The Baker Families of Nodaway County, Missouri

GEORGE BASIL BAKER.

Although a young man, George Basil Baker has attained pronounced prestige by reason of native and acquired ability, and because of his prominence in business circles and in the domain of private citizenship he deserves to be ranked as one of the representative men of Nodaway county, having been for some years past prominently identified with the industrial life of Maryville and the agricultural interests of various parts of the county. He manifests a deep and abiding concern in everything pertaining to the material advancement of the town and county, and every enterprise intended to promote the general good is sure to receive his hearty support.

Mr. Baker is the schon of one of the old and honored families of this locality, his birth having occurred in Maryville on February 19, 1871; he is the son of George Saunders and Margaret Ellen (Prather) Baker. The father was born in Madison county, Kentucky, June 19, 1836, the son of Charles and Fanny (Saunders) Baker. Charles Baker, who is remembered as a very genteel representative of the Blue Grass state in the old days, was born in Madison county, Kentucky, about 1800, and there lie spent the major portion of his life, coming to Nodaway county, Missouri, in March, 1851, and settled near what is known as the Conklin bridge, about six miles north of Maryville on the One Hundred and Two river, and there he improved a good farm and spent the rest of his life, dying in August, 1853. He was a Democrat and a member of the Christian church. He and Fanny Saunders were married in Kentucky, and four children were born to them. The mother’s birth occurred in Virginia; she reached the age of eighty, dying in Kansas City, Missouri, in January, 1880.

George S. Baker, long a prominent citizen here, came to Nodaway county with his parents in 1851. and here grew to maturity, working on the home farm and attending the local schools in the winter-time. He began the struggle of life at the age of fifteen against such odds as would have crushed many of a less courageous spirit, but, being of a family of sterling settle that knew no bending, he pushed forward and, in due course of time, won over all obstacles. He tried, in turn, farming, buying and selling live stock, and operating a country store, in all of which he won a fair measure of success. His sympathies being with the South during the war between the states, he enlisted in the Confederate service in August, 1861, under General Price and became quartermaster of the regiment, with the rank of captain, and he performed his duties in a very faithful and creditable manner and received an honorable discharge.

After the war Mr. Baker resumed farming and stock trading. In December, 1868, he turned his attention to banking, and organized the first bank in the county, the firm being George S. Baker & Company, Bankers, now the Nodaway Valley Bank, and he was successful in this venture from the first. On October 26, 1874, he organized another bank, known as Baker, Saunders & Company, now the Maryville National Bank. On September 7, 1896, he organized the Real Estate Bank, located on East Fourth street, which enjoys the distinction of being the only bank of that name in the United States. He is a director in this bank, and his judicious counsel has been very largely responsible for its great success, as was the case with the other institutions with which he has been connected. He is still in harness, his years weighing lightly upon him. He is a master of details, with keen discernment and good judgment, making few mistakes in his calculations and transactions, and he has a natural genius for organization and promotion and he has managed his affairs in a manner that has not only brought success to himself and family but to those associated with him and to the general good of the community, being recognized today as one of the greatest bene factors of Nodaway county, always liberal in the support of worthy move ments looking to the general uplift of the locality in a material, civic or moral way, and he is eminently deserving of the high esteem which is accorded him by all classes and of the wide friendship which he enjoys. He is well known in Masonic circles and is a member of the Episcopalian church.

On April 14, 1863, George S. Baker married Margaret Ellen Prather, daughter of Col. Isaac N. and Maria (Prater) Prather. Colonel Prather was born in 1803, near Harrisburg, Kentucky. He came to Nodaway county in the early forties and entered three thousand acres of land in White Cloud township. He was a large slave owner, and one of his former slaves is now living in Maryville. He farmer on an extensive scale, and became one of the well-to-do men of the county in those days. He was a great over of good horses and he probably brought the first racing horses to Missouri, having some fine runners in his collection. He was a man of strong characteristics, and he served in one of our principal Indian wars, becoming colonel of a regiment. He married Martha Prater in 1833; she was a native of Kentucky, and her death occurred on January 9, 1883, having survived her husband twenty-three years, the Colonel having died in September, 1860. He was a Democrat and a Presbyterian. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, two of whom are living, Mrs. Cynthia Ann Mulholland and Mrs. Mary Vance McMillan, both of Maryville.

Mrs. George S. Baker was born on August 11, 1843, 0,1 ie old Prather plantation in White Cloud township, and her death occurred in Maryville on September 4, 1878. She was the mother of five children, three of whom died in infancy, and two are living at this writing, Maud E., the wife of M. G. Tate, a well-known attorney and ex-probate judge, of Maryville; and George Basil, of this review.

George B. Baker grew to maturity in Maryville and received his education in the public schools here. Early in his youth he turned his attention to banking, deciding upon this line of endeavor as a life work, and the success he has attained in the same shows that he was wise in coming to such a conclusion. He began as bookkeeper in the Maryville National Bank, where he remained until 1896, familiarizing himself with general banking business. In that year he became cashier of the Real Estate Bank, and has very worthily discharged the duties of this position ever since. He is the owner of nine hundred acres of valuable land in various parts of Nodaway and Jackson counties.

Mr. Baker is a Democrat in his political relations, and he belongs to the Methodist church; he is a Mason, having attained the fourteenth degree, and is treasurer of the blue lodge; he also belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

On October 12, 1892, Mr. Baker married Sarah Scott Campbell, daughter of Dr. Smith Vawter and Caroline S. (Davis) Campbell, natives of Indiana, who came to Nodaway county, Missouri, in 1878. Doctor Campbell, who became a man of influence here, died on July 2, 1896. Mrs. Baker was born November 25, 1872, in Adell, Iowa; she received a good education and is popular with a large circle of friends in Maryville, as are all the members of the Baker household.

One child, Carrie Margaret, who is now attending school in Maryville, has added sunshine to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Baker.

Mr. Baker is rated as one of the progressive citizens of the community in which he lives, and the high respect in which he is held by all classes of people is a deserving compliment of an intelligent, broad-minded and most worthy man.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

MARTIN V. BAKER.

Among those citizens of Nodaway county who have had an important part in advancing its material prosperity is the subject of this sketch, who owns a fine farm in Grant township, where he is widely known and highly

IOOO respected. Mr. Baker is a native son of Missouri, having been born in Daviess county on November 7, 1836. He is a son of Losson and Priscilla (Rama) Baker, the former a native of North Carolina, born on June n, 1805, who came to Missouri in 1819, and the latter born in Kentucky on December 10, 1807, coming to Missouri in 1815. They were married in Clay county, Missouri, in 1828, after which event they went to Clinton county and bought forty acres of land. Subsequently they sold that and moved to Daviess county, where they bought land and made their home for several years. In the spring of 1837 they sold their home there and went to Platte county, where they pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land. Here they built a house and improved a good farm, on which they made their home for nine years. Later they sold this farm and bought two hundred and forty acres of land in Andrew county, which was afterwards traded for five hundred and twenty acres of land, part of which was improved, in Nodaway county. Here the father spent his remaining years, his death occurring on April 14, 1870. The mother remained on the home farm a number of years and then made her home with her son, Martin V., until her death, which occurred in 1886. Both were buried in the family burial ground on the farm where they spent the closing years of their life. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Elizabeth, Nathan, Christopher C., Alary J., John W. and Rachel, all of whom are living excepting Elizabeth and Andrew. Losson Baker was a good business man and a successful farmer and, while not a member of any church, gave his support and financial help to the Methodist church.

Martin V. Baker remained on the home farm with his father and secured his education in the subscription schools of the day. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in the service of his country, serving in the state troops for two and a half years and one year in the United States army. He was commissioned second lieutenant of Company K, Forty-third Regiment Missouri Infantry, with which command he remained until receiving his honorable discharge on June 30, 1865. He was a valiant soldier and took part in a number of hotly contested engagements and many minor skirmishes.

In the fall after leaving the army Mr. Baker was married and began his married life on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres which he had bought in section 11, Grant township, and for which he paid ten dollars an acre. He was prospered in his efforts and added to this purchase until he became the owner of two hundred acres of good land. He erected one of the best residences in Nodaway county and in other ways maintained his farm at a high standard of excellence. He followed general farming and stock raising and acquired the reputation of being one of the best farmers in the county. It is said that no man in the township is better known nor none more highly respected than he. He is public spirited, generous and kind-hearted and withhold his support from no movement having for its object the advancement of the community’s best interests.

About ten years ago Mr. Baker had a very narrow escape from death. He descended into a well to sink a tile and when twelve feet from the top the stone wall fell in on him, completely covering him. Two men who were helping him gave the alarm and practically every able-bodied man in Barnard came to the rescue of the man so well known and liked by them all. The work of removing the stone was slow and laborious and had not pro dressed far when a weak voice was heard from below, saying, “I'm alive, boys, but I don’t know how long I can stand this torture.” It was more than two hours before he was released from his perilous situation. Several ribs were broken and his face and head badly cut, but he felt glad to escape with his life.

On September io, 1865, Mr. Baker was united in marriage with Mary M. Jobe, the daughter of Iraby S. and Mary (Chilton) Jobe, the former having been a veteran of the Black Hawk war. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Baker, but out of the kindness of their hearts they have served as foster parents to several children. Among these were twins, William T. and Sadie Thompson, who they took at the age of six years and who remained with them until their marriages. William H. married Ida Jobe, and they had two children, Charlie and Bessie. The father of these children died and their mother now makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Baker. Charlie Thompson graduated from a business college and is now a railroad operator. Sadie Thompson became the wife of John E. Sneider, who owns and operates a farm adjoining Mr. Baker, and they have six children, Martin V., Lowell, Ruth, Mary, Opal and John. Others who found homes with Mr. and Mrs. Baker were Hattie Gary, Addie Pickard, Malissa Hollenbeck and Jennie Hollenbeck, each of whom remained with their foster parents and were treated as members of the family until their marriage to worthy young men and the establishment of homes of their own.

Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Baker are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which they give an earnest support. Fraternally, he is a member of Barnard Lodge, No. 282, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

MARTIN VAN BUREN BAKER, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Daviess County, Missouri, November 7, 1836, and in the spring of 1837, with his father he moved to Platte County. At the time he was nine years old, he came to Andrew County, and remained eight years, when he located in this township, in 1854, buying the farm he now occupies in 1865. This consists of 225 acres, situated in section 11. Mr. B. married Miss Mary M. Jobe, September 10, 1865. They have taken three children to bring up and educate: Hattie Gary, Sarah Thompson and John W. Thompson. Three young ladies have made their homes with Mr. and Mrs. B., and all are now married: Addie Pickerell, wife of William McGuire; Malissa Hollenbeck, who married Fletcher Badger, and Jennie Hollenbeck, wife of Edwin Gavin. Mr. B. commenced life with small means, working on his father's farm on shares until he was married. He has been one of the hard working men of this section, has improved his farm from year to year, building one of the best farm residences in the county, and has a very desirable home. In 1861, he entered the state militia, and remained one of its members until he enlisted in the Forty-third Missouri Infantry Volunteers. He was promoted to lieutenant, served in the state for one year, and was selected as one of ninety men to protect the county. Mr. B. belongs to the I. O. O. F., and is also one of the leading and active members of the M. E. Church. M. L. Baker, the father of Martin V. Baker, was one of the pioneers of the Platte Purchase, and was born in North Carolina June 15, 1805. He came to Missouri in 1820. stopping in Saline County a few months with his mother, and then went to Clay

County, where he married Miss Percilla Rama, in 1826. They had six children: Nathan, Christopher, Martin V., Mary Jane, John W. and Rachel. Mr. and Mrs. B. moved into Clinton County, settling near Haynesville, in 1828, and lived there four years. In 1837, they came to Platte County, and then to Andrew County, locating in this county in 1854. Mr. B. died in 1870. Mrs. B. was born in Kentucky, in 1807, and has passed through many trials and deprivations, incident to the settlement of a new country. Now at the age of seventy-four she is hale and hearty, and her mind as clear as ever. She lives with her son, Martin, and enjoys such comforts of life as are given to her through a son's care and a dutiful daughter's love.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected.

D. R. BAKER.

The gentleman to a brief review of whose life the following paragraphs are devoted is prominently identified with the journalism of Nod away county and at this time is editor and publisher of the New Era, at Skidmore, one of the most popular papers of the county, comparing favorably with the best local sheets in this section of the state in news, editorial ability and mechanical execution. The county recognizes in Mr. Baker not only a keen newspaper man, but also a representative citizen, whose interest in all that affects the general welfare has been of such a character as to win for him a high place in the confidence and esteem of the people.

D. R. Baker is a native of the county in which he now resides, having been born in Monroe township on July 1, 1864. He is a son of Andrew and Mary A. (Campbell) Baker. The father died some years ago. and subsequently his widow became the wife of a Mr. Hedgepeth. The subject’s parents were both natives of Hardin county, Kentucky. His great-grand father, Lawson Baker, who was a native of Virginia, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and also fought in the Indian wars, subsequently be coming a pioneer settler of Kentucky. Lawson Henry Baker, a son of Lawson Baker, was born in the Blue Grass state, and on attaining mature years became overseer on a plantation owned by Charles Marshall, a relative of Chief Justice Marshall and Tom Marshall, the noted orator of Kentucky in her early years. Lawson Henry Baker came to Missouri sometime during the fifties and settled on a farm of three hundred acres in section 17, Monroe township, two miles south of Skidmore, and it was on this farm that the subject of this sketch first saw the light of day. He was reared under the parental roof and secured his early education in the public schools. Subsequently he attended Amity College, at College Springs, Iowa, and also the Southwestern Normal School at Shenandoah, Iowa. On completing his education he engaged in teaching school and for two years was principal of the schools at Elmo, this county. Subsequently he became connected with the Elmo Register in an editorial capacity, in which he was engaged during the following five years, at the end of which period he engaged in the insurance business at Maryville for about eighteen months. He was then chosen to the position of cashier of the Skidmore Bank, to which he gave three years of efficient service. At the end of that time he relinquished the position and, going to St. Louis, he became bookkeeper in the office of the Willard Case Hardwood Lumber Company, where he remained until the spring of 1905, when he was sent by the company to Portland, Oregon. He represented the interests of the company there two years and was then transferred to San Francisco, California, where he served efficiently in a like capacity until October, 1908, when he returned to his native county. His former experience in newspaper work had touched a responsive chord and he determined to devote his future energies to this line of effort. He purchased the Nczv Era and his career thus far in his chosen field has been satisfactory to an eminent degree. He is a ready and resourceful writer, a good judge of what is news, and a man of splendid business ability, so that his success has been fully merited. The New Era is a spicy and interesting paper and is a welcome visitor in the homes which it enters. The paper is independent in matters political and exerts a beneficent influence for the advancement of the best interests of the community, taking high ground on all moral and ethical questions.

On August 27, 1890. Mr. Baker married Cora L. Case, a daughter of L. H. and Amanda (Terhune) Case, of Maryville, this county, and they have become the parents of three children, namely: Raphael A., born November 29, 1898, died on the 5th of the following January; the other two are Helen, who was born at Maryville, and Richard Case, born in St. Louis.

Politically, Mr. Baker is a stanch Democrat and takes a keen and intelligent interest in public affairs, though in no sense an office seeker. His religious membership is in the Methodist Episcopal church South, to which he gives an earnest and liberal support. Of a quiet and unassuming disposition, yet genial and approachable, Mr. Baker is well liked by all who know him and has many warm friends throughout this part of Nodaway county.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

EDWARD J. BAKER.

One of the venerable and highly respected citizens of Nodaway county is he whose name appears above, a man whose life has been led along useful and conservative lines, resulting in good to those with whom he came in contact and in success to himself and family. He has been an eye witness of the wonderful transformation which has taken place in this part of the country and has had a large part in the development which has brought Missouri to the forefront among the sisterhood of states.

Edward J. Baker, who is now living retired in Maryville, was born on April 2, 1835, in Champaign county, Ohio, and is a son of John T. and Jemima Baker, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania. When the subject of this sketch was a mere child the family removed to Rock county, Wisconsin, where he was reared and received his education in the common schools, remaining with his parents until their deaths, his mother dying when he was seventeen years old. Soon after this bereavement he entered the pine woods and for five years was employed in the lumber camps. He then began contracting, getting out logs for the lumber mills on the Wisconsin river. During this time he lived at Warsaw and for two or three years he also acted as superintendent of the poor farm of Marathon county. He then returned to Rock county and in 1868 he started for Iowa with several other men, but on the way they deviated to Nodaway county, Missouri, where some of his companions had friends living. His companions were James Cook and family, Charles Fairbanks, William Doolittle and Demper Valin. Of these, Mr. Cook located here and died in Nodaway county. Mr. Baker recognized the superior quality of the land here and decided to remain. He bought forty acres of land three miles from Mary ville and spent six years there, making many improvements, including the erection of a comfortable home. He subsequently bought another eighty-acre tract, also in Polk township, this also being unimproved land, and he applied himself vigorously to the task of developing it into a producing farm. He later bought adjoining land, so that the place now contains one hundred and twenty acres. He has built a splendid seven-room house here and other necessary farm buildings, and everything about the place bears evidence of the zealous efforts, persistence and good management of the owner. He devoted himself to a general line of farming, and to facilitate his work he had erected a good windmill, which supplies a fine quality of water for stock purposes and for household use. This land, for which Mr. Baker paid an average of twenty-five dollars an acre, is now conservatively estimated to be worth one hundred and twenty-five dollars an acre. During his first years here, Mr. Baker had a hard time getting along. His financial resources were limited, but he was energetic, resourceful and determined and at length he began to realize on his investment of money and labor. For a number of years he operated a threshing machine with splendid success. In March, 1903, feeling the weight of advancing years and having earned a fair competency, Mr. Baker relinquished the active work of the farm and is now residing in a comfortable and attractive home in the county seat, Maryville, having taken his son, Elmer A., into partnership with him and the latter is now managing and operating the farm.

At Warsaw, Wisconsin, on May 16, 1858, Mr. Baker was united in marriage with Mary Pope, who was a native of Wyoming county, New York. Her brother had been a partner of Mr. Baker in the lumber business in Wisconsin and she came out from her New York home to act as housekeeper for them, her marriage to Mr. Baker occurring about a year afterwards. They have become the parents of four children, namely: Elmer A., who operates the old home farm, married Hattie Spaulding; Edna is the wife of Floyd Westfall, a farmer near Barnard, this county; Eda is the wife of W. B. Hanna, of Polk township; Delia is the wife of Wayland Wood, of Montana, where he conducts a cattle and horse ranch, owning five and a half sections of land.

Politically, Mr. Baker has always given stanch support to the Republican party, and he has served several terms as justice of the peace, giving eminent satisfaction in the administration of the duties of this office. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Baptist church, to which they give a generous support. His life has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance and the systematic and honorable methods which he has followed have won him the unbounded confidence of his fellow men.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN H. BAKER, farmer and bridge builder, section 7, was born in Owen County, Indiana, January 25, 1830, and was a son of David and Aria (Johnson) Baker, who were natives of Henry County, Kentucky. The former was born in February, 1800, and died in June, 1880. His mother was born January 1, 1805. After being married they settled in Owen County Indiana, near Gosport, in 1840, and there Mrs. Baker now resides with a daughter. John spent his boyhood days and received a good education in his native county. He started out in life for himself as a farmer when at the age of twenty-one years. He was married the 2d of March, 185 1, to Miss Rachel Pierson, a native of Owen County, Indiana, born May 8, 1830. She was the daughter of George W. and Sarah (Crafton) Pierson, the former of Bourbon County, Kentucky, and the latter a native of Virginia. They settled in Scott County, Indiana, and here the mother died and the father was married the second time. Mr. and Mrs. Baker settled in (Owen County Indiana, purchasing a farm, and in 1856 sold out and moved to Gosport, where he did a butchering business till [858. He then bought a farm and continued farming till 1868, when he sold out and came to Nodaway County, Missouri, purchasing his present farm in [869. To this he moved in 1870. Mr. and Mrs. 15. have a family of: John H. Jr., Florence F., Harriet C. and Schuyler C, living, and Charles, Vinson, Sarah A., Alice A., Mary E. and Harrison (deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are members of the Christian Church.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.