Fred Barker (Fred Barker)

Fred Barker

Criminal. The Barker Gang is rooted in the family of Arizona “Ma” Clark Barker (1873-1935) and her four sons, Herman (1894-1927), Lloyd (1896-1949), Arthur “Dock” (1899-1939), and Fred (1903-1935). In 1927 Herman Barker apparently committed suicide after he was wounded by Kansas police. In 1932 Lloyd began serving a twenty-five-year term for mail robbery at the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. Herman and Lloyd were never part of the later gang that earned the family’s notoriety.  In 1910 George and Kate moved the boys to Oklahoma, and here is where Fred and Dock joined in with juvenile criminals known as the Central Park Gang. Doing stints in and out of prison most of their child and adulthood, it was during this time in prison that Fred met Alvin Karpis, these two would join up again later after each was separately paroled and thus a legendary crime spree would begin.  The Barker-Karpis Gang robbed several banks throughout the Midwest and committed numerous murders, but two high-profile kidnappings elevated their status with the FBI. In 1933 they abducted William A. Hamm, Jr., a Minnesota brewery owner, earning $100,000 in ransom. In 1934 they netted $200,000 after kidnapping Minnesota millionaire Edward Bremer.  However, the crime spree would not last long. In 1935 a  Florida map with Lake Weir circled on it was found during a Chicago raid of gang members, leading federal agents to Ocklawaha in January, their they found Fred and his mother Kate hiding out in a rental house, it is stated that the gun battle that lasted 4 hours, was started when Fred stepped out onto the front porch with a machine gun and began firing on the government agents. The house was riddled with nearly 3,500 bullets in the shootout. Afterward, federal agents found machine guns, rifles, pistols and approximately $14,000 in cash. The Barkers’ bodies were taken to Pyles Funeral Home in Ocala. (bio by: Shock)  Family links:  Parents:  George Elias Barker (1859 – 1941)  Kate Barker (1873 – 1935)  Siblings:  Herman Barker (1893 – 1927)*  Lloyd William Barker (1898 – 1949)*  Arthur R. Barker (1899 – 1939)*  Fred Barker (1903 – 1935) *Calculated relationshipCause of death: Gunshot wounds

Born

  • December, 12, 1903
  • USA

Died

  • January, 01, 1935
  • USA

Cause of Death

  • Gunshot wounds

Cemetery

  • Williams Timberhill Cemetery
  • Oklahoma
  • USA

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