Columbia River Sun-December 07, 1911 BARKER, Joel W. A sudden shock was experienced by our residents Sunday morning when the word spread over the village that Joel Barker was dead. He had been around as usual the evening before and the suddenness of his demise was the general topic on the streets. Mr. Barker resided alone in a small houseboat on the north side of Birnie creek. About 11 o’clock in the morning Louis Nicoud, whose houseboat adjoins that of the deceased man, saw him pass by the rear of the dwelling and heard him stumble and fall on the walk. Knowing Mr. Barker’s habits of intemperance, but was startled a few minutes later to hear loud outcries from the scow of Mr. Barker. The noise carried with it a note of alarm and just then he heard a crash of dishes and the noise of a heavy fall. He hastened into Mr. Barker’s residence and found the latter lying prone on the floor in a partially unconscious condition, but apparently suffering much pain. The stricken man was placed in his bunk and one of the Petermen boys, who was with Mr. Nicoud, was dispatched for Dr. Clarke. The physician soon arrived, but efforts to resuscitate the patient were unavailing and he died about one and one-half hours after being stricken. Besides the physician and Frank Demand, John Quigley, who was passing on the bridge and heard Mr. Barker’s cries, was present. Dr. Clark’s pronouncement of the nature of the attack was convulsions induced by alcoholic indulgence. He was a familiar Cathlamet figure and had been employed in the logging camps of this section for many years past. He was born in Waterloo, Iowa, and was 59 years of age. He came to this coast in 1864. No papers were found amongst his effects to denote where his relatives reside, but a sister and an uncle are believed to live on the Pacific Coast. He was possessed of more than an ordinary education and was past Sachem of Quillis Tribe, had filled all the stations and few members of the order were better posted on tribal work. The funeral was Tuesday from Redmen hall and a large number of his fellow members of Quillis followed the corpse to its final resting place in Woodmen Cemetery. Rev. W. W. Head conducted the service and pallbearers were Swen Erickson, Frede Brown, Rocco Perino, M. Larson, John Quigley and J. T. Nassa. Woodmen (Greenwood) Cemetery-Cathlamet, Wa. Ca. 1852-03 Dec 1911 (As transcribed by the Wahkiakum County Historical Society Museum)