William Baker
The Bakers, the ancestors of William Baker, were of German origin. Their first location in the United States was in Virginia, but the time of their settlement there is not known. Here they lived till 1812, when the father of Mr. B. moved to Clarke County, Ohio. Here in the year 1815 the subject of our sketch was born, grew up to manhood, and married. He married Elizabeth Loudenback in 1837, and in 1842 moved with his wife and three children to Shelby County and settled in the north woods of Perry Township, on the banks of the Miami River. When Mr. Baker landed on his place there was a rude cabin, and a few acres underbrushed. It was here in the wilds that Mr. Baker commenced without a dollar, working by days’ work for bread for his family, until he could clear land and raise a crop for himself. He owed two hundred dollars on his land. This he had to make, which, he says, was the hardest money to raise he ever tried. Mr. Baker has been one of the successful farmers of Shelby County. He commenced in the woods with an indebtedness of two hundred dollars on his 140 acres of land. He has added to his farm until he has bought 890 acres of well improved land. Esquire Baker has made for himself and each of his family a comfortable home, and now retires from active toil on the farm to enjoy the fruit of his early labor. He has ever had the esteem and respect of his fellow citizens, who have honored him with the various oflices of honor and trust of his township. They had a family of eight children, five of whom are living, viz., Sarah J., born 1841; Mary Elizabeth, born 1844; Margaret A., born 1848; Martin A., born 1852; Lewis W., born 1859.
From History of Shelby County, Ohio; R. Sutton & Co, Philadelphia PA, 1883