Baker, Lyman M.

BAKER, RUSSELL, GOODRICH, PHELPS, STEARNS, GUTHRIDGE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/11/2009 at 09:04:57

Lyman M. Baker, Trustee of Newton Township, is one of the heroes of the Civil War, to whose valor we owe the preservation of the Union and the liberty of all its people. He came to Iowa in 1868 and purchased the farm where he now lives, and where he has since engaged in general farming. During the entire period of his residence in Jasper County he has been closely identified with its progress, and has contributed his quota to its development.

In Moscow, Somerset County, on the Kennebec River, Me., the subject of this sketch was born March 24, 1837, being a son of Allen and Lucy (Russell) Baker. The paternal grandfather, Reuben Baker, was born in Massachusetts in 1770, and was the son of Barnabas Baker, whose birth occurred at Yarmouth, Mass., February 23, 1734. The family was represented in America at an early period in the history of this country, for we find that Francis Baker came from England in the "Planter" in 1635. He was born at St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England, in the year 1611, and settled at Yarmouth, Mass. He was the great-grand- father of Barnabas, who was the great-grandfather of our subject.

This Barnabas Baker was a Tory during Colonial days, and when the war for independence was being waged, he still adhered to his Tory principles, on which account he found it convenient to go to Nova Scotia. When peace was declared, he returned to the States and settled at Litchfield, Me., where he died. The father of our subject, Allen Baker, was born in Litchfield in 1795, and was the eldest of four brothers. A farmer by occupation, he followed that vocation until his death, which occurred in the state where he was born. His wife bore the maiden name of Lucy Russell, and was of old Revolutionary stock and of English ancestry. Her father, Joseph Russell, was born at Lexington, Mass. December 6, 1763, and was the son of Ephraim, likewise a native of the Bay State.

When a boy in his teens, Joseph Russell was one day in the field driving the oxen for his father, when they heard the sound of musketry at Lexington, a short distance away. The father said to Joseph, "The devil is to pay in Lexington. You put out the oxen, I am going to town." Joseph had brothers as follows: Ephraim, Luther, Solomon and Calvin. Solomon did valiant service in the Revolutionary War from the firing of the first gun until the conflict was ended, when he was honorably discharged with a Lieutenant's commission. Calvin also served throughout the entire war, while Joseph, who was a mere boy at the breaking out of the war, enlisted later, and did good service for the independence of his country.

After the war ended, Joseph Russell married Betsey Goodrich, who was born in Fitchburg, Mass., and was one in a family of nine children. Her father, Joshua Goodrich, who was also a Revolutionary soldier, was born August 10, 1746, and married Elizabeth Phelps, December 28, 1769. His grandfather's name was also Joshua Goodrich. He was born February 7, 1708, and married Miss Lydia, daughter of John Stearns, their union resulting in the birth of nine children. The ancestry is still further traced back to Philip Goodrich, who was born November 23, 1669, and died January 16, 1729. He was a Deacon in the Congregational Church. He was the son of Jeremiah Goodrich, who was born March 6, 1638, being the son of William Goodrich, the original emigrant to the New World, and a native of Suffolk County, England. The year of his arrival in America was 1636. The family name has since undergone some changes, for we find that it was originally spelled Guthridge. William Goodrich settled at Mt. Auburn, Mass., and had a family of four children, of whom Jeremiah was the second.

Thus briefly we have traced the genealogy of the Baker and Goodrich families through the different generations for nearly three centuries. The subject of this sketch is one of a family consisting of six sons and three daughters, all of whom reached years of maturity with the exception of two. Horatio Bardwell enlisted during the Civil War in a Maine regiment, and was severely wounded during his active service. He is now living near the old homestead in Maine. Levi G., another brother of our subject, became a member of the Ninety-third Illinois Infantry from Neponset, Ill., and was killed at the battle of Champion Hills, May 16, 1863.

In his youth Lyman Baker had the advantages of an academic education, and taught school in Maine for a time. In the spring of 1860 he came west to Illinois, and taught school in Neponset. On the 20th of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Ninety-third Illinois Infantry, and with his regiment took part in the battle of Jackson, May 14, 1863; the battle of Champion Hills, May 16, 1863 (in which his brother Levi G. was shot dead at his side); and was also present at the siege of Vicksburg, where he was constantly under fire. For meritorious conduct there, he was promoted to Sergeant, and while officiating in that capacity took part in the battle of Missionary Ridge and Altoona Pass, October 5, 1864.

This was the young Sergeant's last engagement, for soon afterward, not far from Altoona Pass, he was taken prisoner while conveying supplies to the Quartermaster at Atlanta. This was on the 18th of October. After being held in different places for a time, he was sent to Andersonville, where he was confined until March 28, 1865, and then was sent to Jacksonville, Fla. There he was liberated April 18, 1865, and at Springfield, on the 23d of July following, was honorably discharged. After the close of the war, he returned to Neponset, Ill., where he engaged in farming until 1868. He then came to Iowa and purchased the farm where he now lives.

In January, 1867, Mr. Baker was united in marriage with Miss Mary W. Goodrich, who was born in Moscow, Me., in 1839, being a daughter of Levi G. Goodrich, and a descendant in direct line of the Goodrich family whose genealogy is given above. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have had six children, three of whom died in childhood. Austin A., now a student at Cedar Falls, Iowa, is preparing himself for the profession of a teacher; and the others are Jay L. and Eva M.

In politics, Mr. Baker has always been a Republican. His father was a Whig and an advocate of the abolition of human slavery. As above stated, Mr. Baker is serving as Township Trustee, and he has occupied other positions of trust. Socially, he affiliates with the Grand Army of the Republic, and is a charter member of the post at Neponset, Ill., one of the first organized in the United States. In religious connections, he and his wife and family are identified with the Congregational Church. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper,
Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 486.