Keosauqua Republican Newspaper obituary, 5 December 1912

Mrs. Lucia Baker

Mrs. Lucia (Finney) Baker was born May 8, 1815, in Mahupony County, New York. There her childhood was spent, there she married at the age of 15, in 1830, to Mr. Benj. Baker. About 1835 they moved westward to Penn. Here her children were born, John, Jane, Lucy, Joel, George and James. About 1844 they moved still farther westward to Jackson county, Ohio, near Jackson. There two more children were born, each dying in infancy; there also her husband died in 1869. After his death she lived for a time with her sons John and Joel. Meanwhile some of her children had immigrated to this part of Iowa. She now joined them and made her home with Dr. George Baker, who practiced medicine in this section about 30 years. For a short time she lived in Missouri, where Dr. Baker died, returning to Iowa in May, 1910. While residing in Missouri she lost three children and had a severe attack of pneumonia, which left her weak in body and mind, and she remained thus until death called her hence. After her return to Iowa she lived for a short season with Mrs. Geo. Baker. Relatives and friends thought she could be cared for better at the County Home and here she spent her remaining days of earthly life. The direct cause of her death was due to a fall in her room, but no one was present. At the time of her death, November 21, 1912, she was 97 years, 6 months and 13 days old. She gave her life to the Christ when about 12 years old, and was buried with her Lord in baptism. She held to the Bible to be her only creed for her hope of eternal life. She knew much Scripture by heart and was ever ready to give a reason for her hope in and through Christ. Two sons, John in Ohio and Joel in Nebraska, besides numerous grandchildren mourn their loss. Robert Wittchen, minister of the Christian church at Eldon, Iowa, conducted the funeral at the home of Mrs. Geo. Baker, Selma, Iowa, Nov. 23, 1912.