California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


WESTWOOD JAMES BAKER, owner of Tahlequah, on Ventura avenue, four miles east of Fresno, was 
born in Courtland, Ala., February 25, 1849, a son °f Joseph Baker, of English descent and a native of 
Wiscasset, Me. The latter was an attorney in Courtland and served as district attorney for several 
years. Fraternally he was a Knight Templar Mason. He died in 1880. His wife, A. A. James, was born in 
Alabama, a daughter of Westwood Wallace James, who was born in old Virginia, a direct descendant of 
Sir William Wallace, of Scotland. He was a planter in Alabama. Mrs. Baker resides at the old place. W. J. 
Baker had two uncles, Edward C. and Westwood James, who were prominent physicians in Alabama 
and were surgeons in the Confederate army. 

After receiving his preliminary education, W. J. Baker began the study of medicine with his uncles, 
then entered the University of Pennsylvania, medical department, from which he was graduated in 
1873 and at once engaged in practice in Courtland, Ala. In 1876 he located in Greenback, Ark., where 
he purchased a large plantation of two thousand acres on the Arkansas river. He superintended the 
work of the cotton plantation and practiced his profession until 1889, when he retired from practice 
and located in Fresno, Cal. He purchased his present place of one hundred acres, which he improved, 
and now has a valuable vineyard and orchard, a comfortable residence and well appointed grounds, 
his driveway being bordered with palms and umbrella trees. Dr. Baker still owns large interests in 
Arkansas. Mrs. Baker, formerly Alice Cary Cooke, was born at Riverside, the country place of her 
father, Dr. Stephen Cooke, thirty miles from Louisville, Ky. Dr. Cooke graduated from Louisville Medical 
College, practicing in Kentucky, and later in Arkansas. His father, Dr. John Esten Cooke, a native of 
Virginia, was professor in the Louisville Medical College and built the country place Riverside. He 
married Miss Sallie Newsom Cary of Virginia, whose ancestry dates to heroes in the Revolutionary war. 
Mrs. Baker is a cousin of John Esten Cooke, the author. The Estens are of English descent, and one of 
the forefathers was governor of the Bermudas. By a former marriage Dr. Baker has one son, Joseph 
Westwood Baker. Mrs. Baker is a member of the Episcopal Church. The doctor has taken an active part 
in politics, having served as chairman of the Democratic county central committee. He was made a 
Alason in Courtland, Ala., and now belongs to Fresno Lodge No. 247, F. & A. M., was raised to the Royal 
Arch Chapter in Courtland and is now a member of Trigo Chapter No. 69, R. A. M. At Pine Bluff, Ark., he 
joined the Knights Templar, and now holds membership with Fresno Commandery No. 29, K. T. He is 
also a member of Fresno Lodge of Perfection and Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of San Francisco. In 
the line of his profession he is a member of the San Joaquin Valley Medical Association. 

Since becoming a resident of Fresno county Dr. Baker has closely allied himself with all movements 
that have had for their object the advancement of the social, moral and commercial prestige of the 
county, and among the people who have come in contact with him in any capacity, all unite in 
according him a permanent position among representative citizens of the San Joaquin valley.