Robert Baker 1817-1905

BAKER, OWEN, CLAY, HOFFMAN, HOTCHKISS, BOOTON, OLIVER, SMITH

Posted By: Earl W. Hoffman (email)
Date: 3/7/2004 at 18:32:06

From the “Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon Counties, Iowa" 1889. W. S. Dunbar Company publisher.

ROBERT BAKER, farmer and stock raiser of Viola Township, is a native of England, born in Carlton Scrook (sic), August 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 education 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 (sic), the youngest of eleven children of Thomas and Mary (Clay) Ower (sic). 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 section 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; William, at home; Anna, wife of C. L. Hotchkiss; John T., married Minerva Hooton (sic); Sarah J., wife of John Oliver; James K., married Ella Hooton (sic); Nellie, wife of E. J. Smith. They have twenty-two grand-children. 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.

Transcribed from a photocopy of the original by Earl W. Hoffman, 14 January 2001.

Notes:
-Scrook is Scroop
-Ower is Owen
-Hooton is Booton