Elliott Speer Barker was born on Christmas Day 1886 in Moran, Texas, to Squire and Priscilla Barker. Barker was one of eleven children born to the family, which included siblings S. Omar Barker and Grace Barker Wilson. The family pioneered from Texas to New Mexico by covered wagon in 1889. They eventually settled outside of Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Barker was home educated until the fifth grade and attended school at Las Vegas, New Mexico through high school. He took a six-month photography course in Effingham, Illinois, and worked briefly as a portrait photographer
From 1908-1909 Barker worked as a professional hunter and guide. From 1909-1919 he worked for the U. S. Forest Service as a ranger and supervisor. For several years he worked at ranching until 1931, when he became Director of the Department of Game and Fish. Barker served in this capacity for 22 years. In 1950 Barker donated Smokey Bear, the bear cub rescued from the Capitan, New Mexico fire, to the U. S. Forest Service on behalf of the State Department of Game and Fish. Barker traveled with the bear to his new home in Washington, D. C.
Barker was the executive secretary of the New Mexico Wildlife and Conservation Association from 1959 to 1966. He published a book of poems and several books about his wilderness experiences including When the Dogs Bark 'Treed' and Beatty's Cabin .
In 1911, Barker married Ethel M. Arnold. They had three children: Roy E. Barker, Florence Giers, and Dorothy Elmore.
Barker died April 3, 1988 in Santa Fe, he was 101.
Thank you Gena Forsyth for sponsoring Elliot Speer Barker
Barker was home educated until the fifth grade and attended school at Las Vegas, New Mexico through high school. He took a six-month photography course in Effingham, Illinois, and worked briefly as a portrait photographer
From 1908-1909 Barker worked as a professional hunter and guide. From 1909-1919 he worked for the U. S. Forest Service as a ranger and supervisor. For several years he worked at ranching until 1931, when he became Director of the Department of Game and Fish. Barker served in this capacity for 22 years. In 1950 Barker donated Smokey Bear, the bear cub rescued from the Capitan, New Mexico fire, to the U. S. Forest Service on behalf of the State Department of Game and Fish. Barker traveled with the bear to his new home in Washington, D. C.
Barker was the executive secretary of the New Mexico Wildlife and Conservation Association from 1959 to 1966. He published a book of poems and several books about his wilderness experiences including When the Dogs Bark 'Treed' and Beatty's Cabin .
In 1911, Barker married Ethel M. Arnold. They had three children: Roy E. Barker, Florence Giers, and Dorothy Elmore.
Barker died April 3, 1988 in Santa Fe, he was 101.
Thank you Gena Forsyth for sponsoring Elliot Speer Barker
Elliott Speer Barker was born on Christmas Day 1886 in Moran, Texas, to Squire and Priscilla Barker. Barker was one of eleven children born to the family, which included siblings S. Omar Barker and Grace Barker Wilson. The family pioneered from Texas to New Mexico by covered wagon in 1889. They eventually settled outside of Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Barker was home educated until the fifth grade and attended school at Las Vegas, New Mexico through high school. He took a six-month photography course in Effingham, Illinois, and worked briefly as a portrait photographer
From 1908-1909 Barker worked as a professional hunter and guide. From 1909-1919 he worked for the U. S. Forest Service as a ranger and supervisor. For several years he worked at ranching until 1931, when he became Director of the Department of Game and Fish. Barker served in this capacity for 22 years. In 1950 Barker donated Smokey Bear, the bear cub rescued from the Capitan, New Mexico fire, to the U. S. Forest Service on behalf of the State Department of Game and Fish. Barker traveled with the bear to his new home in Washington, D. C.
Barker was the executive secretary of the New Mexico Wildlife and Conservation Association from 1959 to 1966. He published a book of poems and several books about his wilderness experiences including When the Dogs Bark 'Treed' and Beatty's Cabin .
In 1911, Barker married Ethel M. Arnold. They had three children: Roy E. Barker, Florence Giers, and Dorothy Elmore.
Barker died April 3, 1988 in Santa Fe, he was 101.
Thank you Gena Forsyth for sponsoring Elliot Speer Barker
Barker was home educated until the fifth grade and attended school at Las Vegas, New Mexico through high school. He took a six-month photography course in Effingham, Illinois, and worked briefly as a portrait photographer
From 1908-1909 Barker worked as a professional hunter and guide. From 1909-1919 he worked for the U. S. Forest Service as a ranger and supervisor. For several years he worked at ranching until 1931, when he became Director of the Department of Game and Fish. Barker served in this capacity for 22 years. In 1950 Barker donated Smokey Bear, the bear cub rescued from the Capitan, New Mexico fire, to the U. S. Forest Service on behalf of the State Department of Game and Fish. Barker traveled with the bear to his new home in Washington, D. C.
Barker was the executive secretary of the New Mexico Wildlife and Conservation Association from 1959 to 1966. He published a book of poems and several books about his wilderness experiences including When the Dogs Bark 'Treed' and Beatty's Cabin .
In 1911, Barker married Ethel M. Arnold. They had three children: Roy E. Barker, Florence Giers, and Dorothy Elmore.
Barker died April 3, 1988 in Santa Fe, he was 101.
Thank you Gena Forsyth for sponsoring Elliot Speer Barker
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