Henry County AlArchives Biographies.....Baker, Joseph March 9 1836 - living in 1893
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Author: Brant & Fuller (1893)
    JOSEPH BAKER, capitalist, speculator and cotton buyer of Dothen, is one of
the most widely known men in southeastern Alabama. He was born in Lee county,
Ga., March 9, 1836. He was the son of William and Sophia (Somers) Baker, the
former being a native of Georgia, born in 1800, and in that state growing to
manhood. Early in life he learned the trade of a cooper, and died at Americus,
Ga., in 1855. Mrs. Baker was born in Wright county, Ga., and was of Irish
parentage, of which fact Joseph has always been justly proud. Her father came
from the Emerald Isle at an early day, settled in Georgia, and was well known
throughout certain portions of that state. Mrs. Baker grew to womanhood in
Twiggs county, Ga., and was married in her fourteenth year. She became the
mother of nine children, eight of whom still live. Early deprived of the
protection of her husband, the support of this large family of children devolved
upon her. But she took hold of her task like the noble woman that she was, and
by good and judicious management she reared and educated them to the best of her
ability, and all remember her self-sacrificing devotion to their interests with
affection. She was a member of the Missionary Baptist church, and died in 1875,
in her sixty-third year of her age. Joseph Baker grew up on the farm until he
was sixteen years of age, when he went to northwestern Louisiana, where he
engaged as a farm hand and worked by the month, remaining there eight years,
devoting his wages to the assistance of his mother, in her efforts to take care
of the family. At the age of twenty-one, he attended the parish school ninety
days, during which time he learned to read and write, and acquired, somewhat of
the rudiments of mathematics. In April, 1867, he returned to Alabama, bought a
farm in Henry county, and commenced farming, at which he was very successful,
making $1,000 per year, for ten years. In 1870, he opened a small mercantile
business on his farm, secured mail facilities, and opened a postoffice, which
was called Baker, in honor of himself. He then began to enlarge and build up his
business, and became one of Henry county's stanchest and most successful
business men. He continued to operate his farm, in connection with his store,
and steadily kept on accummulating land. He produced large quantities of pork,
corn, cotton, and all kinds of cereals. In 1889, Mr. Baker closed out his
farming business and settled in Dothen, in order that he might have complete
school facilities for his children. Here he invested largely in real estate
business, and dwelling lots and property-and has built three large brick store
buildings, in the business portion of the town, also two frame store buildings,
and nearly a dozen dwelling houses. Mr. Baker was married April 4, 1867, to Miss
Jane Saunders, daughter of Holloway Saunders. Mrs. Baker was born in Georgia,
April 12, 1849, and while yet young, came with her parents to Alabama, they
settling in Henry county. She was married in her eighteenth year. and is now the
mother of fourteen children, seven boys and seven girls: Eugenie, wife of W. T.
Buntin, lives at Headland; Joseph, single, engaged in mercantile business:
Minnie, wife of T. E. Shadgett, lives in Dothen; Nancy, wife of W. E. Danzeys;
George; Maggie; James; Daniel; Robert: Silas; Ghastie: Colie;. Willie and Vera.
Mrs. Baker is a member of the Missionary Baptist church. Mr. Baker has always
been a straight-forward, upright and honest business man, and by his own
industry, energy and well directed efforts has amassed an ample fortune, for the
support of his family, during their declining years. Early in life thrown upon
his .own resources, and with the support of his father's family resting in part
upon him, and at the same time deprived of an education, he had nothing with
which to-battle with the world, except his two hands and his indomitable will.
What he has accomplished speaks for himself. He has fearlessly met and overcome
every obstacle, and now is one of the wealthy men of Henry county. He is now the
president of the compress company, capitalized at $50,000. He is a very
extensive land owner, having deeds to 3,000 acres of land, which is divided up
into some seventy-five or eighty farms, all well tilled. He owned one of the
finest houses in Geneva county, which was erected at a cost of $10,000. It was
manufactured in New York, transported to Geneva county, and there erected. It
was destroyed by fire in 1891. His Dothen dwelling is one of the finest in the
place, and he is now erecting one of the handsomest, and most commodious
residences in this part of the country. Mr. Baker still holds to the good old
ways of hospitality, keeping his sideboard always well supplied, but he has
never been under the influence of intoxicating liquor during his life time. He
attributes his success in life to strict attention to business, to
straightforward methods of doing business, and always meeting his obligations
when due. In politics he is neutral. He has contributed liberally to the
upbuilding of Dothen churches and schools, is in every sense of the world a
public spirited man, and he has a large circle of friends all over southeastern
Alabama.



Additional Comments:
from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 1073-1075
Published by
Brant & Fuller (1893)
Madison, WI

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