Robert B. Barger
Died This Morning
Veteran Printer and
Honored Citizen Gone To Reward
Robert B. Barger,
familiarly known in Newton for a generation as "Capt. Barger," passed
away at Bethel Hospital this morning about 3:30, following a severe illness of
about ten days of chronic bladder and kidney disorders. It has been known that Mr. Barger has been in
ill health for many months, but he has been on the job as book-keeper in the
office of the A. Moore Construction company right along until compelled to quit
a couple of weeks ago.
Capt. Barger was
well known to all older residents. He
was an old soldier, and in his earlier manhood was a man of much vigor and
enthusiasm. He had been a resident of
Newton 36 years. In the early 1880's he
ran a job printing establishment here, and was counted one of the best printers
in this section. Later, when the old
Republican was made a morning daily and put on the full Associated Press report
in 1887, Mr. Barger was placed in charge of the job department as foreman. That was the time when Noble Prentis was
editor. Tom Norton was business manager,
and Max Nichols was city editor. Later
he served with W.J. Krehbiel as foreman.
Giving up the printing business, Mr. Barger was in the employ of the
Follett Hardware firm here for years. He
was always doing free will work for the community, and was a standby for
election boards, city council, school work, and in any way he could be of use. He had been with Mr. Moore for several years.
He leaves his wife
at the home at 307 Harrison street, and a daughter, Mrs. Alice Hockenbery, of
Wichita. The funeral will be held at the
Christian Church Monday forenoon at 10:30 conducted by Rev. Percy Atkins, and
the A.O.U.W. of which he was a member, will assist. The Evening
Kansan-Republican, Newton Kansas.
Saturday, April 28, 1917. Page 6.
