The Newtown bee., 1900-04-27
D. N. CLARK.
 Shelton, Conn.

the tremendous storms peculiar to that section during the rainy season (this be- ing the only season when herds can be driven across the staked plsine). There
 were quicksand streams to cross and big rivers to swim with the herd, and many haraships to overcome and endure that
 would be apt to make the average New Eugland heart quail, and the interesting experiences MT Baker could relate about the told Texas COW trail" would fill book. His family and also his partners spent number of summers at the ranch in the mountains, which ranch was in those days the paradise of the sportsmen who enjoyed hunting large game.
 MT Bakers adventures were of so varied and interesting nature that before long articles from his pen began to appear in the "Youth's Companion" and other Eastern periodicals, and his ability ss a descriptive writer was soon recognized. He wrote for the New York Tribune on special topics and became western cor respondent of the New York Evening Post, and penned for that publication many interesting articles descriptive of frontier life and customs, among which was & series on the Cliff dwellers and Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, and dur ing the so-called "Cutting embroglio" between the United States and Mexico, when war came SO near over the unwar- ranted seizure and imprisonment without trial of Cutting, an American citizen, Mir Baker was sent down into Mexico with instructions to obtain an interview with Cutting in his dungeon if possible. A regiment of Mexican soldiers were on guard about the p1d prison, yet MT Baker succeeded in eI ing their vigilance and cleverly gained admission to the prison and had personal interview with Cut ting in his dungeon, lengthy and inter, esting account of which appeared in the Evening Post, and Mir Baker was after ward the recipient of a personal letter of commendation from the editor-in- chief.
 When the hard times in the open-range cattle business came on MT Baker closed out his interests in Colorado and New Mexico, and in the fall of 1891 he was again pioneer, ,this time at Hawleyville, Conn.,, where he erected and opened up the large furniture business which he was carrying on at the time of his death. Pre- dictions of his inability to sustain 80 large an establishment at such an obscure point were rife in all communities, yet three years later he was compelled by increasing business to double his build. ing plant, and the steady growth and far-reaching aspects of the business from that time was almost phenomenal. The seeming ease with which MT Baker brought business from afsr to his "Em- porium in the bowling wilderness" has been, and no doubt justly, attributed al. most wholly to his original and unique style of advertising, which during the
 first years, when he was paying more at tentfon to advertising, was the talk of the state, and some of his famous "ads" were copied into trade papers in every state in the Union.
 Mir Baker being the son of & prominent democrat and reared in democratic at- mosphere naturally voted that ticket, but in 1896 he squarely bolted the Chi cago platform. He never took an active part in politics, and persistently avoided political honors." He was 8 member of Rising Sun lodge, No. 27, F. 6 A. M., at Washington, and warden of St Johns Episcopal church, in the same town.
 In 1869 MT Baker married Miss Silence L. Brinsmade, who survives him, with son and two daughters. The son, George F.. Is member of the firm of A. G. Ba- ker & Son. The elder daughter, Eliza beth B., is & graduate of Prospect Hill seminary at Hartford, and has charge of the village library at Washington. The second daughter, Julia L.. is graduate of Howard seminary, near Boston. MT Baker was of type of manhood all too scarce. He was man of strict integrity in all his dealings and was positive force for good in the community where he lived. If A. G. Baker agreed to do thing, it was done, and people instinc- lively carne to admire the man. Being $ person of positive convictions, he had little respect for trifers and people who did not regard their word as good as their note. Mr Baker was Christian man in the most devout sense, and while not person to parade his views or boast of his convictions, his influence
 was always given to aid every worthy and philanthropic cause. He was the
 moving spirit in the { if Tt which resulted
 in the building of the Hawleyville chap
 el, and was always ready to provide
 teams to carry tue cIergymen who came
 from distance to oficiate at the Sum day services at the chapel.
 An interesting conversa.i ua1ist, well posted on all of the leading questions of the day. man of gen rous and whole souled instincts, a true and loyal friend, It is no wonder 2 legion of friends bow their heads in silent grief.
 The writer had long counted him among his personal friends and the mes- sage announcing lis death came as { profound shock, and left feeling of personal loss. Newtown and Washington will keenly U