Woodbury County >> 1904 Index

Past and present of Sioux City and Woodbury County, Iowa
Hon. Constant R. Marks, associate editor. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1904.

B

Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.

HENRY BAKER, living on section 35, Rutland township, is a prosperous agriculturist, who for more than a third of a century has been a resident of Woodbury county and is now the owner of a farm of two hundred and forty acres, which, with its excellent improvements, is proof of his life of industry and thrift. He is one of Iowa's native sons, his birth having occurred in Jackson county. His father, Andrew Baker, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Bedford county in 1825 and in 1833 he accompanied his parents on their removal to Ohio, the family home being established there in a pioneer community. Thus Andrew Baker was reared amid the wild scenes of frontier life and when a young lad went to Indiana, again becoming connected with a pioneer settlement. He was married to Miss Harriet Roush, a native of Ohio, and engaged in farming in Indiana for a few years, after which he came to Iowa, settling in Jackson county. The year 1870 witnessed his removal to Woodbury county, where he purchased a homestead claim, which had been entered by the man who sold it to him. This claim he proved up and received a government patent for the land. He built thereon a dwelling, a barn and other necessary buildings, planted a grove of maples and cottonwood trees, also set out an orchard and continued general agricultural pursuits there with excellent success up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 8th of November, 1894. His wife passed away only a few days later and both were laid to rest in Rock Branch cemetery, where a substantial monument marks the place of their interment. In the family were seven children: Martha, the wife of Andrew Ferguson, of Woodbury county; Lorenzo, also of this county; Edward, who is living in Whitman county, Washington; John, a resident farmer of Woodbury county; Myra E., the wife of William Short, of Rutland township; Henry, of this review; and Andrew J., who is living in Jackson county, Iowa.

Henry Baker was largely reared in Woodbury county and the common schools afforded him his early educational privileges. Later he attended Dexter College for one term. Both prior to this time and afterward he engaged in teaching and he followed the profession for two years. He then took charge of the home farm, was administrator and settled up the estate, and, purchasing the interest of the other heirs, he now owns two hundred and forty acres of land in the home place and also a tract of eighty acres in Wolf Creek township. He is engaged in raising graded stock, buying and selling stock and carrying on quite an extensive business in this direction. He has now a pair of stock scales on his farm for his own use. He sells most of his farm products to the home market and in this way he annually gains a good financial return for his labor.

Politically Mr. Baker is a Republican upon questions of state and national importance, but at local elections votes independently. He has served as commissioner of highways for five years and has been a member of the school board, the cause of education finding in him a warm friend. He was appointed administrator by the court and has served in that capacity in connection with three different estates. He is an excellent business man, careful and farsighted, reliable and energetic. Socially he is connected with Rock Branch Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America.