Background
Henry Rodman Barker was born "Henry Augustus Rodman Barker" in Providence, Rhode Island on September 15, 1841, to William Cornell Barker and Sarah A. Jencks.
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Henry Barker
Edit ProfileEducation
He attended public schools in Providence and graduated from high school in 1859.
Career
Barker served seven years on the city council, serving from 1873 to 1880. As a city councilman, Barker was a strong supporter of Doyle"s introduction of modern infrastructure systems, needed as Providence grew into a modern city. These improvements included waterworks and a sewage system, modern schools, and improvements in municipal services.
As mayor, Barker called for city funding of the public library, which previously had been privately funded.
He improved the sewage system and improved the railroad terminal.
