Biographical Sketch of John Baker, Phelps County, Missouri

>From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, 
Pulaski, Phelps and Dent Counties, Missouri" The Goodspeed Publishing
Company, 1889.
**********************************************************************

John Baker, farmer, was born in Osage County, Mo., December 5, 1839,
and is the son of Matthew S. and Hettie (Tabor) Baker, and grandson of
James Baker, who was a native of the "Blue Grass State," and a soldier
in the War of 1812.  His wife, Rebecca (Small) Baker, was also a native
of Kentucky, and was of Irish descent.  James Tabor, the maternal grand
father of the subject of this sketch, was born in North Carolina, and
immigrated to Tennessee at an early date, making the journey on pack
horses.  His wife, Delila Tabor, was also from North Carolina, and also
died in Tennessee.  Matthew S. Baker was born in Wayne county, Ky., on
July 12, 1814, and remained in that state until six years of age, when
he immigrated with his parents to Marion county, Tenn., remaining there
a number of years.  He was educated principally by his own exertions,
and later taught school.  He immigrated to Missouri in 1835, settling
in what is now Osage county, where he remained until 1855, engaged in
farming.  He then moved to Phelps county, remaining there until 1860,
and then moved to Camden county, where he was killed July 12, 1863.
During his life he never held any office higher than justice of the
peace.  His wife, Hettie Tabor, was born in Rutherford county, Tenn.,
May 28, 1814, and bore him twelve children, seven now living: John N.,
Matthew S., Delila A., Elizabeth, Hettie M., Nancy R. and Oliver T.
Those deceased are Thomas H., Malinda J., James H. and two small child-
ren.  Mrs. Baker died in Phelps county, Mo., December, 1885, at the age
of seventy-four years.  John Baker, the subject of this sketch, was
reared on his father's farms in Osage and Phelps counties, Mo., and as
the country was sparsely settled, and schools and churches hardly known
his education as a consequence suffered.  At the age of twenty-one he
enlisted in Company A, First Missouri State Troops, but was afterward
in Robert's Company A, and served eight months, during which time he
engaged in the Cole Camp fight.  He was discharged in Springfield, Mo.,
after which he went to Rolla, where he remained until Price's raid.  He
then made two trips across the plains with Government supplies as far
west as Denver and New Mexico.  He then came home and cared for his
mother, and December 20, 1866, he married Mrs. Sarah J. (Coldiron)
McCommon, daughter of William and Mary (Howard) Coldiron, both of whom
were born in Kentucky.  Mrs. Baker was born January 8, 1842, in Laurel
county, Ky., and came to Missouri when twelve years of age.  By her
union to Mr. Baker were born five children, four now living: Sarah A.,
Mary H., James M., John W. and an infant deceased.  Mrs. Baker was the
mother of a child by her former marriage.  This child, William M., is
deceased.  Mr. Baker is the owner of 500 acres of land, 300 under
cultivation.  He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, also the Odd
Fellows lodge, and is politically a Democrat.

====================================================================
     USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing
         free information on the Internet, data may be used by
         non-commercial entities, as long as this message
         remains on all copied material. These electronic
         pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit
         or for presentation by other persons or organizations.

         Persons or organizations desiring to use this material
         for purposes other than stated above must obtain the
         written consent of the file contributor.

         This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb
         Archives by: Joe Miller <mio@netins.net>
		      Penny (Eisenbarger) Harrell <Incog3678@aol.com>

====================================================================