James Roy Baker

As printed in 1901

AMES ROY BAKER, who comes of a prominent old family of Ottumwa, Iowa, resides on the old Baker homestead just out of the city and is at the present time engaged in gardening. For some years he was engaged in the furniture business and expects to renter that field of business as soon as a suitable opportunity presents itself. He was born December 3, 1868, in Fort Branch, Indiana, while his mother was on a visit, and is a son of J. J. McCoy and Anna E. (Burns) Baker.

J. J. McCoy Baker was born in BoonviUe, Warrick county, Indiana, January 29, 1840, and was four years of age when, in 1844, his parents moved to this county, locating on a claim about seven miles north of Ottumwa. There he lived until 1860, then located in the city of Ottumwa, where his father, John G. Baker, conducted the hotel called the Ottumwa House. It soon became a popular resort, especially during the Civil war, when John G. Baker expended time and money for the benefit of the soldiers. It was through his instrumentality that the railroad companies cut rates for the sick and invalid soldiers, and, when they would arrive home from the battlefields or hospitals, he would secure them cheap livery and never charge them for stopping at his hotel. He was greatly assisted in this good work by his boys, who entered heart and soul into the work, and J. J. McCoy Baker never during his entire life forgot the lessons taught him by his father. All through life, John G. Baker was known as a charitable man, and was a member of the methodist church. He helped to form the firm of Gray, Baker & Madison, who contracted to furnish the Chicago, Burlington & Ouincy Railroad with all the ties they could use in the construction of their new railroad. They conceived the idea of building a wagon and foot bridge across the Des Moines River, connecting North and South Ottumwa, which resulted in a handsome income for them during the twenty years they charged toll.

J. J. McCoy Baker was a farmer by occupation, although he conducted a grocery business and a livery business for a time. He believed in the fundamental truths taught in the Bible and practiced what he believed, but could not stand the different creeds which seemed to teach contradictions more than charity and deed. He was respected by all as a man, who was sincere in what he believed and practiced. He was very successful in his business enterprises and his accumulations were mainly invested in farm lands. At the time of his death,. January 28, 1898, he owned a half interest in the Pioneer office building of Ottumwa, and three of the finest farms in the county, the one in the outskirts of Ottumwa being the one his widow and family now reside on, and on this he erected a handsome home which he did not live long enough to enjoy. He died full of honor and had the confidence of all the community. Although a member of no church, he was a great reader of the Bible and believed faithfully in it. He married Anna E. Burns, who was born in Warrick county, Indiana, and was a daughter of Ratcliffe B. Burns. The latter, who was a relative of Daniel Boone, was born near Bowling Green, Kentucky, in 1820, and in early life was a merchant, later becoming proprietor of a hotel in Chariton, Iowa; he lived to reach the great old age of four score years, — his father was one of the earliest settlers of Warrick county, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Baker became the parents of nine children, seven of whom are living, namely: James Roy, our subject; Gurley Burns, who is a furniture dealer and undertaker at Fairfield, Iowa; Hiram Ewin, a farmer who resides with his-

As printed in History of Wapello County, Iowa, and representative citizens (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.