OBIT: John E. BAKER, 1941, of interest in Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/
________________________________________________

JOHN E. BAKER

John E. Baker Prominent Coal Operator Dies

Was President of Keystone Coal Co. - Well Known in Meyersdale

  John E. Baker, 81, prominent businessman of York, Pa., and president of 
Keystone Coal Co., died of a heart condition at his summer home, "Oak Orchard," 
at 8:12 Monday evening.
  Mr. Baker is well known in the Meyersdale community through his business 
affiliations with the Keystone Coal Co. operations in this vicinity.  He was a 
business associate and intimate friend of the late Edward J. Weld.  Mr. and Mrs. 
Louis Weld went to York to attend the funeral of Mr. Baker which took place 
Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock.
  John E. Baker was born in Libertytown, Frederick County, Md., April 14, 1860, 
the son of the late Henry and Rebecca Duvall Baker.  He was married Nov. 9, 1887 
to Mary Salome Billmeyer, who died on Jan. 8, 1929, and on Sept. 16, 1936, he 
married Katharine Hipple, who survives him.  He also leaves two children, Mrs. 
S. Walter Stauffer and William H. Baker and two sisters, Miss Betty D. Baker and 
Mrs. Flora B. Frey of Lancaster.
  Mr. Baker became a property owner in Somerset County coal in 1894 when he 
acquired an interest in the Keystone Coal Company, with mines near Meyersdale at 
the suggestion of the late George F. Baer, then president of the Reading 
Railroad and the Reading Iron Company and upon the advice of the late Edward J. 
Weld of Meyersdale, at that time superintendent of the Keystone operations.  Mr. 
Weld continued in the superintendency of the mine until his death and the 
remaining properties of the Keystone Coal Company have since then been handled 
by his son, Louis M. Weld.
  Mr. Baker was a pioneer promoter and ventured into various fields of 
enterprize.  He was a successful business executive and took an active part in 
the civic welfare of the communities where he had business interests.
  At the time of his death he was first vice president of the First National 
Bank of York, director of the York Water Co. and Marietta Gravity Water Co., 
president and life member of the Martin Library Association and a member of the 
board of managers of the York County Agricultural Society.  He was a member of 
the Rotary and Temple clubs of York and took part in the church and civic 
activities of that community.

Meyersdale Republican, June 12, 1941