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Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Knox County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Thompson C. Baker, of Edina, Mo., was born in Knox County, June 22, 1845, his parents being James W. and Martha A. (Connelly) Baker. The father was a brother of Joshua Baker, one of the first settlers of Northeast Missouri, and came to Missouri in 1833, settling on a farm one and one-half miles South of Edina. He was for many years a magistrate, and also an efficient and able member of the county court. He died in 1859, and the mother died in 1872. Of the nine children born to this pair, there were raised to maturity Mary J., wife of L. W. Gordon; Hester W., wife of T. D. Cahalan, of Idaho; Thompson C.; Harriett A., wife of William Bowen; Henrietta, deceased wife of Thomas Green; William H., of California; and James, of Kansas. Our subject lived upon a farm until 1873, when he moved to Edina, and engaged in the hardware business, in which he continued successfully until 1886. Upon the organization of the Roller Mills, of Edina, he became a stockholder, and in 1886 became the secretary and treasurer of the company, which position he now holds. Mr. Baker has always belonged to the Democratic party, and as a member of such, was elected County Treasurer in 1880, and faithfully served a term of two years, when he was re-elected, and served in that capacity until 1885. October 24, 1881, he married Sarah Ann Ennis, a native of Marion County, Mo., and Mr. and Mrs. Baker have five living children: Ennis, James, May and Bessie (twins), and Anna. Mr. Baker was a charter member of the Edina Creamery Company. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and is one of the prominent and well-to-do citizens of Edina.

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This family biography is one of 204 biographies included in the Knox County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: Knox County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Knox County, Missouri family biographies here: Knox County, Missouri Biographies

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