California Biographies 

Source:
History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California
by: C M Gidney - Santa Barbara. Benjamin Brooks - San Luis Obispo. 
Edwin M Sheridan - Ventura
Volumes II - Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, ILL., 1917

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

A. JACK BAKER during his long residence in Southern California has prosecuted his business affairs with 
such wisdom and discretion as to be able to enjoy the comforts of retirement at Santa Paula, where he 
is one of the best known and most public spirited citizens.

His father, the late William Baker, was one of the pioneers of California. Born in Tennessee, he 
afterwards removed to Dallas, Texas, and from that city brought his family in 1866 across the plains to 
the State of California. He was engaged in ranching near Downie City until his death in 1869. He was 
married in Dallas, Texas, to Miss Annie Cole, and they became the parents of six children.  
 
A. Jack Baker was born in Dallas, Texas, April 17, 1863, and was three years of age when brought across 
the plains to California. He attended public schools in Downie City until 1871, in which year his widowed 
mother removed to Ventura County and settled on a ranch in Wheeler's Canyon. The public schools of 
that locality furnished him the rest of his education. In 1877 Mr. Baker left home and went to Clickitat 
County in what was then Washington Territory and spent six months as a cowboy. Boarding a steamer, 
he came to San Diego County, California, and was there employed on a stock ranch for about a year. 
After that Santa Anna, California, was his headquarters for four years, and among other things that 
engaged his attention he put in much of the time as a professional foot racer. He ran races all over 
Southern California, and for a number of years held the championship of this section of the state. He 
has always been fond of athletics and outdoor sports and in his later and more mature years has lost 
none of the keen interest which he once had, though he is no longer a participant.

On coming to Santa Paula Mr. Baker spent three years on Jack Rehart's ranch, after that was with the 
Union Oil Company in the drilling of wells near Santa Paula for two years, then became manager of the 
Hardison Horse and Cattle Ranch near that town for another two years, and on resigning his position 
rented 200 acres of the Del Norte Ranch. That land he conducted as a general farm for ten years, and 
made a success of it. For the following six years he was in the real estate business at Santa Paula, and 
since then has been mainly retired from business affairs, his chief responsibility at present being as 
constable of Santa Paula.  
 
Mr. Baker is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is a member of the Citizen's Club, is 
independent in politics, and is a director in the Santa Paula Building and Loan Association.

In Santa Paula September 12, 1884, he married Miss Sina Snuffin, a native of California and daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. L. S. Snuffin, and they are the parents of three children. Starling, now thirty years of age, 
is employed as an oil pumper in Santa Paula; Mrs. Stella Harwood lives in Ventura County; and Marion, 
aged nineteen, is a miner in Plumas County, California.