Eldon E. Baker (1953)

BAKER, BLACK, MCCORMICK, WRIGHT

Posted By: Ida Morse (email)
Date: 6/26/2007 at 11:23:57

Winterset Madisonian-Winterset, Iowa
September 30, 1953; p. 4

FORMER RESIDENT DIES IN MICHIGAN

Eldon E. Baker, well known Flint, Mich., business man and former Peru and Walnut township resident, died at a hospital in that city last Friday afternoon, Sept. 25. Mr. Baker had visited his sister, Mrs. Maude Black and other relatives here this summer and suffered a severe stroke at Kankakee, Ill., as he was enroute home. He was taken to the Flint hospital the following day and has been critically ill the eight weeks since that time.

Mr. Baker who was 84 years of age, was born in Walnut township, a son of pioneer residents, Daniel and Fanny Baker. He grew to manhood there and owned and operated a Peru newspaper, the Sentinel, for several years. He also was in the mercantile business in Peru and taught in the rural schools of this county.

Following his marriage to Anna Wright of Peru, they moved to Indianola where he attended Simpson college for four years. He operated a business school at Winfield, Kan., for a short time, but for the past 44 years, he has resided in Flint. He purchased the Baker Business University and Conservatory in 1909 and was active in its operation until his fatal illness last summer.

Mr. Baker was the Flint postmaster for 12 years and took an active interest in the Methodist church of which he was a long-time member. He also belonged to the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges and the Flint Rotary club.

He is survived by two children, Lois McCormick and Basil Baker, both of Flint. He also leaves a grandchild, Allen Baker and a sister, Mrs. Maude Black of Winterset, who has been in Flint with him the past seven weeks. His wife preceded him in death, as did a son, Harold, who died when a young man. He also leaves a number of nieces and nephews of this community.

Funeral and burial services were held at Flint Monday afternoon.
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Winterset Madisonian, October 7, 1953
Winterset, Iowa

NOTED NATIVE SON DIES AT FLINT, MICH.

(Editor’s Note: Eldon E Baker, former Madison county and Winterset resident, died recently at Flint, Mich., where he has lived the past 42 years. Following is an account of Mr. Baker’s death, as it appeared in the Flint Journal, daily newspaper.)

It was 42 years ago that this summer that Mr. Baker organized the business school which bears his name. Four years later the school’s Conservatory of Music was opened. Thousand of Flint residents have been graduated from the schools.

An outstanding record of public service was built by Mr. Baker in the 42 years he lived in Flint. He was postmaster eight years and four months beginning Feb. 16, 1926. For eight years he was a director and treasurer of the Flint YMCA and for a like period president of the Flint Civic League. He once was president of the Genesee County Tuberculosis association.

For five years Mr. Baker was president of the Flint Community Music association. He was president of the Salvation Army advisory board for six years. He served two three-year terms on the Flint Board of Education. He was a public school teacher for 16 years and a college teacher for 5 years before coming to Flint.

During World War II, Mr. Baker served as a member of Selective Service board 6 from 1942 through 1945. For more than 32 years he was a member of the official board of the Court Street Methodist church. From 1908 through 1911 he was a member of the city council at Winfield, Kan.

An outstanding event in his life was the 40th anniversary of the founding of Baker Business University in October 1951, in a crowded ballroom with tears in his eyes he listened to words of praise spoken by an old friend, the Rev. Ralph D. Kerns, pastor emeritus of the First Presbyterian church.

Dr. Kearns characterized Mr. Baker “as a man who has taught the spirit of Christ.” He added that “for 40 years he has put his hand on the shoulders of the young men and women of this community and helped them to make themselves better and more useful citizens. They have gone out and helped make Flint a better city.

“I like this man” Dr. Kearns added, “for his clarity of thinking, for his peace of mind, for the warmness of his heart, for the sympathy of his soul, for his understanding.”

Mr. Baker was a member of the Masonic Lodge orders, including the Bay City Consistory and Elf Khurafeh Shrine. For many years he was an active member of the Flint Rotary club and was its president in 1933.

Surviving are two children. Attorney Basil F. Baker and Mrs. Merle H. McCormack, both of Flint; and a sister, Mrs. Maude Black of Winterset. He and his sister were the youngest and last survivors of a family of 15 children.

Mrs. Baker whom Mr. Baker married in 1895 died 1938.