Native of Montgomery county Indiana, was born November 15, 1845. When 12 years of age he came to Howard county with his parents and their family locating on a farm on the county line one and a half miles east of Cresco. His father, Mr. Jeremiah Barker, died that same year leaving W.K. and the other members of the family to be the architects of their future. In 1863, he enlisted in company B, seventh Iowa volunteer Infantry, serving until the close of the war, and was in the battles with General Sherman in his march to the sea. The succeeding ten years was devoted to farming, school teaching, and storing his mind with useful information upon all available subjects. He was united in marriage with Miss Ada C. Brown. Mr. Barker read law and was admitted to practice in 1877. He managed contested suits with good success in the state and federal courts. He served with distinguished ability as county attorney at the time of his death, was a member of the legislature of Iowa, and the representative from Howard county, his term expiring with December 1903.