Biographical Information as published in Hazelton (ND) Centennial Book in 2003:
John Baker was born May 19, 1867, in Lafayette, Ind., and died Oct. 1 1939. He is buried with his wife, Katherine nee Chalfin in the Hazelton Cemetery. John migrated from Indiana to Missouri, and then to Hecla, Dakota Territory (SD) during the year 1886.
During the early fall of 1886, he walked from Hecla to Williamsport. Shanks horses, or real horses (mostly saddle horses) were the principle means of transportation in those days. There were no highways, only trails across the prairies with no fences to contend with.
His brother, William, had previouslu filed for a homestead about ten miles west of Williamsport in Twp 135, R 77. Following his arrival at Williamsport, he went to work as a farm hand for S. E. Kurtz. Subsequently, he homesteaded the W1/4 of the SW1/4 and S1/4 of the NW1/4 of Section 2-135-77, located about ten miles northwest of Williamsport. There, he built a log cabin and settled down his homestead and became one of Dakota's respected pioneers, of which there were many John was one of the jurors that heart the testimony in the trial of George Defender, one of the Indians charged with murdering six members of the Spicer Family on Februrary 17, 1897.
John married Katherine Chalfin on 16 April 1894 in Williamsport, Emmons County, ND.
Following their marriage, John and Katherine moved into the log cabin John had constructed on his homestead. Thus began a happy, fruitful life onthe pariries of 'Old Dakota.' John Baker, in addition to being a successful grain farmer, was keenly interested in raising quality cattle, draft and saddle horses. In this endeavor, he was also successful.
To this union were born five children: Francis Katherine, Andrew Joseph, Lillian Irene, Helen Mildred, and Hazel Lucretia.
John Baker was born May 19, 1867, in Lafayette, Ind., and died Oct. 1 1939. He is buried with his wife, Katherine nee Chalfin in the Hazelton Cemetery. John migrated from Indiana to Missouri, and then to Hecla, Dakota Territory (SD) during the year 1886.
During the early fall of 1886, he walked from Hecla to Williamsport. Shanks horses, or real horses (mostly saddle horses) were the principle means of transportation in those days. There were no highways, only trails across the prairies with no fences to contend with.
His brother, William, had previouslu filed for a homestead about ten miles west of Williamsport in Twp 135, R 77. Following his arrival at Williamsport, he went to work as a farm hand for S. E. Kurtz. Subsequently, he homesteaded the W1/4 of the SW1/4 and S1/4 of the NW1/4 of Section 2-135-77, located about ten miles northwest of Williamsport. There, he built a log cabin and settled down his homestead and became one of Dakota's respected pioneers, of which there were many John was one of the jurors that heart the testimony in the trial of George Defender, one of the Indians charged with murdering six members of the Spicer Family on Februrary 17, 1897.
John married Katherine Chalfin on 16 April 1894 in Williamsport, Emmons County, ND.
Following their marriage, John and Katherine moved into the log cabin John had constructed on his homestead. Thus began a happy, fruitful life onthe pariries of 'Old Dakota.' John Baker, in addition to being a successful grain farmer, was keenly interested in raising quality cattle, draft and saddle horses. In this endeavor, he was also successful.
To this union were born five children: Francis Katherine, Andrew Joseph, Lillian Irene, Helen Mildred, and Hazel Lucretia.
Biographical Information as published in Hazelton (ND) Centennial Book in 2003:
John Baker was born May 19, 1867, in Lafayette, Ind., and died Oct. 1 1939. He is buried with his wife, Katherine nee Chalfin in the Hazelton Cemetery. John migrated from Indiana to Missouri, and then to Hecla, Dakota Territory (SD) during the year 1886.
During the early fall of 1886, he walked from Hecla to Williamsport. Shanks horses, or real horses (mostly saddle horses) were the principle means of transportation in those days. There were no highways, only trails across the prairies with no fences to contend with.
His brother, William, had previouslu filed for a homestead about ten miles west of Williamsport in Twp 135, R 77. Following his arrival at Williamsport, he went to work as a farm hand for S. E. Kurtz. Subsequently, he homesteaded the W1/4 of the SW1/4 and S1/4 of the NW1/4 of Section 2-135-77, located about ten miles northwest of Williamsport. There, he built a log cabin and settled down his homestead and became one of Dakota's respected pioneers, of which there were many John was one of the jurors that heart the testimony in the trial of George Defender, one of the Indians charged with murdering six members of the Spicer Family on Februrary 17, 1897.
John married Katherine Chalfin on 16 April 1894 in Williamsport, Emmons County, ND.
Following their marriage, John and Katherine moved into the log cabin John had constructed on his homestead. Thus began a happy, fruitful life onthe pariries of 'Old Dakota.' John Baker, in addition to being a successful grain farmer, was keenly interested in raising quality cattle, draft and saddle horses. In this endeavor, he was also successful.
To this union were born five children: Francis Katherine, Andrew Joseph, Lillian Irene, Helen Mildred, and Hazel Lucretia.
John Baker was born May 19, 1867, in Lafayette, Ind., and died Oct. 1 1939. He is buried with his wife, Katherine nee Chalfin in the Hazelton Cemetery. John migrated from Indiana to Missouri, and then to Hecla, Dakota Territory (SD) during the year 1886.
During the early fall of 1886, he walked from Hecla to Williamsport. Shanks horses, or real horses (mostly saddle horses) were the principle means of transportation in those days. There were no highways, only trails across the prairies with no fences to contend with.
His brother, William, had previouslu filed for a homestead about ten miles west of Williamsport in Twp 135, R 77. Following his arrival at Williamsport, he went to work as a farm hand for S. E. Kurtz. Subsequently, he homesteaded the W1/4 of the SW1/4 and S1/4 of the NW1/4 of Section 2-135-77, located about ten miles northwest of Williamsport. There, he built a log cabin and settled down his homestead and became one of Dakota's respected pioneers, of which there were many John was one of the jurors that heart the testimony in the trial of George Defender, one of the Indians charged with murdering six members of the Spicer Family on Februrary 17, 1897.
John married Katherine Chalfin on 16 April 1894 in Williamsport, Emmons County, ND.
Following their marriage, John and Katherine moved into the log cabin John had constructed on his homestead. Thus began a happy, fruitful life onthe pariries of 'Old Dakota.' John Baker, in addition to being a successful grain farmer, was keenly interested in raising quality cattle, draft and saddle horses. In this endeavor, he was also successful.
To this union were born five children: Francis Katherine, Andrew Joseph, Lillian Irene, Helen Mildred, and Hazel Lucretia.
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