(revised 3-25-2014)

John Baker was one the sons of Andrew Baker & his wife Nancy Stephen (some sources spell this Stean) Baker. He was born & raised in Seneca Township in Monroe County, Ohio. He was a farmer, and his obituary stated he had been married twice (see below).

On February 14, 1884, he married Eleanor Martin. Census records indicate that John & Eleanor had at least 6 children:

~Charles Baker (1884 – )
~Frank Baker (1884 – )
~Martha P Baker (1886 – )
~Sarah E Baker (Meredith)(1887 – )
~Mollie M Baker (1889 – )
~Susan J Baker (1890 – )

On July 31, 1894, John married Lufenia Martin. Records show that he had at least 6 more children with his second wife:

~Frances Marie (aka Daisy) Baker (Haynes) (1894 – )
~Andrew Herman Baker (5/12/1897 – )
~John H Baker (8/11/1899 – )
~Lydia Jeanette Baker (Wagner (1902 – 1961)
~Lewis E Baker (1905 – )
~Wilson Baker (1907 – )

Note: Lufenia reported 5 children born & living in the 1900 census, suggesting the possibility that Mollie & Susan - born before this marriage - may have actually been HER children, but obituary of daughter Lydia does not support that. Also, Lydia's obituary lists a half sister Anna Sanford. This may be Susan

John Baker died at home on June 16, 1923 after a long illness, and is buried in Rake Cemetery in Washington County Ohio. His obituary names widow as Florence Baker, but also states he was married twice. The names of Eleanor Martin and Lufenia Martin are from Washington County marriage records, and are essentially supported (with some wild spelling variations) by census records. Lufenia is in the 1920 census record, so it would appear that either the obituary gives wrong name for his widow, or that he had a short, late marriage after the 1920 census and the informant was not aware of his first marriage to Eleanor. More research is needed to clarify this point.


MARIETTA TIMES, MONDAY EVENING, JUNE 18, 1923:

DEATH CLAIMS JOHN W. BAKER

John W. Baker, 69, well know farmer of the Cow Run district, died on Saturday afternoon at 4:44 o'clock at his home following a lingering illness. His condition had been critical for several days.

Mr. Baker was born in Monroe County on Aug. 15, 1853, and had been a farmer all his life. For many years he had been living on the farm at Cow Run. He was twice married. He was a member of the United Bretheren Church at Bear Run.

His widow, Mrs. Florence Baker, and eleven children survive: Frank Baker of Wade; Charles, at home; Mrs. Martha Athey, of Lebanon; Mrs. Sarah Meredith, of Reno; Mrs Mollie Bitton, of Wade; Mrs. Anna Sandford, of Reno; Mrs France Berga, of Newport; Herman Baker of Cambridge; Lydia, Louis and (Wil)son Baker, at home. Three brothers and one sister also survive, Henry Baker, of Sebring; Richard and Ha_mont Baker and Mrs. Sarah Stephens, all of Harriettsville.

Funeral services were held on Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the United Bretheren church at Bear Run. Burial was made in the Rake Cemetery.



Please Note: John W Baker was one of the children of my great great grandparents Andrew & Nancy Baker, but I have not thoroughly researched his life. If anyone has any additional proven information you would like added, please feel free to contact me.


SOURCES:
-US CENSUS RECORDS 1860-1920
`death certificate John Baker
-Washington County Ohio Marriage Records
-Ohio Deaths 1908-1932
-Ohio Births & Christenings index
-MARIETTA TIMES
-findagrave.com
-familysearch.org
-ancestry.com
-Obituary of Lydia Jeanette Baker Wagner