Thomas H. Baker Biography, Genesee County, Michigan

This Biography extracted from “Portrait and Biographical Record of 
Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan…”, published be Chapman 
Bros., Chicago (1892), p. 971-972


This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.

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THOMAS H. BAKER is a thrifty and go-ahead young farmer whose physical 
powers are guided and made effective by his intelligent management. He 
has a pleasant home and all that makes life worth living for. He was 
born in Devonshire, England, November 30, 1848, and is the son of 
Charles and Eliza (Dymond) Baker. The father, an English farmer, came 
to America in the spring of 1856 and proceeded to Michigan, locating in 
Burton Township, Genesee County. He was engaged for several years in 
farming on shares, but in 1871 he purchased a place in this township 
which was only partially improved. He still survives and is active and 
interested in his agricultural work.

   Our subject's mother is still living. She as well as her husband is 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She has had thirteen 
children and what is somewhat remarkable is that all her children are 
living, the youngest being twenty-three years old at the time of this 
writing (1891).

   Thomas Baker is the third in order of birth of his parents' family 
and was seven years old when they came to America. He received the 
rudiments of his education in the district school and afterward 
attended the Union School in Flint. He later taught six terms. He began 
working out by the month, continuing this for six months and then spent 
a year in school. He then went to work by the day or job and in the 
spring of 1871 he and his father purchased eighty acres of land. He 
purchased his present farm in 1879. It is a fertile tract located on 
section 30.

   September 26, 1876, our subject was married to Helen E. Knowles, who 
was born in Genesee County. Mich. She is the daughter of William 
Knowles and a native of New York who came here at an early day. Our 
subject and his wife have had three children-Morrison C., Paul T. and 
one who died in infancy. Mr. Baker is a Republican in politics. He has 
been School Inspector for the last fifteen years and Township Treasurer 
for one term. Socially he is a Mason. He is the owner of one hundred 
and ten acres of choice land and here devotes himself to general 
farming, taking particular interest in the raising of fine stock. He 
began with very limited means and his prospects are now of the 
brightest.



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