Orange Co., TX - News: O. D. Baker & Son, O. L. Baker, elected to Texas Legislature ****************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/txfiles.htm ****************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Candace [Teal] Gravelle April 16, 2006, 11:01 pm "The Roanoke Leader" -- Roanoke, Randolph Co., Alabama: NEWSPAPER Issue of Wednesday, January 10, 1923 OLD ROANOKER AND SON WIN HONORS IN TEXAS The Roanoke leader is indebted to Hon. W.T. Estes, member of the 37th Texas Legislature, now residing at Gause, Texas, for a newspaper clipping taken from The Star-Telegram published at Fort Worth, Texas, containing the pictures and sketches of the lives on O.D. Baker of Orange, Texas and his son, O.L. Baker of Orange, Texas. The article shows that father and son have been elected to sit in the next legislature of their adopted state. The elder Baker had in earlier years received the same honor. Many of our older readers will remember the Baker family. The following is taken from Mr. Estes' letter which will be of interest to those who remember the Baker family: " O.D. Baker, the elder of the two men mentioned in the article was born in Roanoke, and is the youngest son of the late Joseph M. Baker, who was murdered in your city during the Civil War and whose grave is in the little cemetery just back of the little old Baptist church near the stately edifice of that denomination in your town. A marble tombstone marks his grave. Joseph M. Baker was a merchant in Roanoke in partnership with Mell Mickle, now deceased. The Manleys, Mickles and other old timers will distinctly remember him. O.D. Baker is one of the most widely known men in Texas and has friends throughout the state. His career is a most remarkable one and the story of his life would be of greater interest than many thrilling works of fiction. As scout, Indian fighter, citizen, newspaper man, breeder of thoroughbred cattle and legislator, he has made good all along the line. He participated in the last Indian fight ever fought on Texas soil. In private life he is considered one of the most upright and honorable of men, and true to every obligation of good citizenship."