Jacob Baker

As printed in 1908

JACOB BAKER, a prominent citizen and general farmer, owning seventy-five acres of valuable land in Mad River Township, was born November 11, 1833, in Maryland, and is a son of Jacob and Hannah (Der) (Youtsey) Baker.

Mr. Baker's paternal ancestors came from Germany and a record is preserved in an old German Bible in the family, which shows that Courod Baker, his grandfather, held high rank. The record does not further tell why Conrod and his two brothers left their native land and came to America, but the cause was probably either of a religious or political character. Two of the three brothers settled in Virginia, and all trace of them have been lost by the Ohio Bakers. Conrod Baker established himself in Maryland and acquired much land in the neighborhood of Middletown, Frederick County, Maryland. He reared several children, but they did not survive him, and his last days were spent with his daughter-in-law, the widow of his son, Jacob.

Jacob Baker was reared on his father 's estate, and he, too, became a large farmer. He married Mrs. Hannah (Der) Youtsey, a widow, who was born near Middletown, Maryland. No children were born to her first marriage, and the five born to her second union were: Elizabeth, who is the widow of Armstead T. M. Alexander, lives on the old homestead in Maryland; Susan, who married T. B. Wiles, is deceased; Catherine, who died young; Philip, who was married (first) to Mary Smith, and (second) to a Miss Donovan; and Jacob, who was born four months after the death of his father. The latter had served as a soldier in the War of 1812.

Jacob Baker remained with his mother through childhood, youth and early manhood, and continued to live in Maryland for eleven years after his own marriage. His wife, Rachel Minnich, was born in Frederick County, Maryland, and at the time of marriage she was earning fifty cents a week and his wages were nine dollars a mouth. They left Maryland in October, 1864, and after reaching Clark County, Ohio, lived for six months near Snyder's Mill, west of Springfield, from which place they moved to Woodington, Darke County. It was while living there that Mr. Baker learned of the death of his beloved mother, in her home in Maryland, at the age of sixty-nine years. From Darke County, Mr. Baker came to his present farm, which he bought of John Peterson. It was not in very good condition and Mr. Baker subsequently tore down all of the old buildings and replaced them with substantial ones. His farm is now bounded on one side by the Eebert turnpike road, two miles of which Mr. Baker built and hauled the first load of stone over it for the building of the courthouse at Springfield, three miles distant. Mr. Baker continues to carry on general farming on his land and has it carefully cultivated.

Mr. and Mrs. Baker have five children, namely: Harlin C, Charles M. F., Isaiah S., Mary Elizabeth, and Anna L. Harlin C. Baker was born in January, 1855, married Julia Webber and lives at Cleveland. Charles M. P. was born in 1856. He manager his father's farm. He married Alice Dudley and they have one child, Stanley H. Isaiah S. was born in 1858, and resides in Champaign County, Ohio. He married Emma Esterline and they have ten children, namely: Elizabeth, who has always lived with her grandparents; Charles, Luther, Helen, Mary, Nellie, William, Julia, Teddy, and an infant son. Mary Elizabeth Baker married George Sultzbach, and they live north of Springfield. They have four children: Walter,

Harry, Benjamin and Dorothy H. Anna. L. Baker married Judge L. F. Young, of Springfield. Mr. Baker and family belong to the Lutheran Church, of which he has been a member for the past fifty-four years. Politically, he has long been a stanch Republican, but he has never consented to serve in any office except that of school director. He belongs to the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.

As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.