Lyle was the son of Harrison Baker and Grace Idella Hare, who married on 30 Oct 1909 in Indiana. I found four children for them—Harrison Earl (25 Jul 1910 – 8 Nov 1980), Lyle Arthur (24 Sep 1911 – 24 Nov 1946), Katherine Elizabeth (14 May 1914 – 7 Aug 1986 married name Sheetz), and Richard Edward (23 Mar 1917 – 3 Oct 1986).
I found Lyle’s parents on the 1910 Census, living in Union Township (Culver area), Marshall Co., Indiana. Harrison Baker, aged 21, was noted as a laborer at odd jobs. Grace, aged 20, had a bun warming in the oven. Three months later, the couple would welcome son Harrison into the world.
Lyle’s father was employed by Culver Military Academy in Culver. On 7 Oct 1916, Harrison Baker went to work, like he would on any other day, but this day would be different. While excavating some hills east of the school grounds with a steam shovel, Harrison was standing by the machine when an embankment twenty-five feet up gave way and slid down against the shovel, catching Harrison in its wake and crushing him to death. He was only 28 years old.
Not only did he leave behind a grieving widow and three young children, aged 6, 5 and 2, Grace was four-months pregnant with fourth-child Richard, born in the spring of 1917. Grace must have been sick with worry for the welfare of her four children. In those times, a woman in Grace’s situation had very few options. She would have to rely on the generosity of a family member who was willing to take in five extra mouths to feed, or she could look for a new marriage. Grace found both in the person of Harrison’s older brother, Edward Michael Baker, whom she wed on 10 May 1918.
Edward and Grace would have four sons together—Charles Junior (14 Nov 1918 – 19 May 2003), Eugene K. (16 Jun 1921 – 20 Jul 1980), Norman (24 Jul 1923 – 17 Oct 2012) and Russell (18 Oct 1924 – 20 Nov 2001).
I found their blended family on the 1920 Census, living on Main St. in Culver, Indiana. Edward Baker, aged 39, was earning a living as a house carpenter. Grace, aged 30, was keeping house. There with their father/step-father and mother were Harrison, aged 9, Lyle, aged 8, Katherine, aged 5, Richard, aged 2, and 1-year-old Charles. Eugene would join the family a year later, followed by Norman in 1923 and Russell in 1924.
Like was good…until it wasn’t. On 13 Apr 1925, the family lost wife and mother Grace to blood poisoning (septicemia) at age 35. Edward must have been overwhelmed with the prospect of raising four step-children and four of his own children by himself. Finding a woman willing to take eight young children under her wing would have been asking a lot. Within a few years of losing Grace, Edward married divorcee Ida May Mitchell (nee Gibbs). Her first husband was Oda Erwin Mitchell, and they had had three daughters together—Daisy Elnora (4 Mar 1920 – 9 May 2013), Juanita Eileen (12 Sep 1923 – 21 Nov 2009), and Dorothy Irene (10 Aug 1925 – 20 Feb 1999).
With eleven children now in the mix, and a twelfth child in their near future, some difficult decisions had to be made. The 1930 Census would tell the tale. When that decade’s census was taken, the Baker family was still living in Culver, Indiana. Edward Baker, aged 41, was working as a carpenter for Culver Military Academy. Ida, aged 38, was keeping house. With the couple were five of their combined eleven children/step-children—Edward’s step-son/nephew Richard, aged 13, Edward’s three eldest sons—Charles, aged 11, Eugene, aged 8, and Norman, aged 6, and Ida’s youngest daughter—Dorothy (Mitchell), aged 4.
That left six children/step-children in the wind. Edward’s 18-year-old step-son/nephew Harrison was living in nearby South Bend, Indiana with his 67-year-old maternal grandmother Elizabeth Hare Kniffen. Edward’s 17-year-old step-son/nephew Lyle, the subject of this bio, was living in Shreveport, Louisiana with grocer John McNutt and his wife Ollie, and working as a deliveryman for a dairy. Edward’s 15-year-old step-daughter/niece Katherine was living in South Bend with Quincy and Dessa Renoehl, along with Edward’s 5-year-old son Russell, whom had been adopted by the Renoehls. Ida’s 10-year-old daughter Daisy (Mitchell) was living in El Paso Texas with her father and step-mother Oda and Zola Mitchell. Ida’s 6-year-old daughter Juanita had been adopted by Alex and Esther Cushway and was living in Edwardsburg, Michigan.
Edward and Ida welcomed daughter Marjorie Ann (b. 2 Jun 1930) two months after the census takers had visited the family.
When the 1940 Census came around, the Baker family was still living in Culver. Edward, aged 59, still had his carpenter’s job with Culver Military Academy. Ida, aged 48, was keeping house. Five of their combined children/step-children were there with them—Edward’s step-son/nephew Lyle (the subject of this bio), aged 28, Edward’s sons Charles and Norman, aged 21 and 16, Ida’s daughter Dorothy (Mitchell), aged 14, and Edward and Ida’s 9-year-old daughter Marjorie.
A few months after the ink dried on those census records, Lyle married Beatrice Armeta Clark on 23 Aug 1940 in Fulton Co., Indiana. Lyle and Beatrice had six children together—Beverly Jean (b. 8 Apr 1937), Lois Ann (11 Apr 1939), Patricia Louise (b. 31 Dec 1940), Karen Joyce (19 Jan 1943 – 28 Dec 1994), Lyle Jr. (b. ca. 1945), and Janet Eilean (20 Mar 1946 – 6 Aug 2018). Though both Beverly’s and Lois’ births predate the marriage, their birth certificates do note that they were legitimate children of Lyle and Beatrice Baker, so there you go.
Fast forward six years to the fall of 1946. WWII had ended the year before. It was hunting season in Indiana. On Sunday, 24 Nov 1946, four days before Thanksgiving, Lyle and his brother-in-law decided to go hunting. Oh, how life can change in an instant. Lyle was able to explain before his death that he had rested his gun on a stump and it fell off and discharged, hitting him in the chest. He died of his injury later that same night. He was only 35 years old. So sad. There was a charity event held after Lyle's death to help raise money to help his family.
Beatrice eventually remarried and had four more children, all sons, living to age 85.
I found Lyle’s parents on the 1910 Census, living in Union Township (Culver area), Marshall Co., Indiana. Harrison Baker, aged 21, was noted as a laborer at odd jobs. Grace, aged 20, had a bun warming in the oven. Three months later, the couple would welcome son Harrison into the world.
Lyle’s father was employed by Culver Military Academy in Culver. On 7 Oct 1916, Harrison Baker went to work, like he would on any other day, but this day would be different. While excavating some hills east of the school grounds with a steam shovel, Harrison was standing by the machine when an embankment twenty-five feet up gave way and slid down against the shovel, catching Harrison in its wake and crushing him to death. He was only 28 years old.
Not only did he leave behind a grieving widow and three young children, aged 6, 5 and 2, Grace was four-months pregnant with fourth-child Richard, born in the spring of 1917. Grace must have been sick with worry for the welfare of her four children. In those times, a woman in Grace’s situation had very few options. She would have to rely on the generosity of a family member who was willing to take in five extra mouths to feed, or she could look for a new marriage. Grace found both in the person of Harrison’s older brother, Edward Michael Baker, whom she wed on 10 May 1918.
Edward and Grace would have four sons together—Charles Junior (14 Nov 1918 – 19 May 2003), Eugene K. (16 Jun 1921 – 20 Jul 1980), Norman (24 Jul 1923 – 17 Oct 2012) and Russell (18 Oct 1924 – 20 Nov 2001).
I found their blended family on the 1920 Census, living on Main St. in Culver, Indiana. Edward Baker, aged 39, was earning a living as a house carpenter. Grace, aged 30, was keeping house. There with their father/step-father and mother were Harrison, aged 9, Lyle, aged 8, Katherine, aged 5, Richard, aged 2, and 1-year-old Charles. Eugene would join the family a year later, followed by Norman in 1923 and Russell in 1924.
Like was good…until it wasn’t. On 13 Apr 1925, the family lost wife and mother Grace to blood poisoning (septicemia) at age 35. Edward must have been overwhelmed with the prospect of raising four step-children and four of his own children by himself. Finding a woman willing to take eight young children under her wing would have been asking a lot. Within a few years of losing Grace, Edward married divorcee Ida May Mitchell (nee Gibbs). Her first husband was Oda Erwin Mitchell, and they had had three daughters together—Daisy Elnora (4 Mar 1920 – 9 May 2013), Juanita Eileen (12 Sep 1923 – 21 Nov 2009), and Dorothy Irene (10 Aug 1925 – 20 Feb 1999).
With eleven children now in the mix, and a twelfth child in their near future, some difficult decisions had to be made. The 1930 Census would tell the tale. When that decade’s census was taken, the Baker family was still living in Culver, Indiana. Edward Baker, aged 41, was working as a carpenter for Culver Military Academy. Ida, aged 38, was keeping house. With the couple were five of their combined eleven children/step-children—Edward’s step-son/nephew Richard, aged 13, Edward’s three eldest sons—Charles, aged 11, Eugene, aged 8, and Norman, aged 6, and Ida’s youngest daughter—Dorothy (Mitchell), aged 4.
That left six children/step-children in the wind. Edward’s 18-year-old step-son/nephew Harrison was living in nearby South Bend, Indiana with his 67-year-old maternal grandmother Elizabeth Hare Kniffen. Edward’s 17-year-old step-son/nephew Lyle, the subject of this bio, was living in Shreveport, Louisiana with grocer John McNutt and his wife Ollie, and working as a deliveryman for a dairy. Edward’s 15-year-old step-daughter/niece Katherine was living in South Bend with Quincy and Dessa Renoehl, along with Edward’s 5-year-old son Russell, whom had been adopted by the Renoehls. Ida’s 10-year-old daughter Daisy (Mitchell) was living in El Paso Texas with her father and step-mother Oda and Zola Mitchell. Ida’s 6-year-old daughter Juanita had been adopted by Alex and Esther Cushway and was living in Edwardsburg, Michigan.
Edward and Ida welcomed daughter Marjorie Ann (b. 2 Jun 1930) two months after the census takers had visited the family.
When the 1940 Census came around, the Baker family was still living in Culver. Edward, aged 59, still had his carpenter’s job with Culver Military Academy. Ida, aged 48, was keeping house. Five of their combined children/step-children were there with them—Edward’s step-son/nephew Lyle (the subject of this bio), aged 28, Edward’s sons Charles and Norman, aged 21 and 16, Ida’s daughter Dorothy (Mitchell), aged 14, and Edward and Ida’s 9-year-old daughter Marjorie.
A few months after the ink dried on those census records, Lyle married Beatrice Armeta Clark on 23 Aug 1940 in Fulton Co., Indiana. Lyle and Beatrice had six children together—Beverly Jean (b. 8 Apr 1937), Lois Ann (11 Apr 1939), Patricia Louise (b. 31 Dec 1940), Karen Joyce (19 Jan 1943 – 28 Dec 1994), Lyle Jr. (b. ca. 1945), and Janet Eilean (20 Mar 1946 – 6 Aug 2018). Though both Beverly’s and Lois’ births predate the marriage, their birth certificates do note that they were legitimate children of Lyle and Beatrice Baker, so there you go.
Fast forward six years to the fall of 1946. WWII had ended the year before. It was hunting season in Indiana. On Sunday, 24 Nov 1946, four days before Thanksgiving, Lyle and his brother-in-law decided to go hunting. Oh, how life can change in an instant. Lyle was able to explain before his death that he had rested his gun on a stump and it fell off and discharged, hitting him in the chest. He died of his injury later that same night. He was only 35 years old. So sad. There was a charity event held after Lyle's death to help raise money to help his family.
Beatrice eventually remarried and had four more children, all sons, living to age 85.
Lyle was the son of Harrison Baker and Grace Idella Hare, who married on 30 Oct 1909 in Indiana. I found four children for them—Harrison Earl (25 Jul 1910 – 8 Nov 1980), Lyle Arthur (24 Sep 1911 – 24 Nov 1946), Katherine Elizabeth (14 May 1914 – 7 Aug 1986 married name Sheetz), and Richard Edward (23 Mar 1917 – 3 Oct 1986).
I found Lyle’s parents on the 1910 Census, living in Union Township (Culver area), Marshall Co., Indiana. Harrison Baker, aged 21, was noted as a laborer at odd jobs. Grace, aged 20, had a bun warming in the oven. Three months later, the couple would welcome son Harrison into the world.
Lyle’s father was employed by Culver Military Academy in Culver. On 7 Oct 1916, Harrison Baker went to work, like he would on any other day, but this day would be different. While excavating some hills east of the school grounds with a steam shovel, Harrison was standing by the machine when an embankment twenty-five feet up gave way and slid down against the shovel, catching Harrison in its wake and crushing him to death. He was only 28 years old.
Not only did he leave behind a grieving widow and three young children, aged 6, 5 and 2, Grace was four-months pregnant with fourth-child Richard, born in the spring of 1917. Grace must have been sick with worry for the welfare of her four children. In those times, a woman in Grace’s situation had very few options. She would have to rely on the generosity of a family member who was willing to take in five extra mouths to feed, or she could look for a new marriage. Grace found both in the person of Harrison’s older brother, Edward Michael Baker, whom she wed on 10 May 1918.
Edward and Grace would have four sons together—Charles Junior (14 Nov 1918 – 19 May 2003), Eugene K. (16 Jun 1921 – 20 Jul 1980), Norman (24 Jul 1923 – 17 Oct 2012) and Russell (18 Oct 1924 – 20 Nov 2001).
I found their blended family on the 1920 Census, living on Main St. in Culver, Indiana. Edward Baker, aged 39, was earning a living as a house carpenter. Grace, aged 30, was keeping house. There with their father/step-father and mother were Harrison, aged 9, Lyle, aged 8, Katherine, aged 5, Richard, aged 2, and 1-year-old Charles. Eugene would join the family a year later, followed by Norman in 1923 and Russell in 1924.
Like was good…until it wasn’t. On 13 Apr 1925, the family lost wife and mother Grace to blood poisoning (septicemia) at age 35. Edward must have been overwhelmed with the prospect of raising four step-children and four of his own children by himself. Finding a woman willing to take eight young children under her wing would have been asking a lot. Within a few years of losing Grace, Edward married divorcee Ida May Mitchell (nee Gibbs). Her first husband was Oda Erwin Mitchell, and they had had three daughters together—Daisy Elnora (4 Mar 1920 – 9 May 2013), Juanita Eileen (12 Sep 1923 – 21 Nov 2009), and Dorothy Irene (10 Aug 1925 – 20 Feb 1999).
With eleven children now in the mix, and a twelfth child in their near future, some difficult decisions had to be made. The 1930 Census would tell the tale. When that decade’s census was taken, the Baker family was still living in Culver, Indiana. Edward Baker, aged 41, was working as a carpenter for Culver Military Academy. Ida, aged 38, was keeping house. With the couple were five of their combined eleven children/step-children—Edward’s step-son/nephew Richard, aged 13, Edward’s three eldest sons—Charles, aged 11, Eugene, aged 8, and Norman, aged 6, and Ida’s youngest daughter—Dorothy (Mitchell), aged 4.
That left six children/step-children in the wind. Edward’s 18-year-old step-son/nephew Harrison was living in nearby South Bend, Indiana with his 67-year-old maternal grandmother Elizabeth Hare Kniffen. Edward’s 17-year-old step-son/nephew Lyle, the subject of this bio, was living in Shreveport, Louisiana with grocer John McNutt and his wife Ollie, and working as a deliveryman for a dairy. Edward’s 15-year-old step-daughter/niece Katherine was living in South Bend with Quincy and Dessa Renoehl, along with Edward’s 5-year-old son Russell, whom had been adopted by the Renoehls. Ida’s 10-year-old daughter Daisy (Mitchell) was living in El Paso Texas with her father and step-mother Oda and Zola Mitchell. Ida’s 6-year-old daughter Juanita had been adopted by Alex and Esther Cushway and was living in Edwardsburg, Michigan.
Edward and Ida welcomed daughter Marjorie Ann (b. 2 Jun 1930) two months after the census takers had visited the family.
When the 1940 Census came around, the Baker family was still living in Culver. Edward, aged 59, still had his carpenter’s job with Culver Military Academy. Ida, aged 48, was keeping house. Five of their combined children/step-children were there with them—Edward’s step-son/nephew Lyle (the subject of this bio), aged 28, Edward’s sons Charles and Norman, aged 21 and 16, Ida’s daughter Dorothy (Mitchell), aged 14, and Edward and Ida’s 9-year-old daughter Marjorie.
A few months after the ink dried on those census records, Lyle married Beatrice Armeta Clark on 23 Aug 1940 in Fulton Co., Indiana. Lyle and Beatrice had six children together—Beverly Jean (b. 8 Apr 1937), Lois Ann (11 Apr 1939), Patricia Louise (b. 31 Dec 1940), Karen Joyce (19 Jan 1943 – 28 Dec 1994), Lyle Jr. (b. ca. 1945), and Janet Eilean (20 Mar 1946 – 6 Aug 2018). Though both Beverly’s and Lois’ births predate the marriage, their birth certificates do note that they were legitimate children of Lyle and Beatrice Baker, so there you go.
Fast forward six years to the fall of 1946. WWII had ended the year before. It was hunting season in Indiana. On Sunday, 24 Nov 1946, four days before Thanksgiving, Lyle and his brother-in-law decided to go hunting. Oh, how life can change in an instant. Lyle was able to explain before his death that he had rested his gun on a stump and it fell off and discharged, hitting him in the chest. He died of his injury later that same night. He was only 35 years old. So sad. There was a charity event held after Lyle's death to help raise money to help his family.
Beatrice eventually remarried and had four more children, all sons, living to age 85.
I found Lyle’s parents on the 1910 Census, living in Union Township (Culver area), Marshall Co., Indiana. Harrison Baker, aged 21, was noted as a laborer at odd jobs. Grace, aged 20, had a bun warming in the oven. Three months later, the couple would welcome son Harrison into the world.
Lyle’s father was employed by Culver Military Academy in Culver. On 7 Oct 1916, Harrison Baker went to work, like he would on any other day, but this day would be different. While excavating some hills east of the school grounds with a steam shovel, Harrison was standing by the machine when an embankment twenty-five feet up gave way and slid down against the shovel, catching Harrison in its wake and crushing him to death. He was only 28 years old.
Not only did he leave behind a grieving widow and three young children, aged 6, 5 and 2, Grace was four-months pregnant with fourth-child Richard, born in the spring of 1917. Grace must have been sick with worry for the welfare of her four children. In those times, a woman in Grace’s situation had very few options. She would have to rely on the generosity of a family member who was willing to take in five extra mouths to feed, or she could look for a new marriage. Grace found both in the person of Harrison’s older brother, Edward Michael Baker, whom she wed on 10 May 1918.
Edward and Grace would have four sons together—Charles Junior (14 Nov 1918 – 19 May 2003), Eugene K. (16 Jun 1921 – 20 Jul 1980), Norman (24 Jul 1923 – 17 Oct 2012) and Russell (18 Oct 1924 – 20 Nov 2001).
I found their blended family on the 1920 Census, living on Main St. in Culver, Indiana. Edward Baker, aged 39, was earning a living as a house carpenter. Grace, aged 30, was keeping house. There with their father/step-father and mother were Harrison, aged 9, Lyle, aged 8, Katherine, aged 5, Richard, aged 2, and 1-year-old Charles. Eugene would join the family a year later, followed by Norman in 1923 and Russell in 1924.
Like was good…until it wasn’t. On 13 Apr 1925, the family lost wife and mother Grace to blood poisoning (septicemia) at age 35. Edward must have been overwhelmed with the prospect of raising four step-children and four of his own children by himself. Finding a woman willing to take eight young children under her wing would have been asking a lot. Within a few years of losing Grace, Edward married divorcee Ida May Mitchell (nee Gibbs). Her first husband was Oda Erwin Mitchell, and they had had three daughters together—Daisy Elnora (4 Mar 1920 – 9 May 2013), Juanita Eileen (12 Sep 1923 – 21 Nov 2009), and Dorothy Irene (10 Aug 1925 – 20 Feb 1999).
With eleven children now in the mix, and a twelfth child in their near future, some difficult decisions had to be made. The 1930 Census would tell the tale. When that decade’s census was taken, the Baker family was still living in Culver, Indiana. Edward Baker, aged 41, was working as a carpenter for Culver Military Academy. Ida, aged 38, was keeping house. With the couple were five of their combined eleven children/step-children—Edward’s step-son/nephew Richard, aged 13, Edward’s three eldest sons—Charles, aged 11, Eugene, aged 8, and Norman, aged 6, and Ida’s youngest daughter—Dorothy (Mitchell), aged 4.
That left six children/step-children in the wind. Edward’s 18-year-old step-son/nephew Harrison was living in nearby South Bend, Indiana with his 67-year-old maternal grandmother Elizabeth Hare Kniffen. Edward’s 17-year-old step-son/nephew Lyle, the subject of this bio, was living in Shreveport, Louisiana with grocer John McNutt and his wife Ollie, and working as a deliveryman for a dairy. Edward’s 15-year-old step-daughter/niece Katherine was living in South Bend with Quincy and Dessa Renoehl, along with Edward’s 5-year-old son Russell, whom had been adopted by the Renoehls. Ida’s 10-year-old daughter Daisy (Mitchell) was living in El Paso Texas with her father and step-mother Oda and Zola Mitchell. Ida’s 6-year-old daughter Juanita had been adopted by Alex and Esther Cushway and was living in Edwardsburg, Michigan.
Edward and Ida welcomed daughter Marjorie Ann (b. 2 Jun 1930) two months after the census takers had visited the family.
When the 1940 Census came around, the Baker family was still living in Culver. Edward, aged 59, still had his carpenter’s job with Culver Military Academy. Ida, aged 48, was keeping house. Five of their combined children/step-children were there with them—Edward’s step-son/nephew Lyle (the subject of this bio), aged 28, Edward’s sons Charles and Norman, aged 21 and 16, Ida’s daughter Dorothy (Mitchell), aged 14, and Edward and Ida’s 9-year-old daughter Marjorie.
A few months after the ink dried on those census records, Lyle married Beatrice Armeta Clark on 23 Aug 1940 in Fulton Co., Indiana. Lyle and Beatrice had six children together—Beverly Jean (b. 8 Apr 1937), Lois Ann (11 Apr 1939), Patricia Louise (b. 31 Dec 1940), Karen Joyce (19 Jan 1943 – 28 Dec 1994), Lyle Jr. (b. ca. 1945), and Janet Eilean (20 Mar 1946 – 6 Aug 2018). Though both Beverly’s and Lois’ births predate the marriage, their birth certificates do note that they were legitimate children of Lyle and Beatrice Baker, so there you go.
Fast forward six years to the fall of 1946. WWII had ended the year before. It was hunting season in Indiana. On Sunday, 24 Nov 1946, four days before Thanksgiving, Lyle and his brother-in-law decided to go hunting. Oh, how life can change in an instant. Lyle was able to explain before his death that he had rested his gun on a stump and it fell off and discharged, hitting him in the chest. He died of his injury later that same night. He was only 35 years old. So sad. There was a charity event held after Lyle's death to help raise money to help his family.
Beatrice eventually remarried and had four more children, all sons, living to age 85.
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