Barton County, Missouri Biographies - H. O. Baker

History Of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade And Barton Counties, Missouri, 1889. 
published by Goodspeed, 1889; Pgs. 854, 855--Barton County Biography Section

     H. O. Baker, a school teacher and farmer of Barton County, Mo., was 
born in Schuylkill County, Penn., June 25, 1850, his parents, William H. 
and Catherine (Thompson) Baker, being also natives of that State, and of 
Irish and English descent, respectively.  The family came to America prior 
to the Revolutionary War, and in this struggle the grandfather took an 
active part, being a member of the American army.  William H Baker was a 
school teacher during his youth and middle age, following this occupation 
until he was nearly fifty years of age, and was superintendent of the 
schools of Tamaqua, Penn., for eight years, being one of the most thorough 
instructors of his day.  In 1868 he came to Missouri and bought 240 acres of
land in Barton County, on which he farmed and raised stock for seven or 
eight years, and then about 1877 went into the mercantile business, in which
he was engaged at the time of his death at Verdella in 1885.  His wife died 
in 1851, leaving two children: A. W., born August 9, 1847, and H. O.; and 
in 1856 he was again married, this wife's maiden name being Mary Olmstead, 
of Pennsylvania.  She is still living, and resides on the old homestead in 
Barton County.  William H. Baker was a Republican, but afterward became a 
faithful worker of the Union Labor party.  H. O. Baker, whose name heads 
this sketch, began working for himself at the early age of fifteen years, 
and, after following the plow for one year, commenced teaching school, 
which occupation he has followed up to the present time.  At the age of 
seventeen he took charge of a select school, and, since coming to Missouri, 
has won an enviable reputation as an able instructor in Wright, Barton, 
and other counties.  In 1869 he went to Southern Kansas, among the 
Indians, as preliminary surveyor for the Government, and was thus employed 
fourteen months.  He was married in 1874 to Miss Laura Nichols, a daughter 
of Capt. J. W. Nichols, of Confederate States Service, who lost a let at the
battle of Wilson's Creek.  Mrs. Baker died in 1875, and in 1881 Mr. Baker 
took for his second wife Miss Addie Russell, a native  of Maine, by whom he 
has three children living: Leon, born August 23, 1882; Kingsley, born 
December 31, 1885; and Lawrence, born March 19, 1888.  Mr. Baker and wife 
were members of the Baptist Church, but became firm believers and strong 
advocates of Substantialism as advocated by Dr. Hall.  In his political 
views he is a Republican.  He belongs to the I. O. O. F.  He and wife were 
married in Texas County, Mo.  She is a daughter of Eben Russell, and niece 
of B. F. Russell, editor of the Steelville Mirror, who is known throughout 
Southern Missouri as a poet of considerable merit.
 
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