Barkley, John

Submitted by Mike Miller

Barkley, John, of New Orleans, retired sugar merchant, native of Belfast, Ireland, came to New Orleans at under 20 years of age, and secured employment with his uncle, Adam Thomson, prominent sugar refiner and merchant, whose partner he became, until the firm of John Barkley & Co. was formed in the early seventies. Mr. Barkley was president of the old Planters' Sugar Refinery, which was eventually absorbed by American Sugar Refinery; was one of the organizers of the Louisiana Sugar and Rice Exchange, being at that time one of the leading merchants in the sugar and molasses trade. He was a stockholder to a large extent in many of the banks of New Orleans, and for years was a sugar planter of much influence.Until ill health compelled comparative retirement, he was a man prominent in the social as well as business world in New Orleans; a promoter and advocate of civic improvements and philanthropic works, and even up to the time of his death was deeply interested in all progressive movements in this city; his name standing now as ever a very synonym of truth and honor, upon which never stigma nor slur has been cast. He was an officer and active member in his church, the First Presbyterian church of New Orleans.His wife, n e Josephine Henderson, of Memphis, Tenn., is still living.There are 3 children: Elvira, wife of J. T. Witherspoon of New Orleans; Wm. J. Barney, and Henderson Barkley, all born in New Orleans. His sons were educated in private schools and graduated at Princeton university.Upon leaving college, they went into business with their father and were associated with him in the firm until his much regretted death, which occurred June 27, 1914.

Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 805-806. Edited by Alc e Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.