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Barker, James William

merchant, was born Dec. 5, 1815, in White Plains, N. Y. In 1859 he established an extensive house in Pittsburg, and transacted annually a very large business. In 1854 he was the Knownothing candidate for mayor of New York city, but was defeated in a closely contested election by Fernando Wood. He was very active in the founding of the Order of the Star Spangled Banner, a secret organization, having for its object the prevention of the political ascendancy of the foreign-born inhabitants of the United States, and was its principal officer in 1853. From 1867 till his death he was president of the Eclectic Life Insurance company, New York. He died June 26, 1869, in Rahway, N. J.