The Barker - O'Connor House

Plaque Information

“Barker – O’Connor House”

c. 1896

Queen Anne style house built as an investment property for E. Gerry Barker (1850 – 1933), native of Onondaga County, NY, commission merchant; and wife, Alice M. Schonwald (1850 – 1932). Purchased in 1904 by Major Daniel O’Connor (1834 – 1925); and wife, Mary Ann Reily (1853 – 1919). A Union Army Veteran, he settled here after the Civil War when he was appointed U.S. mail agent. A native of County Roscommon, Ireland, he was a real estate agent and founder of the local Hibernian Society. House converted to duplex and double story porch added by 1915. Remained in family until 1949.

Occupants

Eldridge Gerry Barker

Eldridge Gerry Barker was born on June 5^th, 1850, in Onondaga County, New York to Eliza A. and George H. Barker. He grew up in the Massachusetts area, receiving his education in the public school system of Salem, MA. After this, Barker attended the Collegiate and Commercial Institute of New Haven, Connecticut. In 1868, for reasons unknown, he relocated to Wilmington, North Carolina. In 1871, Barker was recorded as working as a bookkeeper for his brother George G. Barker’s business, Barker & Company Shipping and Commission Merchants. George was listed as residing in Boston, MA, but Barker was listed as residing on Orange Street in Wilmington, NC.[1]

On May 10^th, 1871, Barker was wed to Alice M. Schonwald, the daughter of a prominent physician from Wilmington, NC. The pair were wed at the residence of Alice’s father, Dr. J. T. Schonwald. After marrying, the couple remained in Wilmington. In referencing the 1877 Wilmington City Directory, the pair resided on Ann Street. Barker was listed as the owner of his business, E. G. Barker & Company, located at 113 N. Water Street.[2]

In December 1888, Barker purchased a parcel of land that contained the property where 517 S. Front Street would be constructed. The exact dates of construction are unclear, but the Barker – O’Connor house first appeared on record in the Wilmington City Directory in 1897. While the owners of the property, the Barker’s resided at another residence in Wilmington and are presumed to have never actually lived in the house. It is further speculated that the house was built as a rental/ investment property. For unknown reasons, in May of 1889, the Barkers listed their properties in Wilmington for sale and liquidated the inventory from his business. On July 5^th, 1889, the Barkers moved from Wilmington, NC to Woburn, MA. On May 21^st, 1903, the property was sold to R. Vance Leonard and his wife, Mary M. Leonard.[3]

Vance Leonard

Vance Leonard, a native of Brunswick County, NC, was born in 1862 to George and Julia E. Leonard. In 1902, Leonard and his wife, Mary, were listed as residing at 408 S. Fifth Avenue. Leonard was also listed as a grocer at a shop located at 11 Market Street. The pair purchased the property 517 S. Front Street from the Barkers on May 21^st, 1903. The house did not remain in the Leonard’s possession for long, as the property was sold to Major Daniel O’Connor in 1904.[4]

Major Daniel O’Connor

Daniel O’Connor was born on July 16^th, 1834, in Elphin, Ireland to parents Katherine Gainon and James O’Connor. It is unclear when exactly, but O’Connor emigrated to the United States at a young age. O’Connor spent a good deal of time in Wisconsin before moving to Chicago to study law. When the Civil War broke out, O’Connor took a break from his studies and enlisted in the Union Army. He was promoted to Major at Fort McAllister but was injured severely at the Battle of Missionary Ridge shortly after. Once the Civil War concluded, O’Connor moved to Wilmington, NC, where he was appointed to a mail agent position by the Postmaster General. In 1869, O’Connor became involved in the real estate industry in Wilmington in addition to his position as a mail agent.

On August 16^th, 1876, O’Connor married Mary Ann Reilly. The pair had a daughter, Maie Isabelle O’Connor, and were listed as living on Sixth Street in 1877. O’Connor went on to open a business, D. O’Connor Real Estate, located on Princess Street. Interestingly enough, O’Connor represented Lizzie V. Darby in 1888 during the sale of some parcels of land. Darby sold these parcels to Eldridge Gerry Barker, who went on to construct 517 S. Front Street. O’Connor purchased the property from R. Vance Leonard in 1904. Renovations to transform the house into a duplex/ multi-family home and add a second-story porch were completed by 1915 under the ownership of O’Connor. On November 23^rd, 1919, O’Connor’s wife, Mary passed away. O’Connor remained in the residence until his passing on March 17^th, 1925.[5]

Maie O’Connor & Egbert K. Bryan

After O’Connor passed away in 1925, he left the home to his daughter Maie. Maie and her husband, Egbert K. Bryan, lived in the house until 1949. Despite living in the home the longest, not much is known about Maie or her husband.[6]

[1] New Hanover County Digital Collections, “Barker – O’Connor House”, https://cdm16072.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15169coll2/id/1030/rec/34

[2] New Hanover County Digital Collections, “Barker – O’Connor House”, https://cdm16072.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15169coll2/id/1030/rec/34

[3] New Hanover County Digital Collections, “Barker – O’Connor House”, https://cdm16072.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15169coll2/id/1030/rec/34

[4] New Hanover County Digital Collections, “Barker – O’Connor House”, https://cdm16072.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15169coll2/id/1030/rec/34

[5] New Hanover County Digital Collections, “Barker – O’Connor House”, https://cdm16072.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15169coll2/id/1030/rec/34

[6] New Hanover County Digital Collections, “Barker – O’Connor House”, https://cdm16072.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15169coll2/id/1030/rec/34