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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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B. F. Baker The
gentleman to whom the biographer now calls the reader's attention,
one of the best known farmers of Clear Creek Township and one of Jasper
County's most representative citizens, B. F. Baker,was not favored by inherited
wealth or the assistance of influential friends, but in spite of this, by
perseverance, industry and a wise economy, he has attained a comfortable station
in life. His career is one that
should encourage others to press on to greater achievements.
When he came to Jasper County, without money or influence, he set to work
to overcome all difficulties that might lay in his path to success, and the
comfortable competency and the high standing, which he now enjoys is the result.
Earnest perseverance, careful management and a willingness to work even
in the face of obstacles, these are the elements which brought him prosperity,
and while he has labored for his own advancement he has at the same time ever
been vigilant in his efforts to forward the general interests of the community. Mr.
Baker was born of a sterling old family in Muscatine County, Iowa, November 1,
1846, and there he grew to maturity and received his education. He came to
Jasper County in 1869 and settled in Clear Creek Township and here he has
resided continuously to the present day. He
is the son of Harvey and Harriet (Freeman) Baker, both born in Ohio, the father
in Clermont County, and they grew to maturity there, married and spent their
early years, coming to Muscatine County, Iowa, later in life, where they both
died. Their family consisted of
three sons and two daughters, namely: George, of Muscatine,
Iowa; B. F., of this sketch; Marietta Gatton, of Bozeman, Montana; C. J., who
lives on the old home farm in Muscatine County; Laura A. Mallicoat, who lives
east of Newton, Iowa. The older
brother was born in Marion County,
Indiana, where the family lived a number of years, before coming west, and the
younger ones were born in Muscatine County Iowa. B.
F. Baker was married on September 2, 1873, to Jane E. Crawford, who was born in
Ohio, September 8, 1853, and whose death occurred in Jasper County, Iowa, March
20, 1896. She was one of a family
of two sons and four daughters, namely: Mrs. Hannah Tramel of Ira, this County;
Jane E., who married Mr. Baker, of this sketch; H. W. Crawford of Lake-City,
Iowa; Mrs. Mary Campbell, of Audubon County, Iowa; Mrs. Nellie Planalp and J. H.
Crawford, both living at the town of Ira. To
Mr. and Mrs. Baker a son and a daughter were born: Walter C., whose birth
occurred on March 26, 1876, died March 31, 1900; Mrs. Coral H. Southern, born
December 5, 1877, married E. E. Southern December 23, 1902, lives on the home
farm with her father and she has these children: Lois Eva, born October 3, 1904;
Thelma Leota, born November 6, 1906; Orlo Mansfield, born October 14, 1910;
these children were born on the old homestead in Clear Creek Township. Mr.
Baker has devoted his life to agricultural, pursuits and he has met with much
larger success than the average person in this line of endeavor.
He is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of choice land in Clear
Creek Township, which he has brought up to a high state of improvement and
cultivation, on which stand a modern and cozy dwelling and substantial
outbuildings. Mr. Baker and E. E. Southern operate both his farm and a farm
owned by Mr. Southern, and also rents one hundred and twenty acres in Sherman
Township, which he owns. Mr. Baker is a Republican in politics, and he has been a member of the school board of his district. Mr. Baker is a man who believes in keeping well abreast of the times, is progressive, broad-minded, industrious and of unquestioned integrity. The Past and Present of Jasper County, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, 1912 B.F. Bowen Co., Indianapolis, IN, p. 1296. |
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