My Genealogy Hound

Hon. James Baker. Among the farmers of Cole County, Mo., who have become prominent in their calling may be mentioned Mr. Baker, who was born on “Blue Grass” soil in 1844. His father, James Baker, was a farmer of Kentucky, and came to Missouri in 1860, settling in Jefferson City, where he resided until his death in 1871. His wife, whose maiden name was Matilda Berry, was a daughter of one of the earliest settlers of Cole County. James Baker is the eldest of six children, three of whom are living, and was an attendant of the schools of Kentucky until thirteen years of age, but only attended school a short time after coming to Missouri. In 1865 he concluded to seek his fortune farther west and went up the Missouri River to Leavenworth, Kan., where he was engaged by a freighting company to drive a team to Salt Lake City, but at Fort Halleck they encountered so much snow that the expedition was blockaded until spring. They had endured so many hardships that Mr. Baker left the train at this place and went east in Colorado to the Cachelapoudre River, where he preempted a claim and was engaged in farming for one year. In the latter part of 1866 he entered the United States service as a teamster and remained in the government employ till December, 1868, participating on the 22nd of that month and year in the Fort Kearney massacre, where every soldier was killed and only the teamsters escaped. December 26 he started for home, making the journey in a short time on the new railroad which had been built, and in February of the following year engaged in teaching school in Cole County, purchasing the same year a farm of 120 acres in Saline Township, Miller Co. He has followed both occupations quite successfully up to the present time, and in the meantime has made many improvements on his property, rendering it one of the pleasantest homes in the county. He is well posted on the political affairs of the day, and has aided in many ways the success of the Republican party. In 1879 he was elected county school commissioner, serving two years, and in 1886 received the nomination of the Republican party and was elected to the State Legislature, being re-elected in 1888 by a largely increased majority. During his service he was the author of several local bills that were highly beneficial to his constituents. He belongs to the I. O. O. F., Mt. Pleasant Lodge, and is also a member of the Agricultural Wheel. In November, 1869, he was united in marriage to Miss Isabel Sullens, a native of Miller County, and a daughter of John Sullens, one of the early settlers of the county, now residing near Spring Garden. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are members of the Christian Church, and their union has been blessed in the birth of five children: Minnie, a school teacher, who is now attending school at Spring Garden; Oscar and Mertie; Nettie died October 15, 1875, and Delia April 13, 1881.