BIOGRAPHIES:  Frank BAKER, Arland Township, Barron County, WI

====================================================================
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, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact 
the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent.   The submitter 
has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently 
for free access.

This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:  
Vic Gulickson <vic@indy.net>  7 January 2002	
====================================================================

Frank Baker, a pioneer of Barron County, who has been a resident of Arland
Township for 43 years, was born in Germany, July 1, 1855, son of Fred and
Marie (Court) Baker. Coming to America in 1869 the family settled at
Oconomowoc, Wis., but subsequently removed to Reeseville, Wis., where the
father died Oct. 8, 1876, and the mother Nov. 27, 1900. They had seven
children: Fred, now in Germany; William, who died Nov. 11, 1919; Christian,
a resident of Marquette County, Wis.; Frank, subject of this sketch; and
Sophia, Louisa and Augusta, who are deceased. Frank Baker attended school
in Germany and was fourteen years old when he came to this country with his
parents. For a while he did farm labor in Waukesha County, and was there
until 1878, when he became a pioneer of Barron County, taking a homestead
of 40 acres in Section 30, Arland Township. The tract was heavily covered
with timber and he cut the first tree on it, and also many others
subsequently. For a residence he erected a log cabin, 18 by 24 feet, in
which he lived for 23 years. The next building he erected was a log barn.
Both buildings were constructed of logs cut on his land, and both are still
standing. As for some years his farm produced no income, Mr. Baker worked
during the winters for Knapp, Stout & Co., and also in the fall in the
harvest fields of the state to earn money for running expenses. He also
helped to build roads and was the first man to drive from his homestead to
Turtle Lake. In 1887, having by that time made some progress, he bought an
additional tract of 40 acres north of his homestead. More recently, in
1918, he purchased 80 acres in Section 31, this giving him a total of 160
acres. Of his 80 acres in Section 30 he has cleared 35. In 1901 Mr. Baker
erected a good, modern house, and in 1905 a modern barn, with the Phoenix
equipment. He follows general farming and dairying, keeping mixed grade
cattle, and is conducting a profitable business. On Oct. 14, 1875 Mr. Baker
was united in marriage with Christina Nelson, who was born in Norway Nov.
26, 1851, daughter of Nels and Sophia (Anderson) Anderson, and came to
America in 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have five children: Alice G., born Aug.
28, 1876, now Mrs. Martin Clayton; Cora E., born Jan. 4, 1882, who is the
wife of Julius Larson of Barron; Minnie F., born Nov. 28, 1885; Walter E.,
born March 13, 1889, and Olga C., born July 8, 1893, who are residing at
home.

--Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co.,
1922, pg. 898.