Biography - George Baker
GEORGE BAKER is successfully pursuing agriculture on the fertile soil of
Penn Township, where he has a farm that in point of productiveness,
cultivation and improvement ranks with the best in its vicinity. June 10,
1851 is the date of the birth of our subject in Harrison County, Ind. Conrad
Baker, his father, a well-known resident of that county, is a native of
Germany. His parents spent their entire lives in that country and he and his
brother Theobald were the only members of the family that ever came to
America. The latter settled in Floyd County, lnd.
Conrad Baker learned the trade of a shoemaker in his youth and when a young
man left his native land to try his fortune in the United States of America.
After his arrival he made his way to Indiana and settled in Harrison County.
For a time he made shoes in Bradford and then engaged in the mercantile
business, which he continued to carry on with good profit for some years. He
now lives retired in the same village in the enjoyment of a competence ample
for all his wants. He was married after coming to this country to Sarah
Ingram, a native of Harrison County. He was bereaved of her companionship by
her death in 1879. Her father, who was a pioneer of Harrison County, served
in the War of 1812 and fought bravely in the famous Battle of Tippecanoe.
Two children were born to the parents of our subject, Lewis, the other son,
being now a resident of Bradford, his native town. After the death of their
mother their father married again and has nine children by his second union.
Our subject passed his boyhood in the home of his birth and was educated in
the local public schools. He was active, capable and self-reliant as a lad
and began to make himself useful when quite young. At the age of nineteen he
left the parental abode to start in life for himself and for one year worked
on a farm by the month in his native county. He then left Indiana and for a
year and a half lived in LaBelle County, Kan., where he was employed as a
farm hand. Shrewdly foreseeing that on the alluvial soil of this county he
would have better opportunities to become independent in the exercise of his
chosen calling, for he had decided to try farming for himself, he came to
this section of the State and in 1873 rented land. He was thrifty,
industrious and economical and in 1888 he had money enough and to spare to
invest in a good farm and he bought the one that he now occupies. He is the
fortunate proprietor of a quarter section of prairie in Penn Township, which
is under admirable tillage and is supplied with all the necessary buildings,
besides being well equipped with modern machinery.
During these years of toil Mr. Baker has by no means been without the
assistance of a capable wife, to whose cheerful co-operation he is much
indebted for the comforts of a cozy home. This helpmate he secured in the
person of Laura A. Martin, to whom he was united in marriage in 1873. Two
children have been born to them, whom they have named Cora E. and Clarence.
Mr. Baker is an intelligent member of the Farmer's Mutual Benefit
Association and in politics he holds himself independent, supporting at the
polls whichever party he deems best.
Extracted 10 Apr 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 506-507.
