Gaston County history

"Kicked" by a Plough

"Mr W H Barker of Lowesville, Gaston Co, NC in a terrible and most unusual way met his death on Friday [June 3, 1905] of last week. Mr Barker was a Confederate veteran. He was in his field ploughing Friday when the plough struck a root or rock and "kicked" him in the stomach. He was knocked unconscious and had to be taken

to his home. After regaining consciousness he continued to suffer excruciating pain until death relieved him of his sufferings." (from the Gaston newspaper sometime in June 1905?) [from Ann Barker Burr..via Karen Dean. 6-20, 2009]

William H. Barker was born in Union County, NC, Sept 12, 1842 to Bailey Barker and his wife Charity Phifer. He served in Co. F, 35th Regiment, NC Troops from Union County. He enlisted at age 20 with his father Bailey Barker 4 October 1861. Wm. was captured at Five Forks, VA, 1 April 1865, confined to Hart's Island New York harbor and released 18 June 1865 from Hart's Island, N. Y.

When he got home he found his next door neighbors, the Williamsons, had moved to Gaston/Lincoln. He went in search of this family, in particular for the lovely Miss Margaret Elizabeth Williamson. He found her and they married and reared a large family of nine children whose descendants still live in Gaston/Lincoln. Some of them settled in the area of Iredell county now under the waters of Lake Norman in the now fashionable section along Brawley's Rd. They attended Methodist churches mostly along Hwy 16.

--Ann Barker Burr