My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE W. BAKER. The farming community of German Township, recognizes in Mr. Baker one of its most worthy representatives. He has had a lifelong experience at his calling — a calling which has always been congenial to his tastes, and in which he has labored to excel. He owns and occupies a good farm on section 7, which not only is the source of a comfortable income, but whose well-tilled fields have enabled their owner to lay aside something for a rainy day.

Mr. Baker is a native of Clark County, and was born at his father’s homestead in this township, September 15, 1847. His parents were Samuel and Jane (Underwood) Baker, the former of whom was a native of Virginia, and born in 1802. He emigrated to Ohio with his parents when a lad of twelve years, and they settled among the early pioneers of German Township. Grandfather Henry Baker secured a tract of land in the woods, and putting up a log cabin, commenced life in a primitive style, and battled with the difficulties and hardships which beset him until prosperity smiled upon him, and he had succeeded in building up a comfortable home in the wilderness. There, with his good wife he spent the remainder of his days. He was a quiet, peaceable and law-abiding citizen — a man who made comparatively little stir in the world, but who was looked upon as possessing the sterling traits of character which rendered him worthy of the esteem and confidence of those around him.

Samuel Baker, the father of our subject, grew up on the pioneer farm, and assisted in its development, remaining a member of the parental household until establishing a fireside of his own. His educational advantages were exceedingly limited, but he possessed the sterling qualities which gained him the respect of his neighbors, and which enabled him to make for himself a good record as a man and a citizen. To him and his good wife there was born a family of eight children, four of whom are living: Eliza, Mrs. Reader, is a widow, and lives in Springfield Township; Luticia is the wife of Isaac Brougher, and they live in Champaign County; William is a resident of Sheridan County, Mo.; George W., of our sketch, was the youngest child living. The father died at the homestead in September, 1877. The mother had passed to her long home some years previous to the decease of her husband.

Mr. Baker of whom we write, remained at home with his parents until reaching manhood, and when embarking in business for himself, engaged for three years at butchering. With this exception he has been a lifelong farmer. He attended the district school when a boy until old enough to be of service on the farm, and then pursued his studies for a few years during the winter season only. He was thus deprived of a classical education, but he has been a reader all his life, and is fairly well-posted upon events of general interest.

Not long after his twenty-third birthday, Mr. Baker was joined in wedlock with Miss Alice Thomas, this event occurring at the bride’s home in German Township, November 7, 1871. Of this union there is one child only, a daughter, Minnie, who was born October 7, 1872. Mr. Baker owns nearly eighty-three acres of choice land which he has brought to a good state of cultivation, and upon which he has effected modern improvements. He has accumulated his property by his own industry, and thus is under obligations to no man for the comforts with which he has been enabled to surround himself and his family. In politics, Mr. Baker is a Democrat, with independent proclivities. He is a member in good standing of the Masonic fraternity, being identified with the Grand Lodge at Tremont City.