BAKER, EMMA
Prompted by laudable ambition at the onset of his career George T. Baker has advanced steadily until he is now one of the most prominent men of Davenport and few men of this city are deserving of higher regard. He was born in 1820, came to Davenport in 1853 and the following year went to Iowa county. He was an architect and builder by profession, but as his health had failed he bought a large tract of land and engaged extensively in farming and stock raising. He was a successful man at the time of his death, which occurred in Iowa county, 1869, when he was less than fifty years of age. His wife, who was miss Freelove M. Kenyon in her maidenhood, was also a native of Connecticut and is still living at the advanced age of eighty-nine.
George T. Baker received his education at a private school and later attended the Iowa State University, whence he entered Cornell University. There he specialized in civil engineering and after completing a special course entered the employ of the Rock Island Railroad, with whom he remained for five years. From 1885 to 1888 he was engaged by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company to locate land and assist in the construction of the road from Kansas City to Chicago. The following year he was chief engineer of the Soo & Southwestern. Later he became chief engineer of high bridges at Muscatine, Clinton and Winona until 1892, when with others he organized the Edwards & Walsh Construction Company of Davenport, which has now passed out of existence. Since 1898 Mr. Baker has been vice president and general manager of the Tri City Construction Company, which is one of the most important and prosperous of the many similar firms engaged in business in this city, its success being in no small measure due to Mr. Baker's ability, wide experience and business acumen. He is also president of the West Davenport Improvement Company and vice president of the Davenport Wagon Company, while he is interested in the street car liens of Clinton, Iowa, in the lumber regions of the south and farm lands of Oklahoma.
Although so many years have been devoted to interests akin to the profession of civil engineering Mr. Baker has not been loathe to engage in wider fields of activity, and with a large and commendable public spirit has identified himself closely with the public affairs of Davenport and Scott county. In recognition of his ability and sterling character the people of Scott county elected him their representative in the Iowa state legislature from 1895 to 1897 and at the expiration of his term there he was chosen as mayor of Davenport. Two years of his administration, those of 1898 to 1900, were marked by a government of a character which may not soon be duplicated here or elsewhere. Many improvements were inaugurated and malpractices abandoned. In 1900 he was the delegate at large to the democratic convention at Kansas city, Missouri, and is now a member of the state board of education.
When he was just embarking upon his career, which as been so singularly successful in 1879, Mr. Baker was united in marriage to Miss Clare J. Poole, a native of New York. Three daughters have been born to them: Ethel M., Georgia E. and Sue A. The eldest is the wife of L. H. Brandt and Sue A. is now Mrs. R. C. Williamson. Mr. Baker belongs to the college fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, to several Masonic bodies and to the Elks. One of the most progressive and public spirited of men by education and experience, he is fitted to do big things and through the years of his life has proved that few opportunities have escaped him which he did not make steppingstones to a larger future. As Davenport has profited most widely from his abilities she regards him proudly as one of her finest citizens.
This bio was extracted from the History of Davenport and Scott County, Vol. I and II, by Harry E. Downer, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago. It was transcribed by Elaine Rathmann.