E. Micah "Mike" Baxter 12/7/1938 - 2/9/2021
E. Micah "Mike" Baxter, proud historian and descendant of Placer and El Dorado County pioneers, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 9th.
He was preceded in death by his parents, E.W. "Cap" Baxter and Alice Byrne Baxter, brother Joseph Quincy Baxter III, and sister, Jane Ann Baxter II.
Mike was known for his keen intellect, curiosity, and encyclopedic knowledge of any subject that interested him. In his youth, he was a star football player on his high school championship team, which made him a lifelong fanatic fan and expert on football in general, and the San Francisco Forty Niners in particular. Mike was a veteran of the U.S. Navy where he was selected for the elite "Hurricane Hunters" Airborne Early Warning Squadron 4. The exclusive 450 member squad bravely flew VW-3 Super Constellation Aircraft into the eye of hurricanes. The scientific data the unit collected saved countless lives by pinpointing the path of storms. Mike's Naval experience inspired his scholarly hobby of meteorology and weather forecasting. With equal zeal, Mike dedicated his working life to managing the Baxter Family properties, including the Baxter Brothers Cattle Co.
However, of all his pursuits, Baxter Family history and the study of Placer and El Dorado Counties were his true passions. He earned a deserved reputation as an amateur historian of this area. For most of his adult life, he lived in the old ranch-house at Baxter Ranch on Baxter Grade Road in the Mt. Vernon area of Auburn. Mike was proud that 9 generations of his family, including his own descendants, had lived in California. Most had spent time at Baxter Ranch. Many of the family properties he managed were in the mountains near the eponymous town of Baxter which was founded by his forebears. Mike was named after his Great, Great Grandfather Micah Pedler, who came across the plains from Wisconsin to Clarksville, Calif. to find gold at the beginning of the Gold Rush. Pedler, for whom Pedler Hill in El Dorado County is named, saw the promise of California beyond gold mining. He returned to Wisconsin by ship and portage to repeat the arduous journey across the plains. This time, he came by wagon with his elderly mother, his wife, and his 2 small daughters. Simultaneous to Pedler's 1st journey to Clarksville, a 19 year old Joseph Quincy Baxter left Quincy, Massachusetts by ship to travel around the horn to San Francisco. He headed to Clarksville to find his fortune in gold. Eventually he went into the meat business and married Micah's now grown daughter, Jane Ann Pedler Baxter. Micah became a successful livestock and fruit rancher. Micah, Joseph Quincy, and Jane Ann later moved to where the town of Baxter is located. Micah brought fruit ranching to that part of the mountains. Some of his apple trees still flourish near the town of Baxter, after almost a 150 years. Joseph Quincy first worked at Towle Bros. Mill at the old town of Towle near Baxter. Later he and Jane Ann started ranching on Baxter Grade in Auburn. The Baxter Ranch became the winter pasture for their cattle operation. In summer, on horseback, they drove the cattle to Micah's property in the mountains for greener pastures. Those cattle drives continued well into the 1930's. When Jane Ann was at the mountain property, she would extend customary pioneer hospitality to travelers headed over Donner Summit. As travelers became too numerous, she opened a small refreshment stand as a business. This eventually grew to become thriving Baxter's Camp, with a cafe, an hotel, a spring fed pool, guest cabins, a gas station, a general store, a meat market, and a post office. In the 1930' s and after, the camp was patronized by celebrities and dignitaries. The snow gates that closed the road over Donner Summit were located at Baxter. It was the traditional stop for putting on chains when winter travel became possible.
These stories are just a small sampling of the rich family history of which Mike became a trusted guardian and a researcher. His gift as a skilled, affable, and charming storyteller brought them to vivid life. This love and reverence for family is the strong legacy he now leaves for his son and granddaughters.
Private internment at New Auburn Cemetery.
E. Micah "Mike" Baxter, proud historian and descendant of Placer and El Dorado County pioneers, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 9th.
He was preceded in death by his parents, E.W. "Cap" Baxter and Alice Byrne Baxter, brother Joseph Quincy Baxter III, and sister, Jane Ann Baxter II.
Mike was known for his keen intellect, curiosity, and encyclopedic knowledge of any subject that interested him. In his youth, he was a star football player on his high school championship team, which made him a lifelong fanatic fan and expert on football in general, and the San Francisco Forty Niners in particular. Mike was a veteran of the U.S. Navy where he was selected for the elite "Hurricane Hunters" Airborne Early Warning Squadron 4. The exclusive 450 member squad bravely flew VW-3 Super Constellation Aircraft into the eye of hurricanes. The scientific data the unit collected saved countless lives by pinpointing the path of storms. Mike's Naval experience inspired his scholarly hobby of meteorology and weather forecasting. With equal zeal, Mike dedicated his working life to managing the Baxter Family properties, including the Baxter Brothers Cattle Co.
However, of all his pursuits, Baxter Family history and the study of Placer and El Dorado Counties were his true passions. He earned a deserved reputation as an amateur historian of this area. For most of his adult life, he lived in the old ranch-house at Baxter Ranch on Baxter Grade Road in the Mt. Vernon area of Auburn. Mike was proud that 9 generations of his family, including his own descendants, had lived in California. Most had spent time at Baxter Ranch. Many of the family properties he managed were in the mountains near the eponymous town of Baxter which was founded by his forebears. Mike was named after his Great, Great Grandfather Micah Pedler, who came across the plains from Wisconsin to Clarksville, Calif. to find gold at the beginning of the Gold Rush. Pedler, for whom Pedler Hill in El Dorado County is named, saw the promise of California beyond gold mining. He returned to Wisconsin by ship and portage to repeat the arduous journey across the plains. This time, he came by wagon with his elderly mother, his wife, and his 2 small daughters. Simultaneous to Pedler's 1st journey to Clarksville, a 19 year old Joseph Quincy Baxter left Quincy, Massachusetts by ship to travel around the horn to San Francisco. He headed to Clarksville to find his fortune in gold. Eventually he went into the meat business and married Micah's now grown daughter, Jane Ann Pedler Baxter. Micah became a successful livestock and fruit rancher. Micah, Joseph Quincy, and Jane Ann later moved to where the town of Baxter is located. Micah brought fruit ranching to that part of the mountains. Some of his apple trees still flourish near the town of Baxter, after almost a 150 years. Joseph Quincy first worked at Towle Bros. Mill at the old town of Towle near Baxter. Later he and Jane Ann started ranching on Baxter Grade in Auburn. The Baxter Ranch became the winter pasture for their cattle operation. In summer, on horseback, they drove the cattle to Micah's property in the mountains for greener pastures. Those cattle drives continued well into the 1930's. When Jane Ann was at the mountain property, she would extend customary pioneer hospitality to travelers headed over Donner Summit. As travelers became too numerous, she opened a small refreshment stand as a business. This eventually grew to become thriving Baxter's Camp, with a cafe, an hotel, a spring fed pool, guest cabins, a gas station, a general store, a meat market, and a post office. In the 1930' s and after, the camp was patronized by celebrities and dignitaries. The snow gates that closed the road over Donner Summit were located at Baxter. It was the traditional stop for putting on chains when winter travel became possible.
These stories are just a small sampling of the rich family history of which Mike became a trusted guardian and a researcher. His gift as a skilled, affable, and charming storyteller brought them to vivid life. This love and reverence for family is the strong legacy he now leaves for his son and granddaughters.
Private internment at New Auburn Cemetery.
E. Micah "Mike" Baxter 12/7/1938 - 2/9/2021
E. Micah "Mike" Baxter, proud historian and descendant of Placer and El Dorado County pioneers, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 9th.
He was preceded in death by his parents, E.W. "Cap" Baxter and Alice Byrne Baxter, brother Joseph Quincy Baxter III, and sister, Jane Ann Baxter II.
Mike was known for his keen intellect, curiosity, and encyclopedic knowledge of any subject that interested him. In his youth, he was a star football player on his high school championship team, which made him a lifelong fanatic fan and expert on football in general, and the San Francisco Forty Niners in particular. Mike was a veteran of the U.S. Navy where he was selected for the elite "Hurricane Hunters" Airborne Early Warning Squadron 4. The exclusive 450 member squad bravely flew VW-3 Super Constellation Aircraft into the eye of hurricanes. The scientific data the unit collected saved countless lives by pinpointing the path of storms. Mike's Naval experience inspired his scholarly hobby of meteorology and weather forecasting. With equal zeal, Mike dedicated his working life to managing the Baxter Family properties, including the Baxter Brothers Cattle Co.
However, of all his pursuits, Baxter Family history and the study of Placer and El Dorado Counties were his true passions. He earned a deserved reputation as an amateur historian of this area. For most of his adult life, he lived in the old ranch-house at Baxter Ranch on Baxter Grade Road in the Mt. Vernon area of Auburn. Mike was proud that 9 generations of his family, including his own descendants, had lived in California. Most had spent time at Baxter Ranch. Many of the family properties he managed were in the mountains near the eponymous town of Baxter which was founded by his forebears. Mike was named after his Great, Great Grandfather Micah Pedler, who came across the plains from Wisconsin to Clarksville, Calif. to find gold at the beginning of the Gold Rush. Pedler, for whom Pedler Hill in El Dorado County is named, saw the promise of California beyond gold mining. He returned to Wisconsin by ship and portage to repeat the arduous journey across the plains. This time, he came by wagon with his elderly mother, his wife, and his 2 small daughters. Simultaneous to Pedler's 1st journey to Clarksville, a 19 year old Joseph Quincy Baxter left Quincy, Massachusetts by ship to travel around the horn to San Francisco. He headed to Clarksville to find his fortune in gold. Eventually he went into the meat business and married Micah's now grown daughter, Jane Ann Pedler Baxter. Micah became a successful livestock and fruit rancher. Micah, Joseph Quincy, and Jane Ann later moved to where the town of Baxter is located. Micah brought fruit ranching to that part of the mountains. Some of his apple trees still flourish near the town of Baxter, after almost a 150 years. Joseph Quincy first worked at Towle Bros. Mill at the old town of Towle near Baxter. Later he and Jane Ann started ranching on Baxter Grade in Auburn. The Baxter Ranch became the winter pasture for their cattle operation. In summer, on horseback, they drove the cattle to Micah's property in the mountains for greener pastures. Those cattle drives continued well into the 1930's. When Jane Ann was at the mountain property, she would extend customary pioneer hospitality to travelers headed over Donner Summit. As travelers became too numerous, she opened a small refreshment stand as a business. This eventually grew to become thriving Baxter's Camp, with a cafe, an hotel, a spring fed pool, guest cabins, a gas station, a general store, a meat market, and a post office. In the 1930' s and after, the camp was patronized by celebrities and dignitaries. The snow gates that closed the road over Donner Summit were located at Baxter. It was the traditional stop for putting on chains when winter travel became possible.
These stories are just a small sampling of the rich family history of which Mike became a trusted guardian and a researcher. His gift as a skilled, affable, and charming storyteller brought them to vivid life. This love and reverence for family is the strong legacy he now leaves for his son and granddaughters.
Private internment at New Auburn Cemetery.
E. Micah "Mike" Baxter, proud historian and descendant of Placer and El Dorado County pioneers, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 9th.
He was preceded in death by his parents, E.W. "Cap" Baxter and Alice Byrne Baxter, brother Joseph Quincy Baxter III, and sister, Jane Ann Baxter II.
Mike was known for his keen intellect, curiosity, and encyclopedic knowledge of any subject that interested him. In his youth, he was a star football player on his high school championship team, which made him a lifelong fanatic fan and expert on football in general, and the San Francisco Forty Niners in particular. Mike was a veteran of the U.S. Navy where he was selected for the elite "Hurricane Hunters" Airborne Early Warning Squadron 4. The exclusive 450 member squad bravely flew VW-3 Super Constellation Aircraft into the eye of hurricanes. The scientific data the unit collected saved countless lives by pinpointing the path of storms. Mike's Naval experience inspired his scholarly hobby of meteorology and weather forecasting. With equal zeal, Mike dedicated his working life to managing the Baxter Family properties, including the Baxter Brothers Cattle Co.
However, of all his pursuits, Baxter Family history and the study of Placer and El Dorado Counties were his true passions. He earned a deserved reputation as an amateur historian of this area. For most of his adult life, he lived in the old ranch-house at Baxter Ranch on Baxter Grade Road in the Mt. Vernon area of Auburn. Mike was proud that 9 generations of his family, including his own descendants, had lived in California. Most had spent time at Baxter Ranch. Many of the family properties he managed were in the mountains near the eponymous town of Baxter which was founded by his forebears. Mike was named after his Great, Great Grandfather Micah Pedler, who came across the plains from Wisconsin to Clarksville, Calif. to find gold at the beginning of the Gold Rush. Pedler, for whom Pedler Hill in El Dorado County is named, saw the promise of California beyond gold mining. He returned to Wisconsin by ship and portage to repeat the arduous journey across the plains. This time, he came by wagon with his elderly mother, his wife, and his 2 small daughters. Simultaneous to Pedler's 1st journey to Clarksville, a 19 year old Joseph Quincy Baxter left Quincy, Massachusetts by ship to travel around the horn to San Francisco. He headed to Clarksville to find his fortune in gold. Eventually he went into the meat business and married Micah's now grown daughter, Jane Ann Pedler Baxter. Micah became a successful livestock and fruit rancher. Micah, Joseph Quincy, and Jane Ann later moved to where the town of Baxter is located. Micah brought fruit ranching to that part of the mountains. Some of his apple trees still flourish near the town of Baxter, after almost a 150 years. Joseph Quincy first worked at Towle Bros. Mill at the old town of Towle near Baxter. Later he and Jane Ann started ranching on Baxter Grade in Auburn. The Baxter Ranch became the winter pasture for their cattle operation. In summer, on horseback, they drove the cattle to Micah's property in the mountains for greener pastures. Those cattle drives continued well into the 1930's. When Jane Ann was at the mountain property, she would extend customary pioneer hospitality to travelers headed over Donner Summit. As travelers became too numerous, she opened a small refreshment stand as a business. This eventually grew to become thriving Baxter's Camp, with a cafe, an hotel, a spring fed pool, guest cabins, a gas station, a general store, a meat market, and a post office. In the 1930' s and after, the camp was patronized by celebrities and dignitaries. The snow gates that closed the road over Donner Summit were located at Baxter. It was the traditional stop for putting on chains when winter travel became possible.
These stories are just a small sampling of the rich family history of which Mike became a trusted guardian and a researcher. His gift as a skilled, affable, and charming storyteller brought them to vivid life. This love and reverence for family is the strong legacy he now leaves for his son and granddaughters.
Private internment at New Auburn Cemetery.
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