William Nicholas Baker 1875 - 1959

BAKER, RICHARDS, ACKERMAN, HELD

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 10/14/2021 at 00:43:28

The Correctionville News
12 February 1959

William Nicholas Baker, son of William Henry Baker and Mary Ann Richards Baker, was born December 29, 1875, in Iowa Co., Wisconsin, the fourth of ten children, seven of whom grew to maturity.

Four of the seven occupied Methodist parsonages, three as ministers, and one as a minister's wife. Rev. Baker's father, grandfather and two uncles were all local preachers of the Methodist Church, and from boyhood he looked forward to becoming a minister.

At the age of eleven he moved to Britt, and was received into church membership on December 7, 1891. He graduated from Britt High School, Cornell Academy, and Cornell College at Mount Vernon.

He spent part of his young manhood as a farmer. He was granted a license to preach in the fall of 1907. He married Miss Emma Ackerman at Reading, Minnesota, on March 10, 1908. To this union were born five children who survive: Weldon of Charleston, Illinois, Mrs. J.L. (Mary) DeGarmo of West Union, Francis of Corpus Christi, Texas, Carl of Moville, and Philip of Early.

After the death of his wife in 1924 during his ministry at Washta, Rev. Baker cared for the children with the help of his mother. On September 29, 1925, he married Miss Margaret Held of Hinton, who passed away in 1955.

Rev. Baker's fifty years in the ministry began with student charges near Mount Vernon, Iowa, and included the North Iowa pastorates of Tipton circuit, Low Moor, Mechanicsville, Buck Creek, Rembrandt-Truesdale-Lincoln Lee, Washta-Silver, Castana Community, Sioux City Wesley-Trimble, Lake View-Pleasant Hill, Early, Seney, Dows, Harcourt, Ireton and Rock Branch. Having taken the retired relation in the conference in 1948, he nevertheless continued in active service until the spring of 1958.

One November 10, 1957, the Rock Branch Methodist Church honored him with a full day's celebration of his fifty years in the ministry. When failing health compelled him to give up the work he loved, he moved to Friendship Haven at Fort Dodge.

He suffered a heart attack in November and his activities were further curtailed. On January 27, 1959, he had a paralytic stroke, and on Sunday, February 1, 1959, he passed away.

Besides his children, he is survived by thirteen grandchildren, one brother, Roscoe E. Baker of Marion, Iowa, and one sister, Mrs. L.A. Bradford of Salem, Oregon.

Rev. Baker organized the Rock Branch M.Y.F. five years ago and the members attended the funeral services in a body. Rev. Davies, present Rock Branch minister, officiated at the services assisted by several other ministers.

Services and burial were at Rock Branch on February 4.