Hezekiah Barker

Hezekiah Barker. . , Hezekiah Barker was one of our town's first settlers, arriving in 1806 shortly after Zattu Cushing. Barker was from Rhode Island, where he had served as a member of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Barker purchased a great deal of land when he came to the area, with much of the original parcel where the center of the Village of Fredonia is today. Barker donated the land that today bears his name as "Barker Commons", so it could be used forever for the betterment of the community. Barker also donated the land for the Fredonia Academy to the town (where Village Hall is today) and the land for his final resting place here at Pioneer Cemetery. Hezekiah Barker was responsible for much of the growth of the early community due to his business endeavors. He built the first gristmill in the area on Canadaway Creek and later a sawmill near the Main Street bridge. Barker also built a log tavern on his property where today One Park Place stands. Barker helped guide the growing community through its early years along with others like Zattu Cushing and his son-in-law Dr. Squire White. Unfortunately, Hezekiah Barker was not here long enough to see the greater growth the town would see as he passed away on July 5, 1834.