LIEUTENANT DAVID BAKER. One who has figured conspicuously in the growth and development of the Western country is David Baker. He is a native of Indiana and was born in Tippecanoe County, July 7, 1833, near the town of Dayton. He is the son of William and Hannah Baker, the former being of English extraction. The first of the family to come to America was Thomas Baker, a Colonel in the English army, who resigned from that position to come to the colonies, settling on Long island, while it was yet in possession of the Dutch. William Baker was born in New jersey, and emigrated to Ohio, settling in Buter County, in 1807. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. In 1827 he moved to Indiana, being among the pioneers of Tippecanoe County. There he opened a farm in the timber, and endured the hardships and privation subsequent to the first settlement of a new country. He was a man closely associated with religion, and class leader in the United Brethren Church, and his house, for a number of years, was used to hold services in. His death occurred February 19, 1844. He was married twice. By his first wife he had six children. One son - Robert, lived in Dayton, Ind. The other - Thomas, is proprietor of the Grand Hotel in Indianapolis. Mary Ann was married to Moses Graft, a prosperous farmer. Had a large family. Rachel married a well known physician - Dr. D. H. Crouse, of Dayton, and is now deceased. Two of her children are living, one of whom is Rev. M. V. Crouse, an able clergyman of the Presbyterian Church, of Franklin, Ohio. The other two children of William Baker died when they were young. His second marriage was with Hannah Moore, a native of this country, but of Irish parentage. William Moore was in the war of 1812, and in General Hill's surrender, and then paroled, but in a short time returned to the army, and fought until the close of the war. Hannah Moore Baker was the mother of six children, three of her sons being farmers - Abner in Kansas, Josiah in Illinois, and Samuel in Indiana. The youngest - George W., died in infancy. Her only daughter - Martha Jane, married Dr. J. A. Wood, who, for a number of years, was a resident of Atchison County, Kansas, but since the war has been a resident of Monticello, Ind., at which place he died in 1878, leaving a family of five children. Mrs. Baker, after the death of her husband, married Henry Goble, and removed to Clinton County, Ind. She was a pious woman, and a faithful adherent to the United Brethren church. Her death occurred in 1851, in the full triumph of her faith. Her last words were: "Glory! Glory!" As she opened her eyes once more, to behold her son David, for whom she had seemed to be waiting for hours just at the door of death, then she sank peacefully away. The education of David baker and his brothers was limited, owing to the poor school facilities in Indiana at that early day. His chief amusement while pursuing the routine of the farmer boy, was that of hunting and fishing. When fourteen years of age, he went to Dayton to learn the carpenters' trade with his brother Robert, serving an apprenticeship of three years, when he followed the trade for about the same length of time in Lafayette, Ind. On the 4th of June, 1855, he married Margaret J. Alexander. She lived only until the following year, June 20th, when her death occurred, leaving one infant daughter - Alfaretta Jane, who died a few months later. She was a religious and educated lady, fond of literature, and an admirer of poetry. A few months after this, Mr. Baker came to Kansas, arriving in Atchison County September 19, 1857. He purchased a share in the Sumnertown Company, and pre-empted 160 acres of land near Lancaster, ten miles west of Atchison. He left Kansas December 5, in company with thirteen others, in a skiff, and rowed to Jefferson City, where they took the cars, he returning to Indiana. The 9th of March, 1858, he married Rebecca Foresman, daughter of John Foresman, a pioneer of Indiana. Returned to Kansas with his wife, arriving at Sumner April 29. There he worked at his trade two years. In 1858-59 was township collector and treasurer, and in 1859-60 was marshal of the town of Sumner, an unenviable position at that day, owing to the border element, and Mr. Baker had in many instances some of the most noted outlaws to deal with. Being a Free-state man he took an active part in the affairs of the time, and was a delegate to the first Republican County Convention. His life is replete with incidents too numerous to mention, but A. D. Richardson, the author of "Beyond the Mississippi," who was a personal friend of his, has pictured the scenes of those times to perfection. In 1861, he began to open his farm, but as the war of the Rebellion was fully upon us, he entered the military service. He was mustered into the volunteer service as a private soldier, in Company G, Eighth Kansas Infantry, November 11, 1861, and on the 14th was ordered to Lawrence for drill. While there, November 21, 1861, was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant of the company. From December 20, 1861, until January 16, 1862, the regiment was guarding the border. Three companies, A, D and G, were ordered to Fort Kearney, where they arrived on March 12, and remained until April 15, when Company G was detached, and sent to Scott's Bluff, on the overland mail route, to quell Indian troubles. On May 28, the company was ordered to Fort Laramie, where they remained on garrison duty until January 15, 1863, when they were ordered to join the regiment at Nashville, Tenn, marching from Fort Laramie to Leavenworth, thence by rail and water to Nashville. They assisted the regiment on provost duty in the city until June 7, 1863, when all the companies were ordered to Murfreesboro, Tenn., where the regiment was assigned to Third Brigade of the First Divison, Twentieth Army Corps, and on June 24 marched under General Rosecrans to Tullahoma, then to Winchester and Stephenson, Ala., and across the river to skirmish with the enemy. While at Winchester, July 25, 1863, Mr. Baker was commissioned Second Lieutenant of Company G, but as it was then below the minimum number, he was not mustered on his commission, and on September 9 received a commission as First Lieutenant, but was again not mustered, as the army was on the move, but acted as First Lieutenant in his company, and on September 19, 1863, was engaged in the battle of Chichamauga, where he was severely wounded in the left leg, and taken prisoner, lying four days on the field without any attention. His leg was amputated by a surgeon of the U. S. Army, who was also a prisoner. After twelve days he was paroled and sent through the lines, and was taken to the officers' hospital in Chattanooga, where he remained until sent to Nashville, Tenn., November 10, 1863. November 30 he received leave of absence for thirty days, to visit his wife and friends at Lafayette, Ind., when he returned and made application to be mustered in on his commission, which was granted by the War Department, and he was mustered November 21, 1864, to date from September 9, 1863. He was then ordered to report to Major A. W. Gazzona, commanding the Veteran Reserve Corps at Nashville, Tenn. Was detailed for duty with detachment of the 148th and 151st companies of the Second Battalion of the Veteran Reserve Corps, at general hospital No. 19, on the 12th of January, 1865. He was released and ordered to report to Captain J. H. Meyer, at the Cumberland Hospital, January 18, 1865. He assumed command of the 154th company of the Second Battalion of the Veteran Reserve Coprs, and in addition had command of the 152nd company of the same battalion. May 31, 1865, he was released from duty from the hospital, and assigned to duty as acting assistant quartermaster and acting assistant commissary of subsistence of the Veteran Reserve Corps. June 27, 1865, he also assumed the duties of acting assistant adjutant of the corps. He served on general court martial duty for some time, and continued in his duties for the Veteran Reserve Corps until the close of the war. December 11, 1865, he left Nashville and returned to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he was mustered out January 10, 1866. He is deserving of special mention and the commendation of all true patriots, for the active part he took in quelling the Rebellion. Mrs. Baker also is to be complimented as a woman who shared the hardships of camp life with her husband. With two children she accompanied him to Fort Laramie. At this place was born their third child, November 24, 1862, a son whom they named Robert Laramie, in honor of the birthplace. When her husband was sent to Nashville she left him at St. Louis and went to her parents in Indiana; remained about one year; while there Robert Laramie died, his sickness beginning the evening of his father's return on leave of absence, after being wounded, and his death occurred six weeks later, February 12, 1864, when Mrs. B. went South with her husband; was an eye-witness to the battle of Nashville and remained with him to the close of the war. Her two oldest children were born in Sumner, Kansas - Addie L., March 12, 1859; Solon Byrd, September 8, 1860. The others were all born in Atchison - Mary Eldora, April 4, 1867; Edwin M., February 5, 1869; Eva Hortense, January 24, 1870; David H., January 30, 1873; Estella, July 13, 1876; Ruth, March 30, 1878, and Blanche, born January 28, 1881. Addie L. married December 15, 1880, to William Carlyle, one of Atchison's well known business men. At the close of the war Lieutenant Baker returned to Kansas, locating in Atchison. He entered the drug business with Dr. Horn, but lost his whole stock by fire in 1868. At present he is engaged in the grocery trade, in connection with a meat market, and doing a thriving business. Mr. B. is a member of the Methodist Church. Politically, he is a strong Republican, and in 1871 was elected by that party to the office of County Treasurer, discharging the duties creditably to himself and the satisfaction of his constituents. He was a prominent candidate for the following term, but was defeated by a small majority. He was also a candidate in 1874 for State Treasurer, but finally withdrew in favor of one of the opponents. Since that time he has been leading a quiet life, the surroundings of his home and happy family indicating comfort and prosperity.(Source-William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas Atchinson, KS
LIEUTENANT DAVID BAKER. One who has figured conspicuously in the growth and development of the Western country is David Baker. He is a native of Indiana and was born in Tippecanoe County, July 7, 1833, near the town of Dayton. He is the son of William and Hannah Baker, the former being of English extraction. The first of the family to come to America was Thomas Baker, a Colonel in the English army, who resigned from that position to come to the colonies, settling on Long island, while it was yet in possession of the Dutch. William Baker was born in New jersey, and emigrated to Ohio, settling in Buter County, in 1807. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. In 1827 he moved to Indiana, being among the pioneers of Tippecanoe County. There he opened a farm in the timber, and endured the hardships and privation subsequent to the first settlement of a new country. He was a man closely associated with religion, and class leader in the United Brethren Church, and his house, for a number of years, was used to hold services in. His death occurred February 19, 1844. He was married twice. By his first wife he had six children. One son - Robert, lived in Dayton, Ind. The other - Thomas, is proprietor of the Grand Hotel in Indianapolis. Mary Ann was married to Moses Graft, a prosperous farmer. Had a large family. Rachel married a well known physician - Dr. D. H. Crouse, of Dayton, and is now deceased. Two of her children are living, one of whom is Rev. M. V. Crouse, an able clergyman of the Presbyterian Church, of Franklin, Ohio. The other two children of William Baker died when they were young. His second marriage was with Hannah Moore, a native of this country, but of Irish parentage. William Moore was in the war of 1812, and in General Hill's surrender, and then paroled, but in a short time returned to the army, and fought until the close of the war. Hannah Moore Baker was the mother of six children, three of her sons being farmers - Abner in Kansas, Josiah in Illinois, and Samuel in Indiana. The youngest - George W., died in infancy. Her only daughter - Martha Jane, married Dr. J. A. Wood, who, for a number of years, was a resident of Atchison County, Kansas, but since the war has been a resident of Monticello, Ind., at which place he died in 1878, leaving a family of five children. Mrs. Baker, after the death of her husband, married Henry Goble, and removed to Clinton County, Ind. She was a pious woman, and a faithful adherent to the United Brethren church. Her death occurred in 1851, in the full triumph of her faith. Her last words were: "Glory! Glory!" As she opened her eyes once more, to behold her son David, for whom she had seemed to be waiting for hours just at the door of death, then she sank peacefully away. The education of David baker and his brothers was limited, owing to the poor school facilities in Indiana at that early day. His chief amusement while pursuing the routine of the farmer boy, was that of hunting and fishing. When fourteen years of age, he went to Dayton to learn the carpenters' trade with his brother Robert, serving an apprenticeship of three years, when he followed the trade for about the same length of time in Lafayette, Ind. On the 4th of June, 1855, he married Margaret J. Alexander. She lived only until the following year, June 20th, when her death occurred, leaving one infant daughter - Alfaretta Jane, who died a few months later. She was a religious and educated lady, fond of literature, and an admirer of poetry. A few months after this, Mr. Baker came to Kansas, arriving in Atchison County September 19, 1857. He purchased a share in the Sumnertown Company, and pre-empted 160 acres of land near Lancaster, ten miles west of Atchison. He left Kansas December 5, in company with thirteen others, in a skiff, and rowed to Jefferson City, where they took the cars, he returning to Indiana. The 9th of March, 1858, he married Rebecca Foresman, daughter of John Foresman, a pioneer of Indiana. Returned to Kansas with his wife, arriving at Sumner April 29. There he worked at his trade two years. In 1858-59 was township collector and treasurer, and in 1859-60 was marshal of the town of Sumner, an unenviable position at that day, owing to the border element, and Mr. Baker had in many instances some of the most noted outlaws to deal with. Being a Free-state man he took an active part in the affairs of the time, and was a delegate to the first Republican County Convention. His life is replete with incidents too numerous to mention, but A. D. Richardson, the author of "Beyond the Mississippi," who was a personal friend of his, has pictured the scenes of those times to perfection. In 1861, he began to open his farm, but as the war of the Rebellion was fully upon us, he entered the military service. He was mustered into the volunteer service as a private soldier, in Company G, Eighth Kansas Infantry, November 11, 1861, and on the 14th was ordered to Lawrence for drill. While there, November 21, 1861, was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant of the company. From December 20, 1861, until January 16, 1862, the regiment was guarding the border. Three companies, A, D and G, were ordered to Fort Kearney, where they arrived on March 12, and remained until April 15, when Company G was detached, and sent to Scott's Bluff, on the overland mail route, to quell Indian troubles. On May 28, the company was ordered to Fort Laramie, where they remained on garrison duty until January 15, 1863, when they were ordered to join the regiment at Nashville, Tenn, marching from Fort Laramie to Leavenworth, thence by rail and water to Nashville. They assisted the regiment on provost duty in the city until June 7, 1863, when all the companies were ordered to Murfreesboro, Tenn., where the regiment was assigned to Third Brigade of the First Divison, Twentieth Army Corps, and on June 24 marched under General Rosecrans to Tullahoma, then to Winchester and Stephenson, Ala., and across the river to skirmish with the enemy. While at Winchester, July 25, 1863, Mr. Baker was commissioned Second Lieutenant of Company G, but as it was then below the minimum number, he was not mustered on his commission, and on September 9 received a commission as First Lieutenant, but was again not mustered, as the army was on the move, but acted as First Lieutenant in his company, and on September 19, 1863, was engaged in the battle of Chichamauga, where he was severely wounded in the left leg, and taken prisoner, lying four days on the field without any attention. His leg was amputated by a surgeon of the U. S. Army, who was also a prisoner. After twelve days he was paroled and sent through the lines, and was taken to the officers' hospital in Chattanooga, where he remained until sent to Nashville, Tenn., November 10, 1863. November 30 he received leave of absence for thirty days, to visit his wife and friends at Lafayette, Ind., when he returned and made application to be mustered in on his commission, which was granted by the War Department, and he was mustered November 21, 1864, to date from September 9, 1863. He was then ordered to report to Major A. W. Gazzona, commanding the Veteran Reserve Corps at Nashville, Tenn. Was detailed for duty with detachment of the 148th and 151st companies of the Second Battalion of the Veteran Reserve Corps, at general hospital No. 19, on the 12th of January, 1865. He was released and ordered to report to Captain J. H. Meyer, at the Cumberland Hospital, January 18, 1865. He assumed command of the 154th company of the Second Battalion of the Veteran Reserve Coprs, and in addition had command of the 152nd company of the same battalion. May 31, 1865, he was released from duty from the hospital, and assigned to duty as acting assistant quartermaster and acting assistant commissary of subsistence of the Veteran Reserve Corps. June 27, 1865, he also assumed the duties of acting assistant adjutant of the corps. He served on general court martial duty for some time, and continued in his duties for the Veteran Reserve Corps until the close of the war. December 11, 1865, he left Nashville and returned to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he was mustered out January 10, 1866. He is deserving of special mention and the commendation of all true patriots, for the active part he took in quelling the Rebellion. Mrs. Baker also is to be complimented as a woman who shared the hardships of camp life with her husband. With two children she accompanied him to Fort Laramie. At this place was born their third child, November 24, 1862, a son whom they named Robert Laramie, in honor of the birthplace. When her husband was sent to Nashville she left him at St. Louis and went to her parents in Indiana; remained about one year; while there Robert Laramie died, his sickness beginning the evening of his father's return on leave of absence, after being wounded, and his death occurred six weeks later, February 12, 1864, when Mrs. B. went South with her husband; was an eye-witness to the battle of Nashville and remained with him to the close of the war. Her two oldest children were born in Sumner, Kansas - Addie L., March 12, 1859; Solon Byrd, September 8, 1860. The others were all born in Atchison - Mary Eldora, April 4, 1867; Edwin M., February 5, 1869; Eva Hortense, January 24, 1870; David H., January 30, 1873; Estella, July 13, 1876; Ruth, March 30, 1878, and Blanche, born January 28, 1881. Addie L. married December 15, 1880, to William Carlyle, one of Atchison's well known business men. At the close of the war Lieutenant Baker returned to Kansas, locating in Atchison. He entered the drug business with Dr. Horn, but lost his whole stock by fire in 1868. At present he is engaged in the grocery trade, in connection with a meat market, and doing a thriving business. Mr. B. is a member of the Methodist Church. Politically, he is a strong Republican, and in 1871 was elected by that party to the office of County Treasurer, discharging the duties creditably to himself and the satisfaction of his constituents. He was a prominent candidate for the following term, but was defeated by a small majority. He was also a candidate in 1874 for State Treasurer, but finally withdrew in favor of one of the opponents. Since that time he has been leading a quiet life, the surroundings of his home and happy family indicating comfort and prosperity.(Source-William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas Atchinson, KS
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