The 1860 United States census showed Ansell W. Barker (age 17, born in Illinois) living with his parents Timothy (age 52, born in Massachusetts, farmer) and Pheoby (age 53, born in New York) and living in See, McLeod County, Minnesota. His other siblings were Eliza A. (age 15, born in Illinois) and Mary A. (age 12, born in Illinois).
Ansel W. Barket enlisted in Company A, Minnesota 4th Infantry Regiment, on March 29, 1864. He was promoted to full corporal and mustered out on July 19, 1865, in Louisville, Kentucky.
Ansel W. Barker married Maria O. Howe on November 18, 1866, in Shakopee, Minnesota.
The 1870 United States census showed Ansel Parker (Barker, age 27, born in Illinois, farmer) married to Maria (age 26, born in Vermont) and living in Chaska, Minnesota. Children Albert (age 2, born in Minnesota) and Alice (age 8 months, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1875 Minnesota census showed Ansel Barker (age 31, born in Illinois) married to Maria (age 31, born in Vermont) and living in Glencoe, Minnesota. Ansel lived with his parents Timothy (age 66, born in Massachusetts) and Phebe (age 67, born in New York) and his children Albert (age 7, born in Minnesota), Alice (age 5, born in Minnesota), and Anna (age 3, born in Minnesota).
The 1880 United States census showed Ancil W. Barker (age 36, born in Illinois, laborer) married to Maria (age 36, born in Vermont) and living in Glencoe, Minnesota. Children Albert (age 12, born in Minnesota), Alice (age 10, born in Minnesota), Annie (age 8, born in Minnesota), Grace (age 4, born in Minnesota), Arthur (age 2, born in Minnesota), and Myrtle (age 2 months, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1885 Minnesota census showed Ansel Barker (age 41, born in Illinois) married to Maria (age 41, born in Vermont) and living in Chaska, Minnesota. Children Albert (age 17, born in Minnesota), Allice (age 15, born in Minnesota), Anna (age 13, born in Minnesota), Grace (age 9, born in Minnesota), Albert (age 7, born in Minnesota), and Myrtle (age 5, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
Ansel W. Barker married Emma Anna Jadwin on January 26, 1892, in Carver, Minnesota.
The 1895 Minnesota census showed Ansel Barker (age 52, born in Illinois, store) married to Emma (age 33, born in Minnesota) and living in Chaska, Minnesota. Children Grace (age 23, born in Minnesota), Anna (age 19, born in Minnesota), and Arthur (age 17, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1900 United States census showed Ansel W. Barker (age 54, born in August 1845 in Illinois, wheat buyer) married to Emma E. (age 38, born in August 1861 in Minnesota) and living in Chaska, Minnesota. Children Blanche M. (age 4, born in August 1895 in Minnesota) and Beyrl M. (age 2, born in September 1897 in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1905 Minnesota census showed Ansel W. Barker (age 61, born in Illinois, state grain) married to Emma (age 43, born in Minnesota) and living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Children Blanche (age 9, born in Minnesota) and Beyrl (age 7, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1910 United States census showed Ansel W. Barker (age 66, born in Illinois, state grain) married to Emma E. (age 47, born in Minnesota) and living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Children Blanche A. (age 14, born in Minnesota) and Beyrl M. (age 12, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
Ansel W. Barker died April 17, 1917, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Ansel Barker Laid At Rest. Funeral Took Place Here Thursday Afternoon Under Auspices of the Masonic Order. The remains of the late Ansel W., citizen of Chaska, were brought here from Minneapolis last Thursday forenoon. The funeral occurred that afternoon from the Moravian church, Rev. Arthur Schwarze conducting short funeral services, after which the local lodge of Masons, of which deceased had been a member, took charge and assisted by Masons from neighboring lodges and many relatives and friends from near and far, escorted the remains to their last resting place in Mt. Pleasant cemetery, where the Masonic rites and several selections by the choir closed the last services over the remains of the departed. Ansel Wesley Barker was born the son of Timothy and Phoebe (Dyer) Barker on the 2nd day of August, 1843, in Boone County, State of Illinois. While deceased was still a boy the family moved to Glencoe, Minn., and a number of years later, to Chaska; just before the outbreak of the Civil War. In 1864 he enlisted in Company A of the 4th Minnesota Infantry. He took part in the battle of Altoona Pass, and in General Sherman's famous March to the Sea. Upon his return after the close of the war he was first engaged with his father in running a ferry across the Minnesota river. After this he was engaged for many years in operating a brick-yard, in that part of town where our present High School building is located.
About sixteen years ago he removed to Minneapolis, where he has been engaged in grain inspection. In 1866, on the 18th of November, he was united in marriage to Miss Maria Howe. This union was blessed with eight children, three sons and five daughters. Of these only two sons and three daughters survive their father. In 1890, on June 8th, he lost his wife by death. He had subsequently been married to Miss Emma Jadwin. Two children were born to them, who live to mourn their father’s death. For the past winter deceased had been in failing health, owing to hardening of the arteries. His condition grew steadily worse, until there was no hope of recovery. Owing to his robust constitution, however, his was a lingering death. But the end came at last on the 17th of this month, in the early hours of the morning. He had attained the age of 73 years, 8 months and 15 days. He is survived by the widow and the following sons and daughters: Albert Barker, of Minot, N. D., Mrs. F. A. C. Iltis, of Le Sueur Center, Minn., Mrs. A. E. Aitkens, also of Le Sueur Center, Arthur Barker, of Langdon, N. Dak., Mrs. Fred Haering of Chaska, and Blanch and Berl Barker of Minneapolis. With his death another of the familiar and prominent figures of the earlier days in Chaska has passed forever from this earthly scene. (Weekly Valley Herald, Thursday, April 26, 1917, Volume LV, Number 33, Page 6)