-- -- -- -- --

Mary Elizabeth (George) Baker, wife of Alanson Baker, Sr.
.
[Photo posted by Cathy Porter-Maynard].

-- -- -- -- --

PIONEER'S FATHER OWNED 100 SLAVES
ABANDONED FARM AT HINTON ON ACCOUNT OF INDIANS

Death has claimed Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Baker of Akron, 79 year old pioneer resident of Sioux City and Covington.

Born at Fayetteville, Tenn., Dec. 25, 1846, the deceased, whose maiden name was Miss Mary Elizabeth George, was next to the youngest in a family of 11 children, both her parents dying when she was 3 years old, after which she made her home with missionary.

Although she was born in a slave community and her grandfather owned more than 100 slaves, Mrs. Baker was reared as a unionist through the teachings of Rev. Martin. In 1852 Rev. Martin started from Tennessee with his adopted daughter to Colorado to engage in missionary work, but was halted at Ft. Leavenworth by U.S. soldiers because an Indian uprising was in progress on the plains. For four years he remained at Ft. Leavenworth, championing the gospel of the slaves, until he aroused so much feeling that a mob forced him to depart.

The family started north, not knowing where they would go, and after a trip up the Missouri river they landed in Sioux City in June, 1856. At that time Sioux City consisted of six houses and a number of tents.

Ager abandoning a homestead at the present site of Hinton because of the danger of Indians, Rev. Martin made his home at Dakota City, Neb., and engaged in missionary work in Iowa, Nebraska and what was then Dakota Territory.

When she was 16 years old Mrs. Baker spent a year at Twin Lakes with her brother-in-law, who ran the stage from Ft. Dodge. Until this time she had been able to attend school for only six months, but the next year she passed the examinations as teacher of the Covington, Neb., school. For 10 years she taught the school at Covington (now south Sioux City).

On Nov. 28, 1876 she was married to Alanson Baker a farmer residing near Akron, who died 15 years ago. The couple built a house at Akron where Mrs. Baker resided until the time of her death.

Surviving are: three children, Mrs. Sarah B. Talbott and Alanson Baker, of Akron, and Mrs. M Avis Lockie, of Sioux City, and seven grandchildren.

[Source: Le Mars Globe-Post; Le Mars, Plymouth County, Iowa, USA; Thursday, August 26, 1926; Volume 44, Number 68, Page 9]