In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1910) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1836, Daviess county
From Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri (1910), The history of Nodaway county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens (1882)
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 history of Nodaway county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens (1882). See the original pages. 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 Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.