JAMES GEDDES BAKER.

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         James Geddes Baker, who is successfully engaged as a photographer at Columbus Junction, was born in Louisa county March 12, 1868, a son of Benjamin Stephen and Nancy Agnes (Wykert) Baker. The father was a native of New York state and the mother of West Virginia, later becoming a resident of Louisa county in 1835. Mr. Baker, Sr., was a carpenter, but during the later years of his life devoted his attention to farming. He died in 1882, the mother being called away three years later. They were the parents of two children: Benjamin Franklin, who is now living in Louisa county; and James Geddes.

         Mr. Baker, of this review, possessed advantages of education in the district schools until he was fourteen years of age. Not being attracted to farming, he learned the printer’s trade, which he followed for fifteen years. In the meantime his natural artistics talents began to manifest themselves and he took up the study of photography, to which he has given his attention for the last fourteen years. He has had an extensive experience and has attained high proficiency in the art, being now the owner of the leading photograph gallery of Columbus Junction, where he has been located since 1907.

         In 1895 Mr. Baker was married to Miss Clara Elizabeth Grafe, a daughter of Theodore and Elizabeth Grave. Mrs. Baker died in the fall of 1898, leaving a son, James Walter, who was born in February of the same year. On May 11, 1907, Mr. Baker was again married, the lady of his choice being Miss Bessie Forbes, a daughter of William C. and Henrietta (Kincaid) Forbes. She was a member of a family of thirteen children, of whom the first two, Maud and . . .

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. . . George, are deceased, the other in the order of their birth being: Bessie, Mildred, who is the wife of Claude Lamar, of Muscatine, Iowa; and Frank, Addie, Ora, Lydia, Willie, Verda, Rowena, Nina and Zelma, all of whom are living in Muscatine.

         Politically Mr. Baker is an earnest supporter of the republican party and fraternally is connected with the Odd Fellows and the Fraternal Aid Society. Mrs. Baker attends the Reformed church. The success of Mr. Baker in his business has been due to natural talents, and an ambition to excel which has not permitted him to rest satisfied with an ordinary measure of proficiency. He has made a close study of his art from every practical standpoint and his work attracts favorable comment wherever it is shown, his patrons being among the best people in this part of the state.