California Biographies Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919) History By Paul E. Vandor Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919 Notes: Missing+page1185-1186 Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm A. A. BAKER. � A man who has had much to do with oil development in the Coalinga field is A. A. Baker, who is descended from an old English family, one of the original ancestors of which, Sir Richard Baker, came to America and was attracted at once to the home of William Penn, whose ac- tivities were directed to maintaining peace, and Sir Richard being a member of the Society of Friends allied himself with them. The father of A. A. Baker, Reuben Baker, was a millwright, and enlisted in the Civil War in a Pennsyl- vania Regiment. In 1876 he came to Shasta County, Cal., farming six miles south of Reading, and then to the Sierra Lumber Company in corners of Te- hama and Butte counties. In 1902 he went to the Los Angeles oil fields and engaged in contracting and drilling, remaining there until he retired to his present home near Sanger. The mother was Mary E. Strode, born in Penn- sylvania of Scotch descent, a member of the Society of Friends. There were six children, five of whom are living: Margaret, Mrs. Anglin, of Hanford ; Aaron Alphonso ; Sarah, died in infancy ; R. C, of Coalinga ; Jas. E., Super- intendent Coalinga Petroleum; Minnie, Mrs. Albaugh, of Shasta County. A. A. Baker was born near Kenneth Square, Chester County, Pa., De- cember 10, 1867, and his youthful days were spent in the public schools there, but in 1876 he came to California and continued his education in the public schools in Shasta ; he took up bookkeeping, and became bookkeeper for the Hollenbeak store at Pittville, Shasta County, until the death of the proprietor. He then bought the store and conducted it under the name of A. A. Baker from 1898 until 1904, when he sold and located in Coalinga. Here he asso- ciated himself with his father and brothers R. C. and J. E., and leased eighty acres of land in 23-20-14, and sunk the first producing well at less than eight hundred feet. The company was called the Coalinga Western, and later was consolidated with St. Paul-Fresno which company also controlled eighty acres, making 160 acres' by the consolidation � the company name was St. Consolidated � and A. A. Baker was superintendent from the founding of the original Coalinga Western. He was one of the organizers of Coalinga Petro- leum Company with his brothers and two others, and developed eighty acres in Section 14-20-14. of which his brother, J. E., is the superintendent. Mr. Baker was married in Fall River, Shasta County, to Bertha L. Neat, a native of Tehama County, Cal. They have four children: Mary, Aaron, Harland and Ruth. Mr. Baker is a member of Fall River Lodge No. 304, I. O. O. F., and is a Past Grand and has been Representative to the Grand Lodge; with his wife is a member of the Rebekahs. For many years he was a school trustee of Claremont District, Fresno County, and a part of this time was clerk. He is. a member of the Society of Friends, and in politics a strong Republican.