William Frederick Barkman

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

Business ability, energy and enterprise have been the chief characteristics in the career of William F. BARKMAN, a leading business man of Morristown, who has gained an enviable reputation in commercial circles, and whose opinion in business affairs is eagerly sought after and highly appreciated. He was born in Mendham, New Jersey, July 21, 1867, son of William P. and Sarah (LaTOURETTE) BARKMAN, natives of Somerset county, New Jersey, where they lived lives of honor and usefulness, wielding an influence for good in the community.

The common schools of his native place afforded William F. BARKMAN the opportunity of obtaining a practical education, and he remained at home until 1887 when he engaged at the trade of carpenter, being constantly employed in that line of work until 1893, when he engaged in business on his own account as contractor and builder, his present occupation, achieving a large degree of success. He has confined his operations largely to Morris county, and many of the substantial and beautiful edifices of the county stand as monuments to his ability, gained during his many years of apprenticeship and working as a journeyman, together with a natural ability, he having a taste and inclination for that special line of work from early life. He has developed a number of properties, making of them attractive sites for dwellings, a number of which he erected for the sole purpose of selling and renting, and from this source he derives a goodly revenue, making of it a successful enterprise. His business methods are conducted in a straightforward and honorable manner, his policy throughout being to give full value for money received, and thus he has won and retained the confidence and esteem of all with whom he has had business dealings, they giving him their steady patronage and recommending his work to others over whom they exert influence. He is progressive in his ideas, is in sympathy with all that is good and pure in the community, is genial and affable in disposition, and therefore is known far and wide, possessing a large circle of friends, who estimate him at his true worth. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Morristown, a Republican in political preference, voting for the candidates of that great party since attaining his majority, and holds membership in the Royal Arcanum.

Mr. BARKMAN married, May 12, 1893, Elizabeth A. MOODY, daughter of Joseph MOODY, of Toronto, Canada. Children: Ethel A., Ruth M., Helen E., William Frederick Jr.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)