Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


FRANCIS BAKER 
 
was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, October 28, 1828.  His paternal 
ancestors for several generations were natives of Massachusetts. His mother, a 
Greene, traced her ancestry back to Dr. John Greene, of Salisbury, England, who 
came to America in 1736, and who, in company with Roger Williams, bought Rhode 
Island from Miantonomi, the Indian chief; and who founded the town of Warwick in 
that State. General Nathaniel Greene, of the Revolution, was a descendant of 
this same Dr. John Greene. Frank, the subject of this sketch, when at the age of 
sixteen, went on a whaling voyage to the Indian Ocean. On his return, in 1849, 
he shipped round Cape Horn for California, arriving in San Francisco in 
September of that year. He went to the mines on the Stanislaus and worked 
awhile. He came to Los Angeles in September of the following year. His life 
during his residence here of nearly thirty-eight years has been a stirring one, 
and would prove very interesting if recounted in detail. As under-sheriff, etc., 
in early times, he came in contact with some pretty rough characters. Being a 
man of unflinching nerve, he was always a most valuable officer. In 1857 he was 
a deputy of Sheriff Getman, and shot down the desperado, Reed, who killed Getman 
January 8, 1858, at the foot of Negro alley. In the encounter, Baker had five 
holes made in his clothes by Reed's shots before the latter was killed. From 
1868 to 1870 he was a deputy under City Marshal William C. Warren, who was 
killed by Joe Dye, in November of the latter year; and in the succeeding 
December election he was elected city marshal and tax collector for the two 
following years. In 1855 Mr. Baker clerked awhile with N. A. Potter, who had the 
first regular hardware store here. Mr. Potter, who was for many years one of Los 
Angeles' best and most influential citizens, was a native of Pawtucket, Rhode 
Island. He came to Los Angeles in 1855, bringing with him a stock of goods, and 
commenced business, first in a frame building on Los Angeles street, where 
Mesnager & Co.'s liquor store now is. In 1857 he bought and moved into a 
two-story brick store on Main street, adjoining the Lafayette Hotel, and on the 
site of S. Meyer's crockery store. Mr. Potter died in the '60s, leaving one son, 
Oscar M., his wife having died before him. At first Louis Jazynsky was a partner 
of Mr. Potter's. Later they dissolved, and each carried on business separately. 
In 1861 Baker clerked with V. Beaudry, sutler of the two companies of dragoons 
stationed in Los Angeles, of which Captain, afterward General, Davidson ("Black 
Jack") was commander, and Captain, afterward General, Hancock was Quartermaster. 
 In 1871 Mr. Baker married Hannah K. Ryals, who died in May, 1887. Mr. Baker is 
still a resident of this city.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, Page 392
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler