The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 1010 

J. EDGAR BARKES.

J. Edgar Barkes, a well known and successful young business man of Yakima, is
the president of the Central Drug Company, of which concern he has been at the
head since its establishment in March, 1913. His birth occurred in Columbus,
Indiana, on the 4th of March, 1885, his parents being Isaac N. and Emma
(Williams) Barkes, the latter now deceased. The father, an agriculturist by
occupation, still resides in Indiana.

After pursuing his public school education J. Edgar Barkes entered the School of
Pharmacy of Valparaiso University at Valparaiso, Indiana, and following his
graduation in 1904 was employed as a clerk in the Hoosier state for two years.
On attaining his majority, in 1906, he made his way westward to Spokane,
Washington, and subsequently worked as a clerk in that and other cities of the
state. The year 1912 witnessed his arrival in Yakima and at the end of a six
months' period of clerkship here he purchased the business of the Stafford Drug
Company, changing the name to the Central Drug Company, Incorporated. He has
acted as president since its establishment in March, 1913, while H. E. Tim is
the secretary and treasurer. In 1917 removal was made from the first location at
No. 416 West Yakima avenue to the corner of West Yakima and Fifth avenues, where
they have a modern drug store, twenty-five by sixty feet, with the floor. In
February, 1915, they opened a branch store at Roslyn, Washington, which was
conducted by Mr. Tim until 1918, when he entered the military service of his
country and the establishment was sold. The business in Yakima has reached
extensive and gratifying proportions, for Mr. Barkes thoroughly understands his
profession and, moreover, manifests excellent business ability and the utmost
integrity in the conduct of the enterprise. A large line of drugs and druggists'
sundries is attractively arranged and the patronage is continually growing.

On the 8th of March, 1908, Mr. Barkes was united in marriage to Miss Alma
Fisher, of Denver, Colorado, by whom he has a son, Robert, who is now in his
third year. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and
fraternally is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Foresters. He has become widely and
favorably known in both business and social circles of Yakima and has made many
friends who rejoice in his prosperity, for it has been most honorably won.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.