Biography of E.H. Barker

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E.H. Barker was the principal of Nevada City High School until he left Nevada City in 1907 to become head of the Mathematics Department at Polytechnic High School in Los Angeles. He had taught mathematics, physics and chemistry at Nevada High since 1898.

Several times while he was principal at Nevada High, he submitted petitions to the Nevada County Board of Supervisors for appointment to the Board of Education. (Petition of E.H. Barker, dated 28 March 1904 in files at Searls Historical Library.)

He resided at 337 Clay. Some thought Barker had built the house but his own letters to the Searls law firm in 1909 suggest he occupied the house for six years from 1900-1906 and made some improvements such as a fence, walks and wall. He planted a lawn and trees—but did not build the house.

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Barker became involved in a lawsuit with M.L. Marsh over the house.
Barker vs. Marsh

Correspondence from E.H. Barker to Fred Searls, 21 Feb 1909

The full packet of letters is available under “Letters, 1909” at the Searls Library in Nevada City.

Key points raised by E.H. Barker:

Citizens Bank holds a note signed by E.H. Barker and S.W. Marsh [son of M.L. Marsh] and dated 1 Sept 1906 for $640. Marsh refuses to pay.

Barker left Nevada City and advertised the ‘place on the hill’ for sale without success. Marsh offered to try to sell it—offering Barker $1,000 equity in it. Barker assumed Marsh had cleared enough when he sold it to pay off the note.

Barker states he resided in the place six years and ‘put’ the following ‘into it’:
  Lot on which it was built, $105
  Fence, 50
  Concrete wall, walk, steps 120
  Electric fixtures 25
  Fireplace grate and tiling 35
  Shades 15
  Improvement to ground lawn, trees 100
  Cash payments to Marsh 1150
  Total $1600

Barker pays $1700 and Marsh agrees to sell the property.

This biography is also available as a PDF file.

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This page last updated: 16 Jan 2019

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