job. Hope you are enjoying good health. Haven't heard from anyone else.

With love, Merl & Virginia

(All I can say, Merl and Virginia - what a life! L.B.)

Martha Louise Barker as written by her sister, Fern.

Louise was the 4th child of eight children born to George Hyrum and Charlotte Ann Wilkes Barker. She was born 6th of March 1911 and was very beautiful.

She came home from school one day complaining of her legs hurting. The doctor decided she had Brights Disease and yellow Jaundice. She was sick a long time. In those days there was no cure and she died March 23rd, 1925.

This was a very sad time for everyone in the family. There was no mortuary in Afton. To preserve her body as much as possible, fruit jars were filled with ice and they were packed all around her body. She was buried in Afton having passed away at the age of 14.

Fern Barker Heap: Written by herself:

I am the sixth child of eight children born to George Hyrum and Charlotte Ann Wilkes Barker.

I was born March 25, 1919 at Afton, Wyoming. I went to the Afton grade school and graduated from Star Valley high school and the Star Valley seminary in 1937. Went to L.D.S. Business College in Salt Lake City, Utah.

I married Blaine Harrison Heap of Thayne, Wyo. In 1937 at Paris, Idaho. We built a home in Thayne, Wyo. And I worked at the Star Valley Swiss Cheese Company from 1949 until 1961 as a bookkeeper and private secretary. In 1961 Blaine went to work as a thoroughbred horse trainer and we traveled all over the eastern part of the U.S. I worked in several different banks as a teller and in the bookkeeping departments in Chicago, Illinois and in Florida.

Blaine returned in 1974 and we came back to live in our home in Thayne, Wyoming. We now spend the winters in Phoenix, Arizona and at age 65 I work in the mutual department at Turf Paradise Race Tract. I run a computer selling and cashing tickets.

We had two sons - DeLloyd Blaine Heap and Delano H. Heap. We have five grandchildren.

Ardell Barker - written for Ardell by his sister, Fern:

Ardell Barker was the seventh child of eight children born to George Hyrum and Charlotte Ann Wilkes Barker. He was born Sept. 21, 1920 at Afton, Wyoming. He attended the Special Class at Afton Grade School. When his Mother and Dad both passed away he went to the Wyoming State Training School at Lander, Wyoming in 1947. He progressed enough through the years to learn to get along with others and go out into the world on his own.

In 1982 he started working on a government group home project. His supervisor said he was a very sweet person and a very good worker. He does janitorial work and does an excellent job.

Neldon Barker - written by himself:

I was born at Afton, Wyoming, on the 23 Sep 1923 to Hyrum and Charlotte Ann Wilkes Barker. I graduated from the star Valley high school at Afton. I entered the Air Force in May of 1943. I was married 14th April 1944 to Pauline Rudd of Norwich, England and had a daughter, Carolee Ann, on 13 of Feb 1947 but had the misfortune of losing her mother. I was discharged from the service in October of 1945. In 1960 I married Fern Woods who had a son, Robert, by a previous marriage. We now operate Barker & Son, Janitorial Service in Newark, California.

Golden Cornell Barker as written by his sister, Fern:

Golden Cornell Barker was the fifth of eight children born to George Hyrum and Charlotte Ann Wilkes Barker. He was born July 16, 1913 at Afton, Wyoming. He went to school at Afton and attended the Star Valley high school. He had to help Dad on the farm so didn't complete his schooling.

He married Genevieve Hemmert Jun 7, 1933 in the Salt Lake Temple.

He worked at the Star Valley Creamery Company at Afton for eight years and then moved to Napa, California in 1941. This was during World War II and he worked for the ship building industry. Genevieve completed her education and became a school teacher.

They bought a home in Napa. Golden took after his Dad as far as being able to do things with his hands. He had a very beautiful lawn and many, many beautiful flower in his yard.

After the war Kaiser Steel bought out the Ship Building Industry and Golden worked for them making steel pipe. He developed cancer of the lungs and suffered and suffered with this until he died February 13, 1966.

He had lots of medical bills, but had good insurance with his job, so Genevieve was able to keep the home. She continued teaching school in Napa until she retired. She died of a heart attach September 4, 1979.

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