John S. Baker (1936)

BAKER, KELSO, MCADOO, MOORE, WILSON

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart
Date: 7/26/2006 at 20:25:02

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, December 10, 1936

JOHN S. BAKER, 73 Dies Of Exposure

John S. Baker, 73 year old, widely known Winterset auctioneer, died at the Winterset hospital, Tuesday morning from the effects of freezing and exposure suffered during the severe cold of early Sunday morning.

Mr. Baker left the Winterset square about midnight Saturday night to go to his home on West Court avenue. He evidenly became exhausted in the storm, and was found at 6 o'clock the next morning by J. A. Ramsey, in front of the latter's residence, which is just next door to his home. He was taken to the hospital here, but failed to survive the exposure in the 5 degree below zero weather.

Mr. Baker was born near Peru, the son of Daniel and Fannie Moore Baker. He made his home near Peru for the first 25 years of his life. As a young man he taught school for three years in Madison county and one year in Nebraska. He also lived in Lorimor.

In 1887 he was married to Mary Wilson. They later moved to Winterset, where they made their home for many years. Their last home was in Des Moines, where they lived eight years. Mrs. Baker died three years ago, and he returned to Winterset to make his home with relatives.

He was the father of four children, two of whom died early in life. He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Nada Kelso of Des Moines and Mrs. Dorothy McAdoo of Aledo, Illinois. He also leaves two sisters, Mrs. Wood Wilson and Mrs. George Black of Winterset and three brothers, W. N. Baker, and Sherman Baker of Peru and Eldon Baker of Flint, Michigan.

Funeral services were to be conducted at 2 p.m. today (Thursday) from the Ramsey-Richards funeral home, in charge of the Rev. M. R. Talley of the M. E. Church. Burial was to be made in the Peru cemetery.
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The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, December 10, 1936
Page 1, Column 2

COL. JOHN BAKER DIES OF EXPOSURE

Widely Known Auctioneer Had Lived In County Most Of His Life

Col. John Baker, 74, widely known auctioneer, died Tuesday morning from exposure in the snow storm Saturday night and the below zero temperature. Both arms were frozen to the elbow and both legs frozen to the knees.

Col. Baker was found early Sunday morning near the J. A. Ramsey home by Mr. Ramsey who heard someone groaning. He summoned aid, put Baker into his car and took him to the hospital. Physicians found that both arms and legs exposed to the intense cold of the five below zero temperature were incapable of movement and said that death was only a matter of hours.

Col. Baker regained consciousness late Sunday afternoon and said that he had started home between 11 and 12 o’clock Saturday night. He was not feeling well and had nearly reached his home when his glasses fell off. Stooping to find them, he fell and could not get up. He remembered nothing after he fell.

He lived with his sisters, Mrs. I. E. T. Wilson and Mrs. George Black. Born on a farm near Peru, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Baker, he had lived all his life in the county with the exception of a few years spent in Des Moines. He was a fine auctioneer and had cried many of the largest sales in the county, retiring from the business about 10 years ago.

Surviving are his two daughters, Mrs. Dorothy McAdoo, Aledo, Illinois, and Mrs. William Kelso, Des Moines; his brothers and sisters, Eldon Baker, Flint, Michigan; William Baker, Peru; Sherman Baker, Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Black.

Services will be held this afternoon, Thursday, at 2 o’clock at the Ramsey–Richards funeral home, conducted by the Rev. M. R. Talley, pastor of the Methodist church. Burial will be in the Peru cemetery.

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