The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-30

noon brought the first news of Mr..
Bakers serious illness. 1t was equally
matter of surprise and regret. The dis
patch said he is suffering from pernicious
anamia, and was conscious only at inter-
walls. His wife and children, John f.
Baker, Lewis Baker, of Philadelphia,
and Mrs. Warren H. Stubbard. of New
York. are at his bedside. The youngest
daughter, Mrs Charles w. Stiles. wife OF
the scientific attache of the American en-
bassy at Berlin, was expected to arrive
yesterday from Europe on the st. Louis,
and restoratives were being constantly
administered to Mr.. Baker, in the hope of
keeping him alive until the arrival OF
Mrs Stiles. Mr.. Baker has been suffering
from impoverishment Of the blood for
several years, and has been gradually
losing vitality. He is 81 years of age.
Without being insincere or hypocritical
in any sense, every man has two faces
one turned outward to the world and the
other turned inward to himself. In many
men the faces are radically and entirely
different, while in others one merly mod
ifies the outward C public face; but Tor
a knowledge OF man, his characters ana
the stamp which individualizeS him, one
must appeal to the inturned countenance
The biography that outlines the race and
descent, and the has been and the is of a
man, reveals only the reflection, after all;
it is the study of a mans career, en-
bracing his life purpose, his manners.
methods and ideas, the romance and the
ambitions that must once tinge every
perfect life, his private hopes and pub
lie policy that alone can produce word
picture which. seeing, one can say: Il
know the man" Results in a life are
mere milestones and count less than the
consumption Of the complex energies
destroyed which tell of the life itself, if
one would sketch the life for the obser-
walton, and its results for the lesson. OF
others The pen picture of Lewis Baker
charact
Like NEST men who have carved out
fortune alone and unaided. save by
dauntless heart and indomitable energy,
Lewis Baker comes of a race of farmers
both in paternal and maternal line. His
fathr.s ancestors came over from Eng
from his mother his Scotch-Welch blood
and sterling character foundation. Both
Of his grandfathers. John Baker and
onies through the Revolutionary War.
and when peace was established quietly
settled on farms in p Pennsylvania MIA They
ton, but in later days. when the struggle
arose between the principles of Jefferson
and Hamilton. Hill became a staunch
follower of the former, while Baker cast
Baker family thus became fixed in the
Whfg faith. and afterwards passed into
the Republican fold after the birth of
that party, but the subject of this sketch
leaned towards the Distaff side of the
house, and drew Jefferson Democratic in
ss.piration from high-minded and intel
that of the many men who have attained
what the world may call success. the
majority will attribute the end and ac-
cord the praise to the influence, teach
ings and examples of a mother. Mr..
Baker is no exception, and If questioned
today would doubtless proudly admit
that, besides integrity of principle, he
drew from his good mother the cour-
age. self-reliance and energy that after
wards carried him through many a try
ing battle Of life
MARRIED AND EMIGRATED.
John Baker and Anna Hill were mar
rted at the old Pennsylvania home In
1924, and at once emigrated to the almost
unbroken forests Of the far West, which
then meant the central portion of East
ern Ohio, there to hew out a home and
competence on farm in that wilderness
of sturdy oak and maple. Four children
were born to them before the husband
and father sickened with the fever and
died. OF this quartette Lewis was the
youngest. his birth occurring in 1892 He
was mere babe when his fathers death
occurred, and was therefore deprived Of
the advantages not only of a fathers
support and of the consequent educa-
liOu, uut OI ldlNeT 5 COunSeI and Eufd-
ance. so sorely needed in the early life
of a boy. In his sixteenth year young
Baker equipped with his mothers care
full training and loving counsel. went to
learn the printers trade, which he chose
principally because 1t offered the surest
means of athorough and practical educa-
ton, which was beyond his means In any
other way. This period antedated the
fee school system SO that his educational
outfit was limited to rudimentary
course in English taught by his mother
He applied himself with Jealous courage
and climbed as steadily as the morning
sun rose above the native forests
While still an apprentice he became
editor Of weekly paper, In which capac-
1ty he served as typesetter, pressman,
foreman, and on one occasion carrier boy
laying his hand to anything that the oc-
casion demanded. AS an apprentice at
the case he invariably kept an Eng
lish grammar and dictionary beside him
for aid. and watch before him, and his
daily work was a constant race with
time In this manner he became a rapid
and thoroughly correct compositor, and
the same methods applied to other
branches of the business, made him a
perfect master of the duties of printer,
publisher and editor At that time he
acquired thorough knowledge that has
since kept pace with the wonderful Inn
prcvenentS in the art preservatiye which
he was enabled to follow with intelligent
interest and knowledge. Even TODAY
a considerable portion Of the time he
spenGs In ether cities. is devoted to yiss
| It's to the best equipped newspaper estab-
hshrnents and he studies every depart.
ment from top to bottom to keep his
MIND bright In his own line of business
About the close of his apprenticeship
ne mad, with much self-denial become