The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-23

Mr.. Bakers family, his father and
mother, Mr.. and Mrs. F. P. Baker, will
all move to Buffalo about May l. and
will make that city their home, thus re-
moving from Topeka one of the Oldest
and best known families in town.
Father Baker, has been prominent in
the politics and business life of the
state since 1850. when he moved here
from Missouri to escape the strong
''sesesh" hostility. c. G. Baker is ex-
secretary of the state senate, and ex-
state printer. Net Baker another son
OF +. +. Baker, is now located in the
east. All three were for years asso-
ciated in the publication of the Topeka
Daily Commonwealth. r. p Baker pub
lished the State Record and under his
management, the first daily paper was
issued in Topeka.
Charles B. Kline, with whom Mr..
Baker will be associated in business. has
been at the head of the Kinne whole
sale coal business for about IL years.
Tne company handles bituminous coal
principally and controls the outputs of
numerous mines in the River district
OF the Allegheny valley and the Pitts
burg district, both in Pennsylvania. It
also buys coal in large quantities, and
sells in lots of from 10 to 100 car loads
to railroads, mills, and other large con-
sumers, There is branch office in
Canada. Mr.. Baker will look after the
hnanclal end of the concern at Buffalo,
while Mr.. Kline will devote his atten-
ton to the buying and selling of the
company's goods.
G. G. Baker returned Tuesday from
trip to Buffalo, where the new deal was
finally closed He said today to State
Journal reporter:
It's rather a peculiar circumstance
that since have been looking around
for a new location, nearly all of the
propositions which I have Investigated
have had something to do with the coal
business. I believe that the outlook
for a successful business at Buffalo is
very bright. An immense amount of
coal is handled there. The company
with which 1 will be connected handles
about 1000 tons of coal day. l expect
to move my family to Buffalo bout May L
You can't get a house there until May.
All the moving is done in May and No
vember. But l Will go back there soon
after the holidays. 1t will seem queer
not to be in Topeka, where the Baker
family has made its headquarters for
so many years. But my father is very
well pleased with the change He was
born near Troy, N. Y and my mother
was born in she Mohawk valley. So
they are. in way, going back to their
old home.''
So closely is the history of the Baker
family interviewer that a history of one
is almost a history of ALL F. P. Baker
and his sons came to Kansas in 1860.
c. c. Baker had been born some years
before in Wisconsin, and with his faith
CT IdIn1ly HdQ llVeu the lie OF a DlO-
neer in Missouri. The people in Mis-
souri, didn't like F. P. Baker because he
was northern man, and he found it
best to get over the line into Kansas.
He settled in Nemaha county, and for
several years represented all the north
west corner of the state in the legisla-
ture. He bought the State Record at
Topeka in 1868, ana from that date the
Baker family has been here almost COLI
tinualIy. In 1868 he transformed the
IN a daily 10 in
the city. In 1869, the Record plant was
totally destroyed by fire. Mr.. Baker
went back east to get a new outfit, and
while there formed a partnership with
Henry King and J. B. Edwards, under
the name of Baker, King & Edwards,
for the publication of the State Record
as n daily This partnership continued
until Henry King was appointed post
master. Then Baker bought out Ed
wards, and new firm was organized
composed of F. P. Baker and his two
sons, Clifford and Net F. P. Baker &
Sons continued to publish the Record
monweaIth, then owned by George
Veale.
ming paper at Denison, Tex, and was
appointed postmaster there He took
Cliff Baker down there with him to. at
tend to the postoffice while he looked
after the paper. In 1875 the Baker
firm bought out the Commonwealth.
Z. (. Baker served as DOohkeeper Ior
the Commonwealth for some time, and
Noble Prentis was city editor. When
Prentis went on trip abroad, Cliff
Baker was made city editor, a position
which he he'd until 1888. Mr.. Prentis,
on his return from Europe. became an
editorial writer for the Commonwealth
In 1883 G c. Baker was elected sec
retary of the state senate, and held this
position until 1887, when he was elected
state printer. He held the Office of
state printer for two terms, or until