JAMES EDWARD BAKER.
Although the distinction of being a native son of California does not belong to James E. Baker, who was born in West Virginia, April 21, 1874. he has been a resident of the Golden State since 1876, or for more than forty-three years.
His father was Reuben Baker, a native of Pennsylvania, and the Baker family consisted of six children, James being the second youngest.
When J. E. Baker was old enough he began working on farms in California. In 1898, he came to Los Angeles where his brother, R. C. Baker, had located the year before. His first experience in the oil field dates from 1898, when he and his brother formed a partnership for contracting oil drilling, for the Rex Oil Company, which business they followed for eighteen months.
Afterwards they leased lots and sunk wells, their undertaking proved so very successful that they continued in the producing business in the Los Angeles field until 1900, when they sold their wells. J- E. Baker moved to Bakersfield where he contracted for drilling wells for the Mount Diablo Oil Company, in the Kern River field. He still retained his partnership with his brother, R. C. Baker, who went to Coalinga, where he engaged in contracting for drilling oil wells for Westlake & Rummel. Mr. Baker's next venture in the oil business was as a promoter of an oil company formed to prospect for oil at Spring valley, Vinta County. Wyo., where Mr. Baker went, and sunk not only a well, but. as is so frequently the case, his money too. Undaunted by his loss he returned to California, locating at Coalinga, where he followed contracting oil drilling for different oil companies.
In 1902, with others, he leased forty acres on Section 23, and organized the Coalinga Western Oil Company. Here he drilled seven wells, later on they consolidated with the St. Paul Oil Company as the St. Paul Consolidated. During this time he also contracted to drill oil wells on Section 6, for the Pleasant Valley Farms Company, putting down three wells in about eighteen months time, and, fortunately for them, obtained a producing well in each case. Another undertaking was the leasing of eighty acres, now known as the Coalinga Petroleum Oil Company, where he drilled eight wells, 700 feet deep, and all proved to be producers. By his close observation and his extensive experience in the various oil fields of the state, he has acquired a thorough knowledge of the oil business and in 1904 became superintendent of the Coalinga Petroleum Oil Company. He is one of the original stockholders of this company and is also a director in both the Coalinga Petroleum and the St. Paul Consolidated Oil Companies.
James E. Baker was united in marriage with Lillie M. Vestal, a native of Shasta County, Cal., the ceremony being solemnized at Redding, Cal. This happy union has been blessed with four children: Kern, Ardis, Dale and Helen. Mr. Baker is an enterprising citizen and has made a success in the oil business, an enterprise that demands energy, tact, quickness of decision and keen foresight and is numbered among the oldest oil men in the Coalinga district, being highly esteemed for his integrity and honesty of purpose.
Although the distinction of being a native son of California does not belong to James E. Baker, who was born in West Virginia, April 21, 1874. he has been a resident of the Golden State since 1876, or for more than forty-three years.
His father was Reuben Baker, a native of Pennsylvania, and the Baker family consisted of six children, James being the second youngest.
When J. E. Baker was old enough he began working on farms in California. In 1898, he came to Los Angeles where his brother, R. C. Baker, had located the year before. His first experience in the oil field dates from 1898, when he and his brother formed a partnership for contracting oil drilling, for the Rex Oil Company, which business they followed for eighteen months.
Afterwards they leased lots and sunk wells, their undertaking proved so very successful that they continued in the producing business in the Los Angeles field until 1900, when they sold their wells. J- E. Baker moved to Bakersfield where he contracted for drilling wells for the Mount Diablo Oil Company, in the Kern River field. He still retained his partnership with his brother, R. C. Baker, who went to Coalinga, where he engaged in contracting for drilling oil wells for Westlake & Rummel. Mr. Baker's next venture in the oil business was as a promoter of an oil company formed to prospect for oil at Spring valley, Vinta County. Wyo., where Mr. Baker went, and sunk not only a well, but. as is so frequently the case, his money too. Undaunted by his loss he returned to California, locating at Coalinga, where he followed contracting oil drilling for different oil companies.
In 1902, with others, he leased forty acres on Section 23, and organized the Coalinga Western Oil Company. Here he drilled seven wells, later on they consolidated with the St. Paul Oil Company as the St. Paul Consolidated. During this time he also contracted to drill oil wells on Section 6, for the Pleasant Valley Farms Company, putting down three wells in about eighteen months time, and, fortunately for them, obtained a producing well in each case. Another undertaking was the leasing of eighty acres, now known as the Coalinga Petroleum Oil Company, where he drilled eight wells, 700 feet deep, and all proved to be producers. By his close observation and his extensive experience in the various oil fields of the state, he has acquired a thorough knowledge of the oil business and in 1904 became superintendent of the Coalinga Petroleum Oil Company. He is one of the original stockholders of this company and is also a director in both the Coalinga Petroleum and the St. Paul Consolidated Oil Companies.
James E. Baker was united in marriage with Lillie M. Vestal, a native of Shasta County, Cal., the ceremony being solemnized at Redding, Cal. This happy union has been blessed with four children: Kern, Ardis, Dale and Helen. Mr. Baker is an enterprising citizen and has made a success in the oil business, an enterprise that demands energy, tact, quickness of decision and keen foresight and is numbered among the oldest oil men in the Coalinga district, being highly esteemed for his integrity and honesty of purpose.
JAMES EDWARD BAKER.
Although the distinction of being a native son of California does not belong to James E. Baker, who was born in West Virginia, April 21, 1874. he has been a resident of the Golden State since 1876, or for more than forty-three years.
His father was Reuben Baker, a native of Pennsylvania, and the Baker family consisted of six children, James being the second youngest.
When J. E. Baker was old enough he began working on farms in California. In 1898, he came to Los Angeles where his brother, R. C. Baker, had located the year before. His first experience in the oil field dates from 1898, when he and his brother formed a partnership for contracting oil drilling, for the Rex Oil Company, which business they followed for eighteen months.
Afterwards they leased lots and sunk wells, their undertaking proved so very successful that they continued in the producing business in the Los Angeles field until 1900, when they sold their wells. J- E. Baker moved to Bakersfield where he contracted for drilling wells for the Mount Diablo Oil Company, in the Kern River field. He still retained his partnership with his brother, R. C. Baker, who went to Coalinga, where he engaged in contracting for drilling oil wells for Westlake & Rummel. Mr. Baker's next venture in the oil business was as a promoter of an oil company formed to prospect for oil at Spring valley, Vinta County. Wyo., where Mr. Baker went, and sunk not only a well, but. as is so frequently the case, his money too. Undaunted by his loss he returned to California, locating at Coalinga, where he followed contracting oil drilling for different oil companies.
In 1902, with others, he leased forty acres on Section 23, and organized the Coalinga Western Oil Company. Here he drilled seven wells, later on they consolidated with the St. Paul Oil Company as the St. Paul Consolidated. During this time he also contracted to drill oil wells on Section 6, for the Pleasant Valley Farms Company, putting down three wells in about eighteen months time, and, fortunately for them, obtained a producing well in each case. Another undertaking was the leasing of eighty acres, now known as the Coalinga Petroleum Oil Company, where he drilled eight wells, 700 feet deep, and all proved to be producers. By his close observation and his extensive experience in the various oil fields of the state, he has acquired a thorough knowledge of the oil business and in 1904 became superintendent of the Coalinga Petroleum Oil Company. He is one of the original stockholders of this company and is also a director in both the Coalinga Petroleum and the St. Paul Consolidated Oil Companies.
James E. Baker was united in marriage with Lillie M. Vestal, a native of Shasta County, Cal., the ceremony being solemnized at Redding, Cal. This happy union has been blessed with four children: Kern, Ardis, Dale and Helen. Mr. Baker is an enterprising citizen and has made a success in the oil business, an enterprise that demands energy, tact, quickness of decision and keen foresight and is numbered among the oldest oil men in the Coalinga district, being highly esteemed for his integrity and honesty of purpose.
Although the distinction of being a native son of California does not belong to James E. Baker, who was born in West Virginia, April 21, 1874. he has been a resident of the Golden State since 1876, or for more than forty-three years.
His father was Reuben Baker, a native of Pennsylvania, and the Baker family consisted of six children, James being the second youngest.
When J. E. Baker was old enough he began working on farms in California. In 1898, he came to Los Angeles where his brother, R. C. Baker, had located the year before. His first experience in the oil field dates from 1898, when he and his brother formed a partnership for contracting oil drilling, for the Rex Oil Company, which business they followed for eighteen months.
Afterwards they leased lots and sunk wells, their undertaking proved so very successful that they continued in the producing business in the Los Angeles field until 1900, when they sold their wells. J- E. Baker moved to Bakersfield where he contracted for drilling wells for the Mount Diablo Oil Company, in the Kern River field. He still retained his partnership with his brother, R. C. Baker, who went to Coalinga, where he engaged in contracting for drilling oil wells for Westlake & Rummel. Mr. Baker's next venture in the oil business was as a promoter of an oil company formed to prospect for oil at Spring valley, Vinta County. Wyo., where Mr. Baker went, and sunk not only a well, but. as is so frequently the case, his money too. Undaunted by his loss he returned to California, locating at Coalinga, where he followed contracting oil drilling for different oil companies.
In 1902, with others, he leased forty acres on Section 23, and organized the Coalinga Western Oil Company. Here he drilled seven wells, later on they consolidated with the St. Paul Oil Company as the St. Paul Consolidated. During this time he also contracted to drill oil wells on Section 6, for the Pleasant Valley Farms Company, putting down three wells in about eighteen months time, and, fortunately for them, obtained a producing well in each case. Another undertaking was the leasing of eighty acres, now known as the Coalinga Petroleum Oil Company, where he drilled eight wells, 700 feet deep, and all proved to be producers. By his close observation and his extensive experience in the various oil fields of the state, he has acquired a thorough knowledge of the oil business and in 1904 became superintendent of the Coalinga Petroleum Oil Company. He is one of the original stockholders of this company and is also a director in both the Coalinga Petroleum and the St. Paul Consolidated Oil Companies.
James E. Baker was united in marriage with Lillie M. Vestal, a native of Shasta County, Cal., the ceremony being solemnized at Redding, Cal. This happy union has been blessed with four children: Kern, Ardis, Dale and Helen. Mr. Baker is an enterprising citizen and has made a success in the oil business, an enterprise that demands energy, tact, quickness of decision and keen foresight and is numbered among the oldest oil men in the Coalinga district, being highly esteemed for his integrity and honesty of purpose.
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