Civil War Veteran
3rd Missouri Volunteer Mounted Infantry
Co I 40th Iowa Infantry
-----------------------
Notes for DEWITT CLINTON BAKER from the 1903 book History of Keokuk County, page 305:
A retired farmer and representative citizen of the village of Ollie, Mr. Baker has been intimately identified with the industrial activities and material progress of this favored section of the Hawkeye state, and he is most appropriately given a place in this compilation, which has to do with those who have been the founders and builders of Keokuk county. Like many another of the sterling citizens of this state, Mr. Baker is a native of Tennessee, having been born in Jefferson county, on the 22nd of July, 1833.
DeWitt Clinton Baker was reared and educated in his native state, where he completed his education at the age of twenty years. He forthwith gave inception to his independent career, since he then came to Iowa in 1853, and became one of the pioneer settlers of Keokuk county. He located on a tract of government land in Richland township, where he developed a fine farm and where he continued to maintain his home until the year 1876, having been successful in his enterprise, which included diversified farming and stockraising. In the Centennial year he removed to Jackson township, where he became the owner of a landed estate of about four hundred acres, the major portion of which he reclaimed and placed under effective cultivation, while his business ability and progressive spirit was shown in the work which he accomplished in connection with the development of the agricultural resources of this section, since for a period of about eight years he devoted his attention largely to the buying of raw land, clearing and improving the same and then disposing of the property, whose value had been, or course, greatly enhanced. Thus he contributed in no small measure to the substantial progress of this section, and his course was ever such in connection with his various transactions as to retain to him unqualified confidence and respect on the part of all with whom he had dealings.
On the 28th of December, 1854, Mr. Baker was united in marriage to Miss Virtue A. Edwards, who was born in Brighton, Washington county, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph and Margaret Edwards, who were pioneers of that county, as were they later of Keokuk county. Of the ten children born to our subject and his estimable wife, three are deceased, - Margaretta, Melissa and Lela. Those surviving are as follows: Martha, Joseph E., Ella, John C., Nora A., Charles D. and William F., all of whom were born and reared in this county. Mrs. Baker died November 7, 1890, at Ollie, Iowa.
In March 1892, Mr. Baker married Martha A. (Brown) Fye, widow of W.G. Fye, who was born in Keokuk County May 19, 1855. She was the daughter of James and Rebecca Brown, who came from Ohio and settled in Iowa in the early days; they spent their declining days and died in Iowa. Mrs. Baker has two daughters by her first marriage, Lillian and Bessie Fye.
At the time of the Civil war Mr. Baker enlisted in the Third Missouri Volunteer Infantry, a mounted regiment, with which he served six months. In 1862 he enlisted a second time, for three years, becoming a private in Company I, of the Fortieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he was in active service until January, 1865, when he received his honorable discharge, having done valiant service in support of the Union during the great fratricidal conflict in which a man's foes were veritably of his own household, as was exemplified in the case of our subject, for his father was a soldier in the Confederate service. During his long term of service the subject of this review was in many notable conflicts, having participated in the siege of Vicksburg and been present at the time of the taking of the city of Little Rock, Arkansas, while his regiment also took part in Banks' celebrated Red river expedition and participated in the battle of Jenkin's Ferry and several minor engagements. Mr. Baker was mustered out of the service at Little Rock, Arkansas, in January, 1865, and after receiving his honorable discharge returned to his home in Keokuk county, and turned his attention to farming in Richland township, of which fact mention has already been made. In 1889 he took up his residence in the thriving town of Ollie, where he is the owner of considerable property, while he still retains in his possession a good farm of eighty-eight acres.
Mr. Baker has ever maintained a lively interest in public affairs of a local nature and has done all in his power to forward the advancement and material property of his home county. His political support was given to the Democratic party until 1896, when he became a Republican, and he has been called upon to serve in various offices of trust and responsibility, among which it may be noted that he has been incumbent of the position of justice of the peace in Jackson township for fifteen years, while for three years he was a member of the county board of supervisors. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias, while he and his wife are devoted members of the Baptist Church in their home town, taking an active part in its work. The family has long been prominent in the social life of the community, and its members all enjoy the unqualified esteem of those who know them, while a refined hospitality is ever in evidence in the attractive home of our subject and his wife.
(Courtesy of Robert Fahey 47289555)
3rd Missouri Volunteer Mounted Infantry
Co I 40th Iowa Infantry
-----------------------
Notes for DEWITT CLINTON BAKER from the 1903 book History of Keokuk County, page 305:
A retired farmer and representative citizen of the village of Ollie, Mr. Baker has been intimately identified with the industrial activities and material progress of this favored section of the Hawkeye state, and he is most appropriately given a place in this compilation, which has to do with those who have been the founders and builders of Keokuk county. Like many another of the sterling citizens of this state, Mr. Baker is a native of Tennessee, having been born in Jefferson county, on the 22nd of July, 1833.
DeWitt Clinton Baker was reared and educated in his native state, where he completed his education at the age of twenty years. He forthwith gave inception to his independent career, since he then came to Iowa in 1853, and became one of the pioneer settlers of Keokuk county. He located on a tract of government land in Richland township, where he developed a fine farm and where he continued to maintain his home until the year 1876, having been successful in his enterprise, which included diversified farming and stockraising. In the Centennial year he removed to Jackson township, where he became the owner of a landed estate of about four hundred acres, the major portion of which he reclaimed and placed under effective cultivation, while his business ability and progressive spirit was shown in the work which he accomplished in connection with the development of the agricultural resources of this section, since for a period of about eight years he devoted his attention largely to the buying of raw land, clearing and improving the same and then disposing of the property, whose value had been, or course, greatly enhanced. Thus he contributed in no small measure to the substantial progress of this section, and his course was ever such in connection with his various transactions as to retain to him unqualified confidence and respect on the part of all with whom he had dealings.
On the 28th of December, 1854, Mr. Baker was united in marriage to Miss Virtue A. Edwards, who was born in Brighton, Washington county, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph and Margaret Edwards, who were pioneers of that county, as were they later of Keokuk county. Of the ten children born to our subject and his estimable wife, three are deceased, - Margaretta, Melissa and Lela. Those surviving are as follows: Martha, Joseph E., Ella, John C., Nora A., Charles D. and William F., all of whom were born and reared in this county. Mrs. Baker died November 7, 1890, at Ollie, Iowa.
In March 1892, Mr. Baker married Martha A. (Brown) Fye, widow of W.G. Fye, who was born in Keokuk County May 19, 1855. She was the daughter of James and Rebecca Brown, who came from Ohio and settled in Iowa in the early days; they spent their declining days and died in Iowa. Mrs. Baker has two daughters by her first marriage, Lillian and Bessie Fye.
At the time of the Civil war Mr. Baker enlisted in the Third Missouri Volunteer Infantry, a mounted regiment, with which he served six months. In 1862 he enlisted a second time, for three years, becoming a private in Company I, of the Fortieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he was in active service until January, 1865, when he received his honorable discharge, having done valiant service in support of the Union during the great fratricidal conflict in which a man's foes were veritably of his own household, as was exemplified in the case of our subject, for his father was a soldier in the Confederate service. During his long term of service the subject of this review was in many notable conflicts, having participated in the siege of Vicksburg and been present at the time of the taking of the city of Little Rock, Arkansas, while his regiment also took part in Banks' celebrated Red river expedition and participated in the battle of Jenkin's Ferry and several minor engagements. Mr. Baker was mustered out of the service at Little Rock, Arkansas, in January, 1865, and after receiving his honorable discharge returned to his home in Keokuk county, and turned his attention to farming in Richland township, of which fact mention has already been made. In 1889 he took up his residence in the thriving town of Ollie, where he is the owner of considerable property, while he still retains in his possession a good farm of eighty-eight acres.
Mr. Baker has ever maintained a lively interest in public affairs of a local nature and has done all in his power to forward the advancement and material property of his home county. His political support was given to the Democratic party until 1896, when he became a Republican, and he has been called upon to serve in various offices of trust and responsibility, among which it may be noted that he has been incumbent of the position of justice of the peace in Jackson township for fifteen years, while for three years he was a member of the county board of supervisors. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias, while he and his wife are devoted members of the Baptist Church in their home town, taking an active part in its work. The family has long been prominent in the social life of the community, and its members all enjoy the unqualified esteem of those who know them, while a refined hospitality is ever in evidence in the attractive home of our subject and his wife.
(Courtesy of Robert Fahey 47289555)
Civil War Veteran
3rd Missouri Volunteer Mounted Infantry
Co I 40th Iowa Infantry
-----------------------
Notes for DEWITT CLINTON BAKER from the 1903 book History of Keokuk County, page 305:
A retired farmer and representative citizen of the village of Ollie, Mr. Baker has been intimately identified with the industrial activities and material progress of this favored section of the Hawkeye state, and he is most appropriately given a place in this compilation, which has to do with those who have been the founders and builders of Keokuk county. Like many another of the sterling citizens of this state, Mr. Baker is a native of Tennessee, having been born in Jefferson county, on the 22nd of July, 1833.
DeWitt Clinton Baker was reared and educated in his native state, where he completed his education at the age of twenty years. He forthwith gave inception to his independent career, since he then came to Iowa in 1853, and became one of the pioneer settlers of Keokuk county. He located on a tract of government land in Richland township, where he developed a fine farm and where he continued to maintain his home until the year 1876, having been successful in his enterprise, which included diversified farming and stockraising. In the Centennial year he removed to Jackson township, where he became the owner of a landed estate of about four hundred acres, the major portion of which he reclaimed and placed under effective cultivation, while his business ability and progressive spirit was shown in the work which he accomplished in connection with the development of the agricultural resources of this section, since for a period of about eight years he devoted his attention largely to the buying of raw land, clearing and improving the same and then disposing of the property, whose value had been, or course, greatly enhanced. Thus he contributed in no small measure to the substantial progress of this section, and his course was ever such in connection with his various transactions as to retain to him unqualified confidence and respect on the part of all with whom he had dealings.
On the 28th of December, 1854, Mr. Baker was united in marriage to Miss Virtue A. Edwards, who was born in Brighton, Washington county, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph and Margaret Edwards, who were pioneers of that county, as were they later of Keokuk county. Of the ten children born to our subject and his estimable wife, three are deceased, - Margaretta, Melissa and Lela. Those surviving are as follows: Martha, Joseph E., Ella, John C., Nora A., Charles D. and William F., all of whom were born and reared in this county. Mrs. Baker died November 7, 1890, at Ollie, Iowa.
In March 1892, Mr. Baker married Martha A. (Brown) Fye, widow of W.G. Fye, who was born in Keokuk County May 19, 1855. She was the daughter of James and Rebecca Brown, who came from Ohio and settled in Iowa in the early days; they spent their declining days and died in Iowa. Mrs. Baker has two daughters by her first marriage, Lillian and Bessie Fye.
At the time of the Civil war Mr. Baker enlisted in the Third Missouri Volunteer Infantry, a mounted regiment, with which he served six months. In 1862 he enlisted a second time, for three years, becoming a private in Company I, of the Fortieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he was in active service until January, 1865, when he received his honorable discharge, having done valiant service in support of the Union during the great fratricidal conflict in which a man's foes were veritably of his own household, as was exemplified in the case of our subject, for his father was a soldier in the Confederate service. During his long term of service the subject of this review was in many notable conflicts, having participated in the siege of Vicksburg and been present at the time of the taking of the city of Little Rock, Arkansas, while his regiment also took part in Banks' celebrated Red river expedition and participated in the battle of Jenkin's Ferry and several minor engagements. Mr. Baker was mustered out of the service at Little Rock, Arkansas, in January, 1865, and after receiving his honorable discharge returned to his home in Keokuk county, and turned his attention to farming in Richland township, of which fact mention has already been made. In 1889 he took up his residence in the thriving town of Ollie, where he is the owner of considerable property, while he still retains in his possession a good farm of eighty-eight acres.
Mr. Baker has ever maintained a lively interest in public affairs of a local nature and has done all in his power to forward the advancement and material property of his home county. His political support was given to the Democratic party until 1896, when he became a Republican, and he has been called upon to serve in various offices of trust and responsibility, among which it may be noted that he has been incumbent of the position of justice of the peace in Jackson township for fifteen years, while for three years he was a member of the county board of supervisors. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias, while he and his wife are devoted members of the Baptist Church in their home town, taking an active part in its work. The family has long been prominent in the social life of the community, and its members all enjoy the unqualified esteem of those who know them, while a refined hospitality is ever in evidence in the attractive home of our subject and his wife.
(Courtesy of Robert Fahey 47289555)
3rd Missouri Volunteer Mounted Infantry
Co I 40th Iowa Infantry
-----------------------
Notes for DEWITT CLINTON BAKER from the 1903 book History of Keokuk County, page 305:
A retired farmer and representative citizen of the village of Ollie, Mr. Baker has been intimately identified with the industrial activities and material progress of this favored section of the Hawkeye state, and he is most appropriately given a place in this compilation, which has to do with those who have been the founders and builders of Keokuk county. Like many another of the sterling citizens of this state, Mr. Baker is a native of Tennessee, having been born in Jefferson county, on the 22nd of July, 1833.
DeWitt Clinton Baker was reared and educated in his native state, where he completed his education at the age of twenty years. He forthwith gave inception to his independent career, since he then came to Iowa in 1853, and became one of the pioneer settlers of Keokuk county. He located on a tract of government land in Richland township, where he developed a fine farm and where he continued to maintain his home until the year 1876, having been successful in his enterprise, which included diversified farming and stockraising. In the Centennial year he removed to Jackson township, where he became the owner of a landed estate of about four hundred acres, the major portion of which he reclaimed and placed under effective cultivation, while his business ability and progressive spirit was shown in the work which he accomplished in connection with the development of the agricultural resources of this section, since for a period of about eight years he devoted his attention largely to the buying of raw land, clearing and improving the same and then disposing of the property, whose value had been, or course, greatly enhanced. Thus he contributed in no small measure to the substantial progress of this section, and his course was ever such in connection with his various transactions as to retain to him unqualified confidence and respect on the part of all with whom he had dealings.
On the 28th of December, 1854, Mr. Baker was united in marriage to Miss Virtue A. Edwards, who was born in Brighton, Washington county, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph and Margaret Edwards, who were pioneers of that county, as were they later of Keokuk county. Of the ten children born to our subject and his estimable wife, three are deceased, - Margaretta, Melissa and Lela. Those surviving are as follows: Martha, Joseph E., Ella, John C., Nora A., Charles D. and William F., all of whom were born and reared in this county. Mrs. Baker died November 7, 1890, at Ollie, Iowa.
In March 1892, Mr. Baker married Martha A. (Brown) Fye, widow of W.G. Fye, who was born in Keokuk County May 19, 1855. She was the daughter of James and Rebecca Brown, who came from Ohio and settled in Iowa in the early days; they spent their declining days and died in Iowa. Mrs. Baker has two daughters by her first marriage, Lillian and Bessie Fye.
At the time of the Civil war Mr. Baker enlisted in the Third Missouri Volunteer Infantry, a mounted regiment, with which he served six months. In 1862 he enlisted a second time, for three years, becoming a private in Company I, of the Fortieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he was in active service until January, 1865, when he received his honorable discharge, having done valiant service in support of the Union during the great fratricidal conflict in which a man's foes were veritably of his own household, as was exemplified in the case of our subject, for his father was a soldier in the Confederate service. During his long term of service the subject of this review was in many notable conflicts, having participated in the siege of Vicksburg and been present at the time of the taking of the city of Little Rock, Arkansas, while his regiment also took part in Banks' celebrated Red river expedition and participated in the battle of Jenkin's Ferry and several minor engagements. Mr. Baker was mustered out of the service at Little Rock, Arkansas, in January, 1865, and after receiving his honorable discharge returned to his home in Keokuk county, and turned his attention to farming in Richland township, of which fact mention has already been made. In 1889 he took up his residence in the thriving town of Ollie, where he is the owner of considerable property, while he still retains in his possession a good farm of eighty-eight acres.
Mr. Baker has ever maintained a lively interest in public affairs of a local nature and has done all in his power to forward the advancement and material property of his home county. His political support was given to the Democratic party until 1896, when he became a Republican, and he has been called upon to serve in various offices of trust and responsibility, among which it may be noted that he has been incumbent of the position of justice of the peace in Jackson township for fifteen years, while for three years he was a member of the county board of supervisors. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias, while he and his wife are devoted members of the Baptist Church in their home town, taking an active part in its work. The family has long been prominent in the social life of the community, and its members all enjoy the unqualified esteem of those who know them, while a refined hospitality is ever in evidence in the attractive home of our subject and his wife.
(Courtesy of Robert Fahey 47289555)
Family Members
Parents
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
