from the History of Shelby County, Ohio by A.B.C. Hitchcock; Sidney, Ohio; 1913,
Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.; Chicago, Illinois
William C. Baker who is one of the valued citizens of Jackson township, is a general farmer and lives one and one-half miles south of Montra, on the west side of the Hussey turnpike road, where are located his 200 acres of well improved land. He was born on this farm, July 22, 1847, and is a son of Jefferson Baker and a grandson of Philip Baker.
His grandfather Philip Baker was born in Pennsylvania and when he came first to Ohio he settled in dark county, four miles from Springfield. He married Mary Elizabeth Kessler, whose parents were natives of Germany, and their children were all born and reared in Clark county, namely: George, William, Jacob, Jefferson, James, Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary and Susan. Of the above family, Sarah lived to the remarkable age of ninety-three years. Philip Baker died a few months before the birth of his son, Jefferson Baker. His widow survived until 1869 and her burial was in the old cemetery at Port Jefferson.
Jefferson Baker came into the world fatherless but he was blessed with a careful mother and she gave him every educational advantage in her power. He became a scholar, for those days, and taught school and penmanship, being an expert with the old-fashioned goose quill, which has not been altogether succeeded by the steel pen, there yet being found old fashioned scriveners who prefer the flexible goose quill of long ago.
Mr. Baker became a farmer, acquiring eighty acres of the large property above alluded to, and subsequently he purchased forty more acres and partly cleared his 120 acres but did not survive into advanced age, his death occurring in his
forty-fifth year. His burial was in the Howell cemetery at Montra. In politics a stanch democrat he was elected on the democratic ticket to the office of township trustee and also served as school director.
His marriage was with Margaret Critten, who was born in Virginia, a daughter of William Critten. She lived to be fifty-four years of age and was the cherished mother of the following children:
William C.;
Mary Elizabeth, who married Marion Rhynard and they live at Ashley, Mich.;
F. M., who died in May, 1909, in Michigan;
John H., who is a resident of Lake View, O.
The youngest born [George W.], a son, died when aged three years.
William C. Baker attended the district schools in Jackson township and also a select school at Port Jefferson, and afterward followed farming on the homestead during the summers and for thirteen terms taught school in me winter seasons. During this time he married and afterward lived for one winter on his father-in-law's farm in Perry township and then came on the homestead.
The present residence and barn were built by Mr. Baker's father in 1870 but he has enlarged and-improved them and completed the clearing of the land and, as a business, carries on a general agricultural line. Very often he has been called to positions of public responsibility and on the democratic ticket was elected county commissioner and served six years; served two terms as land appraiser; was township clerk and a trustee of Jackson township and for twenty-five years has served on the school board. He is interested in the Farmers Telephone Company.
Mr. Baker was first married to Miss Mary C. Thompson, a daughter of the late James Thompson of Perry township. She is survived by one son, Allen, who married Alice Lefever. Mr. Baker's second marriage was to Miss Eureka Schmidt, and to this union the following children were born:
Nora, who is the wife of Clarence Steenrod, residing at Maplewood, O.;
Milton, who is a resident of Maplewood, married Eva Clinehens;
May, who lives at home;
Leo and Lina, twins, the former of whom married Lillie Fogt and the latter,
Sidney Ailes;
Roscoe, who was a student at Harvard University, Boston, who is a natural mechanic, is in the well digging and pump repairing business at Montra;
Ida, who lives at home; and
Bessie and Clara who are yet in school.
The family belongs to the Disciples church. He is identified with the local Grange and with the K. O. T. M. [Knights of Maccabees] Mr. Baker and family are among the most representative people in this part of Shelby county.
