America Holton (Thompson) Baker is the 3rd of four children born to Mary Elizabeth (Ford) and Capt. Joseph Moran Thompson. She was born in 1863 during the Civil War while her father was serving with the 8th Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Her mother tragically died two years later in February 1865 after the birth of another daughter.

America ("Mecca") was raised by her father, step-mother, grandparents and extended family in Wabash, Indiana. She matriculated through the Wabash City Schools and studied at St. Mary's of the Woods Academy for Girls near Terre Haute, Indiana 1879-1881.

America ("Mecca") was married in Platteville, Weld Co., Colorado on August 27, 1884 to Daniel Ayres Baker, also of Wabash County, Indiana. Here they had two children; Hazel (1884) and Homer Verne (1886).

In 1887, the little Baker family returned to Indiana and settled on 40 acres of land American received as her distributative share of her mother's esate in Hartford City in Blackford County. Here seven more children were born: Rhea (1887), Joseph Thompson (1889), Carl Holton (1891), Allena (1893), Frank Ford (1895), Fred Stone (1899) and Harry Stamps (1901) Baker.

In 1902, the Baker's with their nine children boarded a train and moved permanently to Colfax, Washington. Here two more daughters were born: America (1903) and Edna (1905).

Daniel died in 1929 and America then moved to sunny Southern California where four of her children had relocated with their families.

America was much loved by her children, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a talented cook and seamstress. A beautiful, double-wedding ring pattern quilt made by America and her daughter, Allena Baker Earnest, in 1932 now graces the bed in the master bedroom in the Dr. James Ford Historic Home in Wabash.

"Mecca" was the beloved granddaughter of Dr. James & America (Holton) Ford of Wabash, Indiana.

Died at age 88 years, 7 months, 16 days.