The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-01-21
THE LOCAL HAPPENINGS
Interesting Items of Local Interest
Picked Up by The Reporter
During the Persent Week.
Dr.. 6. w. Baker.

DR.. 6. w. Baker.
DR.. g. w. Baker, for many years one
of Decatur county's Oldest and. mos,
successful medical practitioners, died a,
his home in Leon, Sunday morning, Jan.
uary 10, 1908, after a short illness.
DR.. Baker had been resident of De-
catur county since 1857. He was borr
in Jennings county, Indiana, near Yer.
non, the county seat, in 1921. His
parents were Morris and Margaret
Baker, the former native of Virginia
the latter of Maryland. They were mar.
ried in Virginia, removing thence tc
Indiana soon afterward. They were
among the early pioneers of that part OF
Indiana. In the autumn of 1886 the
the family removed to Scott county
Iowa, the doctor then being fifteen
years of age. Here they were again
pioneers. Davenport was then an In
dian trading post for the Sac and Fox
Indians, of whom Black Hawk was chief
Here the father took up tract of land
and made home where he resided till
death. He and his wife lie buried in
the Blue Grass cemetery ten miles west
OF Davenport. The doctor was reared
on his fathers farm and has had a large
experience in pioneer life, having passed
the most of his life on the frontier.
Before coming to Iowa he had the ad-
vantage of nearly two years instruc-
tion at the Vernon Academy, which was
a very important event in his life, as
schools in Iowa were very limited at
that time. In 1S45 the doctor began
the study of medicine with DR.. Andrew
P. Ringer with whom he remained two
years. In his early life he helped to
survey and lay out the town of Buffalo,
Iowa. He commenced practice in Rock
Island county, Illinois, in 1S47, where he
remained three years. In 1851 he started
with his family overland for California,
but after getting as far as Ottumwa he
abandoned the enterprise on account of
the wet season and high water. He re-
turned to Rock Island and practiced
two years longer, then removed to Han
cock county for the purpose of taking
charge of the sick on the line of the
Quincy & Peoria railroad which was
then in process of construction. Here
he remained about a year, then re .urned
to Ottumwa and practiced two wears,
thence to Decatur county, locating at
Decatur City, where he lived until 1861
when he moved to Leon. He was first
married in 1910 to Miss Clark, daugh-
ter of Capt Lewis Clark. To this union
three children we're born, Erastus w.
Baker, of<Los Angeles, California; DR..
Clarence G. Baker, now of San Francisco,
California, and Ida Baker Mehl, now
deceased. In 1852 he married Mrs.
Susan Hoffman. TO them were born two
nh Dol.
James |. Baker, of st. John, Washington.
He was gentle and kind husband and
most generous and indulgent father.
In his personal intercourse he was al
ways courteous and affable, listening
with the same patience and attention
to the humblest citizen as TO the most
influential. He was man of generous
and impulsive nature with fertile
mind, we'll stocked with ideas, and
lavish in their outlay; warm hearted,
open handed, large minded. There was
no place in his makeup for envy, for
malice, or for hatred. In all the quail
ties that adorn human nature, none eX-
celled him. The pleasing presence, the
hearty welcome, the confiding friend
ship, and the warm nature of our late
brother, are now gathered like beauti-
full flowers about his coffin. To conse-
crate the ashes of the dead, and to
remember and practice what was good
and generous in their lives, is the most
acceptable service we can render to
those who have been separated from the
living. DIR. Baker possessed a quick,
active mind, enabling him at glance
to comprehend a subject requiring
thought and study with many others.
An exalted public spirit ever animated
him, and every movement, whether
originated in legislative halls or else
where, which in his judgment tended to
benefit the nation in large or small
degree, received his hearty approval.
His mind had received the training and
discipline of many years of active men
tai labor, and he took an intelligent
interest in all political problems. He
was broad and progressive in his views,
and forcible speaker, always appeal
ing to the pure and elevated Judgment
and not to the passions and preiudices
of the .eople. He was an earnest ad-
vocate OF the principles and policy of
the greenback party, because he be-
lieved those principles to be founded
upon the firm basis of justice and right,
and that their adoption was essential to
the peace, the prosperity and the we'll
being of the American people, and he
was the first candidate of thai party
for representative in the Iowa legis-
lature from Decatur county. Ills loss
to the community is great; to his
friends and family beyond estimate,
but let friends and family all know that
his good name and fame will be treas
ured tenderly in our midst, and "that
his memorial shall not depart away"
Private funeral services were held at
the home on Thursday morning, and
public services at the Christian church
on Thursday afternoon conducted by
Rev. Chas. Arthur Coakweh, interment
being in the Leon cemetery.
License to Wed.
Clyde Pickering. Leon %