In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1834
From The History of Muscatine county, Iowa (1879)
R. M. BAKER, of the firm of Baker it Hoover, real estate and loan agents; was born in Kockinghaiu Co., Va., July 26, 1834; he lived there until 1865, when he came to Iowa and located in this county; in 1867, he came to Muscatine, and since then he has been, engaged in business here; in addition to his land and loan business, he carries on the livery business on Front street; he owns the Commercial Hotel property and other city property. He married Miss Mary Ann Sheets, a native of Shenandoah Co., Va.. in lSo5.
As printed in The History of Muscatine county, Iowa (1879). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1879. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.