| Birth: | Aug. 7, 1879
Lixville
Bollinger County
Missouri, USA | | Death: | Feb. 10, 1936
Jefferson City
Cole County
Missouri, USA | 
Southeast Missourian
Monday evening, February 10, 1936
James A. Barks, Former Girardeau Mayor, Dies at Jefferson City Home
By the Associated Press
Jefferson City, Feb. 10~James A. Barks, 56 years old, assistant supervisor in the state securities and corportions department and former mayor of Cape Girardeau, died at his home here today after an extended illness. Mr. Barks, was confined in St. Mary's Hospital here from Oct. 19 to Dec. 29, suffering with anemia. While there he underwent 36 blood transfusions.
Hope for his recovery was abandoned when he was taken home, but for a while he showed improvement.
Since November, 1934, he had been secretary of the National Association of Securities Commissioners.
Mr. Barks served as supervisor in the Corporations and Securities Department for several months in 1934 after the resignation of Neal J. Ross of Kansas City, and before the appointment of Russell Maloney, also of Kansas City.
Funeral arrangements have not been completed.
Serving as mayor of Cape Girardeau for nearly nine years, Mr. Barks was at the head of the city's government during the period when the town saw its greatest growth and development.
First appointed Nov. 8, 1921 after the resignation of the late H. H. Haas, who became postmaster, Mr. Barks was elected for four consecutive two-year terms, being defeated in the spring election of 1930, by the incumbent, Edward L. Drum. He retired from office in April, 1930.
His administrations, torn during the latter stages by a bitter utilities fight, was marked, however by the most progressive measures. It was during his terms that the West End sewer system was built, miles of street paving were laid, two smaller sewer systems installed and the corporate limits of the city extened to include heavily populated suburbs.
Aggressive in community improvement, Mr. Barks was credited with the modernization of the police department, of which he was the ex officio head. Meeting the demands of a growing city he brought in the trained police official from a metropolitan department despite adverse criticism and during the months the officer was here encouraged him in training local men for traffic and other police duty.
His appointment as mayor came largely as a matter of chance. When Mr. Haas resigned to become postmaster, the city council, then composed only of the late C. E. Schuchert and Louis Wittmore as commissioners, could not for weeks reach an agreement on his successor.
Finally, at the end of a session, during which prospective candidates were mentioned, Mr. Schuchert asked Mr. Wittmor is Mr. Barks, then city counselor, would be suitable. Mr. Wittmor, after a moment's thought agreed and so Mr. Barks was appointed to an office which he held from the afternoon in November, 1921 to 1930.
He was a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge and the Order of Eastern Star here at the time of his death. Formerly he had been a member of Wilson Chapter and Cape Council, Masonic bodies. For four years he had served as secretary of the Blue Lodge, succeeding Julian G. Miller in 1919, and serving until 1923 in that capacity.
He was a member of Centenary Methodist Church as were members of his famiily while in Cape Girardeau.
A farm boy, school teacher and finally a lawyer, Mr. Barks had a wide experience in each field. Born Aug. 7, 1879, at Lixville, Bollinger County, he was licensed at the age of 17 years to teach school. After teaching three years in Perry and Mississippi Counties, he entered the old Normal School in Cape Girardeau, graduating here in 1909.
After serving for five years as head of the Hancock School in St. Louis County, Mr. Barks came to Cape Girardeau to live, being associated until 1921 in the law partnership with J. Henry Caruthers, then prosecuting attorney and later an assistant attorney general.
When the commission form of government was adopted in 1918, Mr. Barks was appointed by Mr. Haas, the first mayor under the commission form, as city counselor, a post he held until his selection as mayor.
He was married Sept. 21, 1915, to Miss Edna Kerth of St. Louis County, who, together with two daughters, Misses Norma and Ruby, survive. One daughter, Norma, is a student at the college here.
He is also survived by a brother, Dr. Wm. H. Barks, a physician of Perryville, and a sister, Mrs. John Conrad of near Perryville. His father, Joseph Barks, died five years ago and his mother previous to that.
Advices to the A. W. Zimmer family, close friends of the Barks family for many years, from the home in Jefferson City said the body of former Mayor Barks will be brought to Cape Girardeau Wednesday morning and that funerla services will be that afternoon at Centernary Methodist Church.
It was said the body will be taken first to St. Louis County, probably early Tuesday for short services and then will be brought here about 9 a.m. Wednesday and will be taken to the Walther Funeral Home. Mrs. Barks' people reside in St. Louis County.
While here Mrs. Barks and daughters will be guests in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Zimmer, 1243 Rockwood Drive.
Tuesday, February 12, 1936
The body of James A. Barks, former mayor of Cape Girardeau, who died Monday morning at his home in Jefferson City, will arrive here at 3:30 o'clock Wednesday morning on a Frisco train and will be taken to the Walter Funeral Home. Mrs. Barks and two daughters, Misses Norma and Ruby will be accompied here by relatives in an automobile.
Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at Centenary Methodist Church of which Mr. Barks was a member. Rev. R.H. Daughtery, the pastor, will deliver the funeral sermon. Burial will be in Memorial Park cemetery with members of the Masonic order in charge. Masons will be pallbearers.
Mayor Edward L. Drum announced that the city offices at Common Pleas Courthouse will be closed from 2 to 3:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon during the funeral services. City officials will attend the funeral in a body.
MO death certificate #5157
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CAPE GIRARDEAU BRIDGE HAER No.MO-84 Page 5
"In October, James A. Barks, the mayor of Cape Girardeau, told the Rotary Club that a traffic bridge across the Mississippi River was the city's greatest need and urged them to promote the effort."
August, 1925
Mayor Barks was on the committe designated by the Chamber of Commerce to pursue the bridge project.
CAPE GIRARDEAU BRIDGE HAER No.MO-84 Page 7
Aug. 20, 1926
Trinity Lutheran School Auditorium
Report to the public by the bridge committee
"Mayor Barks spoke on the development and prosperity sure to result from the bridge. Calling it a 'day of opportunity,' he promised that Cape Girardeau's trading territory would increase by another 120,000 people and $60 million in purchasing power."
CAPE GIRARDEAU BRIDGE HAER No.MO-84 Page 18
Bridge Opening Ceremonies
September 3, 1928
...."Close to 15,000 people packed onto the seminary grounds--a natural, semi-circular amphitheatre--to attend the dedication cermonies. Atop the speakers' platform, the Bridge Queen and her maids of honor were seated on canopied thrones. With Charles Harrison presiding, Mayor James Barks gave the welcoming address."....
OUT OF THE PAST (feature)
Southeast Missourian
Saturday, April 17, 1994
75 years ago: April 17, 1929
Mayor James A. Barks and city police officers took turns trying their skill with new police department submachine gun in target practice at silica pit on Juden farm southwest of Cape Girardeau yesterday; officers participating were chief H.F. Wickham, Robert Wilson and Charles Schweer.
According to Mayor James A. Barks, he has received several inquiries from Girardeans who asked if it would be possible for daylight saving time to be adopted here.
Family links:
Parents:
Joseph Barks (1851 - 1928)
Margaret Belinda Blaylock Barks (1843 - 1907)
Children:
Ruby Alma Barks Wilkening (1920 - 2003)*
Spouse:
Edna Kerth Barks (1894 - 1961)
*Point here for explanation
Note: SECTION 2 LOT 145 | | | Burial:
Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery
Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau County
Missouri, USA |
Created by: brenda joyce
Record added: Sep 08, 2008
Find A Grave Memorial# 29662445 |
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