Marriage | 19 October 1897 Near Mt. Zion, Washington Twp., Van Buren, IA, USA, at bride's parents' home
Source: Marriage of John A. and Mollie A. Barker, 1897
Shared Note: - 1897 - 19 Oct, John and Mollie's wedding, at her parents' home, near Mt. Zion, IA. They lived in the basement of John's parents' home in Cedar Twp., Van Buren Co., IA. 1898 - 24 Aug, Eva Grace was born while they lived there. 1900 - John built their first home across the road from his parents' home. 1901 - 24 Jan, Ella "Blanche" was born there. 1903 - John, Mollie, Eva and Blanche to Lincoln Twp. (near Edmond) Oklahoma Co., OK. *John built their home and barn on the 160 acre farm. (The house was of the same design as the one that he had built in IA.) Only 24 acres of the land was already cleared; John cleared the rest to grow his crops on. 1904 - 30 Mar, John James born 1906 - 12 Aug, Mary Jane born 1909 - 8 Apr, Robert Lee born 1911 - 12 Sep, Benjamin Royal born 1916 - John, Mollie, Eva, Blanche, John, Mary, Bob and Ben to Edmond, OK. They lived in a rented house there; address 1120 (?) St. John bought his first Model T Ford; had a taxi service called "Livery Edmond". 1917 - 7 Apr, Delmar Dean born in Edmond, Okla. Co., OK 1917 - Fall of 1917 through 28 Nov 1917 (possibly longer), Eva attended Edmond Central State Normal, teachers' training college. (Her daughter, the author, has her report cards for the term ending, 28 Nov 1917.) 1918 - Mollie, Eva and Delmar went by train to a Barker Reunion in Keosauqua, IA. John decided to surprise Mollie; he packed up their things, put the rest of the kids in the car and joined her in IA. John had become involved in the oil business; he was a salesman. He most likely sold the farm just prior to their move to Fairfield, IA. They moved to 404 W. Adams, Fairfield, Jefferson Co., IA; lived in a rented house for a little over a year (about 1 yr., 10 mos.). They were there when WWI ended on 11 Nov 1918. 1919 -1920 Eva attended Bible College in Anderson, IN; she and her father went by train to Chicago from Fairfield, IA. Then he returned to Fairfield, and Eva went on to Anderson, IN by train on her own. She was 21 years old. After the school year, she returned to Fairfield for her sister Blanche's wedding and for the trip to CA with her parents and siblings. She went back to college in Indiana by train in Sep 1920, planning to finish the year. Her mother who was 42 years old and pregnant with her 8th child, became ill. Eva returned home to Pomona to care for her mother and her younger brothers. She did not ever return to college as she had hoped. (This information was from Eva Loofbourrow Hockaday, in her later years.) 1 Jun 1920 - Blanche's marriage to Leonard Jones in Fairfield, IA. 1920 - (Spring) Shortly after 1 Jun 1920, to Pomona, L.A. Co., CA. The trip took 1 month by Model T Ford; they camped out along the way. Uncle John Jms. Loofbourrow told his niece (the author) that they took the route straight west to Cheyenne, WY, south through Denver, CO, to Sante Fe, NM, to Albuquerque, then via the old Route 66 to Pomona. Blanche's husband, Leonard, drove the old Ford and John drove the brand new one that he bought in IA. Leonard's sister, Evelyn, came to CA with them. There was a total of 11 people making the trip. John, Mollie, their 7 children, Leonard and his sister, Evelyn. (This information was from author's conversation with John J. Loofbourrow on 14 Apr 1981.) After their arrival in Pomona, CA, they camped at Ganesha Park until they bought a house. (This information is from Vercill Loofbourrow who was born after they moved into this house.) 1920 - late July, they moved into their new home at 1408 W. Grand Ave., Pomona, CA. 15 Oct 1920 - Vercill Karl was born; he was John and Mollie's eighth and last child. 1964 - Moved to Community Convalescent Center, 1041 S. White Ave., Pomona; they resided there until their deaths.
* As of 4 May 2009 the owners of the old Edmond farm property are Mark Lee and Debbie L. Hoose; address is 8200 E. Sorghum Mill Rd., Edmond, OK 73034-9306; Mark is an attorney. There is a very nice new home there now in the same location as the one that John Abner built for his family in the early 1900's.
|