Russell County AlArchives Biographies.....Baker, Charles March 24, 1794 - October 19, 1861
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Laurel Baty laurelbaty@comcast.net August 24, 2008, 6:36 pm

Author: Rev. F. L. Cherry

The following biography was provided by the Reverend F. L. Cherry contained in 
the book "The History of Opelika and Her Agricultural Tributary Territory". 
and is published by the Genealogical Society of East, Alabama, Opelika, 
Alabama in 1996, pages 317-320.

Page 318 "... Mr. Charles Baker, one of the early traders in Alabama lands, 
discovered the beauty of the country and its possibilities away back in the 
thirties and commenced operations. Mr. Baker was born in Warren County, Ga., 
March 25th, 1794. His raising and early manhood embraced in several counties 
in central Georgia. In 1815 he married Miss Ciscilia (Celia) Clarke of Jasper 
County, Ga., and in 1832, settled in Muscogee County, Ga., four miles 
southeast of Columbus, Ga., about which date he began speculative ventures in 
Alabama lands.

In 1837 and 1838 he invested largely in prospective town lots in Girard, and 
where Browneville now stands. In 1840 he moved to Russell County and settled 
on "Marshall Hill". Mr. Y. H. Wade is the only man now living in the immediate 
neighborhood who was living there at that early date. Mr. Baker's investment 
embraced about twenty acres, for which he paid Mr. Brown about two thousand 
dollars. After improving it considerably, the financial crash of that period, 
which was disastrously felt all over the United States, reaching and affecting 
all industries and trades, depreciated real estate to such an extent that 
those who did not have a large capital to fall back upon, were compelled to 
sell at a ruinous sacrifice. Mr Baker sold his "venture" for fifteen hundred 
dollars. Messrs. Young and Grimes Moses own a portion of this property now, 
and it is supposed that it could not be bought for less than $30,000.00. And 
even that figure may be considerably below its market value.

From Girard Mr. Baker moved seven miles west of Columbus, now known as 
the "Hanners place", and where Mr. John Hanners now lives. In 1854 he moved to 
the localities near "Turnpike", bridge, above referred to. This proved to be 
his last move. He died there Oct. 19th, 1861, aged sixty-seven years, and is 
buried on the Eli Stroud place. Mr. Baker raised nine children to manhood; Mr. 
Willis P. Baker, died in 1869; Mrs Priscillia Vinson, first wife of John 
Vinson, of Dale County, Ala. died in 1847; (she was the mother of Willis P. 
Vinson, living near Salem) the first Mrs. William Byrd, died in 1863 and Mrs. 
Bogg died in 1880. Besides these dead, three died in early infancy. Those of 
his children known and supposed to be living are: Mrs. Mary Toler, of 
Illinois; Col. Richard P. Baker, ex-sheriff of Russell County, now Lee 
County.; Mr. Isaac A. Baker, of Cedartown, Polk County, Ga.; Mr. Charles 
Baker, of Texas, and Mrs. Ciscilia McKinnon, of Texas - twelve in all.

Mr. Baker joined the Baptist church in Columbus, Ga., in about 1837. When 
the "scism" which culminated in the disintegration of the Baptist church in 
1835, and the formation of new churches in the settlement later, Mr. Baker 
adhered to the "mother wing" and lived a faithful and consistent member of the 
Primitive Baptist faith and order the balance of his life. His memory, and 
that of his wife, is revered by all his children, whose only association and 
recollections of them are surrounded with a halo of love and affection, and 
representing them as kind, thoughtful parents, who never set them other than 
good examples and taught them wise and profitable lessons. Mr. Baker was 
mostly instrumental in building Hopeful Primitive Baptist Church on the Little 
Uchee, and supported it largely with his means as long as he lived. In after 
years, this church dissolved and the house was moved on to the "Hogan place", 
six miles west of Columbus, near Salem road, where it stood as Primitive 
Baptist Church for several years.

Socially, Mr. Baker was fond of company, enjoyed pleasantry, was a liberal 
entertainer, whose latchstring hung outside to friends and strangers alike, 
and the Primitive Baptist preachers of the olden time who still remain, will 
remember him with feelings of profound respect. He was never known to get 
drunk, never chewed tobacco, but eschewed the filthy weed in all its forms of 
use known to man.

Additional Comments:
Buried Eli Stroud Cemetery

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