Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

3052 GEORGIA AND GBOEGIANSMr. and Mrs. Wilkinson have two living children: Van Winkle, who wasmarried January 22, 1913, to Miss Eunice Regina Lamed, daughter of William S. Larned of Atlanta; and Miss Margaret, who resides with her parentsin their home at 1052 Peach Tree Road.HOMER LUMPKXNT BARKER. Physician and surgeon at Carrollton, DoctorBarker had to work his way through medical college, and the energy and independence with which he overcame the obstacles of his career have been primary factors in his successful professional work at Carrollton. Doctor Barkeris not only a capable member of the profession but one of the livest and mostpublic-spirited citizens of that town and county.Homer Lumpkin Barker was born in Heard County, Georgia, August 3,1884, a son of John W. and Ida M. (Tomlin) Barker. The Barker familycame from Ireland early in the nineteenth century, first settled in Virginia,from which state'branches extended to North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabamaand Georgia. William Barker, grandfather of Doctor Barker, founded thefamily in Georgia and became a planter and during the war, was a soldierin a Georgia regiment. After the losses entailed by the struggle between thestates he recouped his fortune and at one time owned plantations both in Heardand Carroll counties, and was also the operator of saw and grist milfcp Hewas a natural mechanic, and his successful position was well justified by hisability and enterprise. He held several local offices, and was a democrat inpolitics. His death occurred in 1900, when nearly seventy years of age. Thematernal grandfather, George Washington Tomlin, was born in 1826 and diedin 1863 as the result of wounds received while serving in the Confederatearmy. His widow lived to be eighty-two years of age and passed away in 1913.Grandfather William Barker married Susan Bonner. John W. Barker, fatherof Doctor Barker, was born February 6, 1864, and died in 1897. Of the sevenchildren born to himself and .wife two died in infancy. George W., bornJanuary 28, 1882, is a farmer on the old home place in Heard County; thesecond in age is Doctor Barker; Susan is the wife of J. Leonard Marshall, afarmer of Heard County, and she was born February 18, 1888; Glemma, bornMay 6, 1891, is the wife of W. Eddie Denny, county school commissioner ofHeard County; Zenia, born February 1, 1894, lives at Carrollton.Doctor Barker was thirteen years of age when 'his father died, and it waslargely owing to this circumstance that he had to become dependent upon hisown resources before the completion of his education. As a boy he attendedthe Union Grove School in the Rockalo District in Heard County, and alsothe Franklin Collegiate Institute. When quite young he learned the trade ofcarpenter and did contracting and taught school as a means to further hiseducation. Strong inclinations led him to choose a medical profession, andby hard work not only for the benefit of himself, but for others he was finallyable to enter the Georgia State University to take up the formal preparationfor a medical career. He paid his own way through college. While in medicalschool he was made an interne in the Augusta Hospital and was given chargeof the department of contagious diseases, and during 1910-11 had the supervision of 208 smallpox cases. These were heavy burdens for a student tocarry but he graduated with high honors in 1912, standing fourth in a classof forty-two. In his wor.k as hospital interne he advanced from ambulancesurgeon to junior surgeon, and remained in the hospital for thirteen monthsafter his graduation and came into the practical duties of a private practicewith many merited honors. Doctor Barker began practice at Carrollton,January 7, 1913, and is already well established. He is a general practitioner,but also specializes in genitary and venereal diseases and surgery. He hasperformed some very difficult operations with success and early in his careerperformed a successful operation in the repair of nine perforations ofthe intestines from a gun shot wound upon a negro when in the midst of the