George W. Barkley
George W. Barkley married Clara Louise Garnier and became the son-in-law of Judge John Garnier. He married Clara on June 28, 1822 and built the Barkley House overlooking Pensacola Bay about 1825 where they lived for many years.
| George W. Barkley | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 20, 1793 England |
| Died | August 9, 1854 Pensacola |
| Spouse | Clara Louise Garnier (Abt. 1800-1867) |
| Children | George Garnier Barkley (1823-1858) Clara Barkley Dorr (1825-1899) Charles Garnier Barkley (1826-?) Rosa Garnier Barkley (1828-1831) Lucy Rose Barkley (1831-About 1865) Sophie Elizabeth Barkley (1833-1901) Catherine Ann Barkley (1835-1836) Adeline Garnier Barkley (1838-?) Margaret Overton Barkley (1838-?) |
George was a businessman and active in public affairs. He emigrated to Baltimore, Md in 1819 and swore an oath of intent to become a citizen on May 3 of that year. He met his future Father-in-law in New Orleans before coming to Pensacola in 1820 and serving as Customs Inspector. In 1823 he joined his Father-in-law in business, it becoming Garnier & Barkley, Auctioneers. In 1824 he was city treasurer, serving until at least 1827. In 1825 he and John established plantations near present-day Fort Walton Beach. He helped incorporate the Protestant Episcopal Church in 1829 and the Alabama, Florida & Georgia Railroad in 1834. He signed a petition to annex Escambia County to Alabama in 1840. He served as a trustee of the West Florida Collegiate Institute in 1845. Newspaper articles and advertisements related to his mercantile business span 1829 to 1843. He was also involved in shipping, having acquired the schooner ALEXANDER to ship bricks made by Byrd C. Willis to New Orleans from the privately owned Barkley wharf near his home. In 1847 during the Mexican-American war he was named by the Commissioner of Patents to receive samples of "many valuable varieties of plants and vegetables for field and garden culture, and fruits, not generally known in the United States, but adapted to the climate of some … [that] may be found in Mexico … by the officers of the Army and Navy now employed in Mexico… to the care of George W. Barkley, esq., Pensacola, Florida."
He is buried in St. Michael's Cemetery, as are his wife and four children: George, Rosa, Catherine, and Adeline.
SourcesEdit
- Will of George W. Barkley
- 1850 and 1860 Federal censuses of Escambia County, Florida
- Pensacola Gazette, 1820-1850
- Findagrave.com, St. Michael’s Cemetery, Pensacola, Escambia, Florida
- Barkley House Vignettes by George Willis Tate