Robert Baker

BAKER, OWER, CLAY, HOFFMAN, HOTCHKISS, HOOTON, OLIVER, SMITH

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 5/13/2009 at 11:25:45

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

page 795

ROBERT BAKER, farmer and stock-
raiser of Viola Township, is a native of
England, born in Carlton Scrook, Au-
gust 3, 1817. He is the eldest son of Charles
and Mary Baker. His father was a tamer
and breaker of horses, Robert Baker was
reared to the life of a farmer, but his educa-
tion was entirely neglected, as he was never
sent to school. He worked by the year until
his marriage, which occurred May 20, 1844,
to Eliza Ower, the youngest of eleven chil-
dren of Thomas and Mary (Clay) Ower. In
1851 Mr. Baker and his family emigrated
from England to America, landing in the city
of New York. From that city they went to
Davenport, Iowa, making part of the journey
by the lakes, and the rest by teams. They
located and bought property in Davenport,
and Mr. Baker cultivated a farm in Scott
County. In 1870 the Baker family came to
Audubon County, Iowa, and settled on sec-
tion 16, Melville Township, and the following
year he removed to his present farm, which
contains 280 acres of fine land, well improved.
He is extensively engaged in feeding stock,
making large shipments annually. Mr. and
Mrs. Baker are the parents of seven children
-- Mary J., wife of Charles Hoffman; Will-
iam, at home; Anna, wife of C. L. Hotch-
kiss; John T., married Minerva Hooton;
Sarah J., wife of John Oliver; James K.,
married Ella Hooton; Nellie, wife of E. J.
Smith. They have twenty-two grandchil-
dren. When Mr. Baker moved from Rock
Island to Davenport he had but 75 cents in
money, a wife and three children; but his
energy, industry and good management have
brought their reward. He has accumulated
a handsome competency for himself and wife
in their declining years. They are both hale
and hearty and active in mind and body, the
hardships they endured in the infancy of the
county seeming to give strength and vigor to
both.