The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-08-19

Mr.. Jacob Brown Contributes the Follow
ing Concerning Il Famons Estate.

has for some time been matter-o
lively interest to- great number o
people, not only of Somerset and ad
joining counties, but many Other
parts of the country. At present
there is a superabundance Tof the
Bakers and their kindred
The situation of the fortune is al
or near Philadelphia, and it is said to
have its origin or, foundation im the
following manner-one Jacob Baker
some time in the latter part of the
past century was the owner of a large
landed estate near Germantown, Pa.
He made leases of it to run for so
years which expired some time ago.
He was never married. and of course
without children, but it is understood
he had brothers nd..''sisters, whose
deScendenls are necessarily his heirs
at law. AS is supposed he died with
out leaving a will. H. law at the ex-
piratlon of the leases the fee OF prop
erty so leased reverts to the rightful
heirs of Jacob Baker, whoever or
whatever their names might be. SO
if there really be an estate, the next
thing to be done will be to hunt up
| the rightfui Baker heirs of whatever
name they may bear.
Among those who appear to be in
| line are the Meese heirs. Their trac-
ing in brief is about thus. Baltzer
Meese was a Revolutionaryi'soldier
and hailed some where from Eastern
Pennsylvania. Not many years after
the close of the war in which he took
an active part he came, TO and settled
i'll Elk Lick tOwnship-at Salisbury
among the few settlers, Peter Shirer
for one. He was a quiet citize and
now only remembered by few aged
people He had small drug store
His favOrite medicine was Qulden
dtre an assured cure or remedy for all
ills. In his last years he moved to a
place near Somerset, where he died
in 1898, aged % years. His wife was
Nancy Baker, and it is claimed she
was sister of the venerable Jacob
Baker She died abouta year before
her husband
The children of Baltzer Meese and
Nancy Baker were seven in number:
George, Christian john and Daniel
Annie, wife of Benjamin Griffith,
Sallie, wife of Christian Forney. and
Peggy, wife of JOhr heagy. All or
famnes, nut onIY some are -NnUwn 10
the writer chiefly Georges He was
Sheriff of Somerset county in the
thirties, and a very prominent man
OF the county for many years. He
died in 1851. His wife was Lydia
Penrod, sister of the mother of the
author of these "reminiscences. Lydia
Meese died in 1860. She and her hus-
band had twelve children. Two died
in infancy. The adults were and are,
Elijah, dead, John also dead, AleXan-
der Ogle, living in the west-dauGh
ters Nancy, wife of Samuel Huston,
both dead. Margaret, wife of Jon
athan Knepper, former Sheriff and
Associate Judge of the county. ks
siah, wife of Hiram Wills, Adaline,
widow OF the late Philip Smith, now
living at RocKwOOd, a lady greatly
respected for her many excellent traits
of womanly character, and lastly
Louisa, wife of John Walter. They
reside near lockwood, both living
Christian Meese was a miller by
trade. His wife was one of the
Fadley family. They have been
dead for many years. They had
sons and daughters, Baltic =,
a son lived in Accident, Md, and died
there some years ago. There was
another we'll known son John. He
has considerable family, among
them, Nelson NJ. Meese, very respect
able citizen of Barton, Md, was a sol
dier in the great war. A daughter OF
old Christian Meese, Mary, was the
wife of Hiram Findlay, at one time
Senator of Somerset county-dead fol
a number of years. The widow is still
living-in Salisbury, Pa, in her eight
les; a good thing for her if she coulC
get lift in her old days-none vii
begrudge it to her.
And now IL word about the Cumber
, land claiments-the kOrns heirs
Henry kOrns, the ancestor, caLae tC
Cumberland in early life with his wife
from Germantown; his wife was Cath
arine Baker and the heirs believe ;
! sister or at least near relative of tht
veritable Jacob Baker. Henry KoFn
died in 1860 and his wife died in 1885
They had two well known sons high
f ly respected in Cumberland; Jess,
) and Henry, besides a sister or more
f Jesse died in 1880, and Henry in 1873
? Old Henry has other descendants be
sides the children of the two son
mentioned. Mr.. VIM. Nj, Price nov
! of Pittsburg, one of the attorneys il
|, the great Baker matter is the HUSBAND
= of one of the daughters of Jesse Korns