Bob Barker

Barker of “The Price is Right” attends the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences presentation: An Evening with Bob Barker, held at the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre in North Hollywood, CA on 05/07/07. Starfrenzy/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Robert William Barker

Date of Birth: December 12, 1923

Place of Birth: Darrington, Washington, U.S.

Date of Death: August 26, 2023

Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: English, German, one eighth or 1/16th Sioux Native American, small amounts of Irish, French, and Welsh

Bob Barker was an American television personality. He hosted the game shows Truth or Consequences, from 1956 to 1975, and The Price Is Right, from 1972 to 2007. The latter was the longest-running game show in U.S. history. He also hosted The Bob Barker Show on the radio in the 1950s, and the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants from 1967 to 1987; as well as appeared in the film Happy Gilmore. He was an advocate for animal rights, and supported the United Activists for Animal Rights, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

Bob was the son of Matilda Kent “Tillie”/Tilly (Tarleton), a school teacher and Superintendent of Schools for Todd Co., SD, and Byron John “Bill” Barker, a foreman on the state electrical high line. His father was born in Nebraska. His mother was born in Eminence, Schoharie, New York. Bob was raised partly on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. He was part of the U.S. Navy Reserve during WWII. He was married to Dorothy Jo Gideon, until her death.

Bob was an enrolled member of the Sioux Native American tribe of South Dakota, and was listed as such on the 1930 Indian Census Roll. It appears that his paternal grandmother Frances’s mother was of Sioux Native American, or part Sioux, ancestry. Bob’s grandmother Frances’s race is listed as “other” on the 1860 U.S. Census, while her own father’s race is listed as “white.” The 1930 U.S. Census lists Bob and his parents as “White.” The 1900 U.S. Census lists Bob’s father and paternal grandparents as “White.” The 1885 Nebraska State Census and the 1910 U.S. Census list his paternal grandparents as “White.”

Bob’s paternal grandfather was Sgt. Joseph Hubbard Barker (the son of Oliver Barker and Ruth Barker Hubbart/Hubbard). Joseph was born in Russia, Herkimer, New York. He fought for the Union in the Civil War, and was a Corporal in Company I, 5th Iowa Cavalry, and a Sergeant in Company C, Bracketts Independent Battalion, Minnesota Cavalry. Oliver was born in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, the son of Abijah Barker, who fought in the Revolutionary War, and of Delight Dewey. He was of Colonial American (mostly English) descent, with deep roots in Massachusetts. Bob’s great-grandmother Ruth likely was the daughter of Thomas Hubbart/Hobart/Hobert/Hubbard, who fought in the Revolutionary War, and of Silence/Belinda Bartlett.

Bob’s paternal grandmother was named Frances/Francis/Fanny/Fannie Tackett (the daughter of George L. Tackett). Francis was born in Fort Laramie, Goshen, Wyoming, or Iowa. George was born in Kentucky, and was Sheriff of Sioux City, Iowa, from 1858 to 1859. He lived among the Sioux. Frances’s mother, Bob’s great-grandmother, was a Sioux Native American, and is also described as being of “French and Indian” descent in one source in 1912.

Bob’s maternal grandfather was The Rev. Robert Eckler/Ekler Tarleton, Sr. (the son of The Rev. Robert Tarleton and Margaret Etta White). Bob’s grandfather The Rev. Robert was born in Cairo, Greene, New York, and was a Methodist minister. Bob’s great-grandfather The Rev. Robert was born in Dublin, Fingal, Ireland. Margaret was the daughter of James White and Margaret Carson.

Bob’s maternal grandmother was Mary Elizabeth Kent (the daughter of Jacob Dietrich Kintz/Kent and Matilda Stier). Mary Elizabeth was born in Easton, Pennsylvania. Jacob was of German descent, and was the son of Johannes/John Bittenbender Kintz/Kent and Sarah Ann “Sally” Weiss, whose mother was born in Nassig, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Matilda also had German ancestry, and was the daughter of Jacob Stier and Diane/Diana Tomer.

Sources: Biographical material on Bob Barker – https://www.newspapers.com
https://www.eisenhowerfoundation.net

Genealogies of Bob Barker – https://www.geni.com
https://www.findagrave.com
https://famouskin.com
https://freepages.rootsweb.com

Bob Barker on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Bob’s father on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Bob’s paternal grandparents, Joseph Hubbard Barker and Francis/Fanny/Fannie Tackett, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Bob’s paternal grandmother, Francis/Fanny/Fannie Tackett, on the 1860 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org