Reuben F. Baker, Bio USGenWeb Project NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial researchers, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, nor for presentation in any form by any other organization or individual. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express written permission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project archivist. *************** Transcribed from a copy of the original publication by the submitters. Submitted to the USGenWeb Nebraska Archives, March 2000, by James R. Baker, Jr. (jrbakerjr@prodigy.net) Biographical Album of Otoe and Cass Counties, Nebraska 1889 Otoe County Pages 703 and 704 REUBEN F.BAKER. In this biographical sketch is presented an outline of the history of one of the prominent citizens of Belmont Precinct, one who stands in the front ranks of the successful farmers and stock-raisers of the county. His home farm lies on section 16 and is 320 acres in extent. His entire landed estate comprises 800 acres: 160 acres lying on section 9, 160 on section 17, and 160 on section 18. This land Mr. Baker has redeemed acre by acre from the wild waste of prairie presented to his eye during the period of his pioneership, and he has accomplished his Herculean task only by the exercise of the most incessant industry. After bringing his land to a thorough state of cultivation he turned his attention to the feeding and raising of stock, making a specialty of Short-horn cattle and Poland- China swine. The land is splendidly improved and beautified by groves and orchards of the present proprietor's own planting. The barn and all of the other out-buildings are among the best in the county. The dwelling is pleasantly situated, and constitutes a home bright and comfortable in the extreme. Mr. Baker was born in Shelby Co., Indiana on the 24th of January, 1844. His father, John L. Baker, a native of Covington, Kentucky, was born in 1803. While quite a young man he crossed the river into Hamilton County, Ohio, and was employed afterward with an older brother, running a flatboat between Cincinnati and New Orleans for a number of years. Later he migrated to Shelby County, Indiana, and finally settled upon a tract of land in Sangamon County, Ill., in a region was then but a wild border country. The mother of our subject was born in Shelby Co., Indiana in the year 1803, and was the daughter of Ephraim Biggs, named after her mother, Rachael. Her parents were pioneers of Indiana, her grandfather having settled there long before it was actually opened for settlement. (* See note 1 below. - J.R.B.) She became the mother of eight children, of whom our subject was the third. The latter, Reuben F., upon reaching his manhood, was married, Sept. 13, 1856, to Miss Mary E., daughter of John and Mary K. (Patterson) Mahard, natives of Maryland. She was born in Maryland and was educated in the City of Baltimore. With her parents she afterwards lived in Cincinnati, Springfield and in Old Berlin, Ill. Mrs. Mahard is still living, making her home with her children in Missouri. There have been given to Mr. and Mrs. Baker nine children, of whom seven are living, namely: John M., George L., Horatio S., Mary A., James P., Othello C., and Aramanda. John, the eldest son, became the husband of Elizabeth Nicholson, and lives in Republic County, Kansas; they have two children, who bear the names Bertha and Roy. George was married to Ida Wright, of Osawatomie, Kansas; they reside in Belmont Precinct, and are the parents of three children - Reuben, Franklin and Grover. Mary A. is the wife of John Duncan, of Delaware Precinct, and they have one child, a daughter, Mary Lenora. Mr. Baker settled on his present property in 1871. When it is remembered that he began life a poor boy, deprived of those aids and comforts usually looked for by children from parents and friends, it is both surprising and gratifying to note the successes which have attended his efforts, and to bear in mind that the same successes await those who will as honestly strive to attain them. Mr. and Mrs. B. with three of their children are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Dunbar, with which church our subject has been connected for about thirty years. Mrs. Baker has been identified with this church since a maiden of seventeen years. Our subject is a staunch member of the Democratic Party, and has been its supporter since it was his right to use the ballot box. The family represents the most solid and reliable elements of this county and it is eminently fitting that the portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Baker should embellish these pages. (Pictures are included in the book) Note 1: Reuben was apparently confused about the origin of his mother's family. Research indicates that the Ephraim Biggs family were early in Butler County, Ohio, not Shelby Co., Indiana. There was an Ephraim Biggs in Shelby much later who may have been related. Note 2: A lengthy article in the Nebraska City newspaper on 17 November 1903, tells of the accidental death of Reuben F. Baker. While hitching up a horse at his farm, his foot became entangled in a strand of the rope halter. He fell and the startled horse dragged him about 300 yards before his foot came loose from the rope. He died the next day as a result of the massive injuries he sustained.