The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-02
A GATHER" BAKER STORY.
AtchisOn Man Tells How He Rebuked
a Southern Sympathizer.

In 1S60-61, Peter Boyer kept the
Planters House in Atchison. 1t was
a three-story frame building on Sixth
and Commercial. where the Exchange
National bank is now located. AS the
price of board was not as high as at
the famous Massasoit house. and it
was We'll kept, it had good patron
age, especially from people who came
IN from the west to trade at the river
town, and bring their grist to the
mills here
Among others was F. P. Baker,
who died in Topeka last week in his
n1netieth year, who, with several 9th
er families. came from the east and
located IN and around Centralia. in
Nemaha county. Baker came quite
frequently after groceries. hardware
harness and implements for that lit
Tie colony. and was soon we'll ac-
qua1nted among the business men We
soon found out that he was clever
a man of business and considerable
force-and his company was not only
enjoyed, but looked for and solicited
lie was good, keen buyer, but al
ways reasonable and clever Baker
always put up at the Planters when
IN town He was a Free State man,
and made no bones about telling it.
Among the young men who boarded
at the Planters then were c. G. Eos
Ter, Gate q u S. judge). DIR. w. w.
Coohrane, Sol. R. Washer Jesse Grail
Moses Trimmer, Lou Dunn and my
SELF The rebellion was on hand. and
the war spirit was the talk of the
times, and on the increase. There
were several Southerners boarding
there also. They were generally old
er than us young Northerners. and
inclined to be loud-mouthed. We
young Northerners paid little attention
to them, although their talk heated
our blood sometimes. We considered
their age, and their Southern ways
Among them, was Judge Leland. from
Georgia. He didn't amount to much
good at that, and would tell often
about how one Southerner could whir
six Yankees, and we let him talk
without answer.
There was a narrow front porch
without a roof in front of the Plant
ers, the length of the whole front OF
the house, and there, in fine weather
different groups would come togeth.
er and talk of different things. an6
frequently the talk was of the com.
ing rebellion. One day. in 1861, Mr.
Baker came to town. and put up al
the Planters, as usual. When I came
for dinner. I saw Baker and Foster
talking together on the west side OF
the porch. I walked over, and Judge
Leland was sitting several feet away
talking his rebel talk, and Dragging
loudly. Baker went over to Leland
and told him to stop talking that in.
famous rebel talk at once, and never
to open his lips with such talk agar
while he (Baker) was around, OF
there would be trouble. Bakers tall
became louder. and could be heard {
block away. Mr.. Boyer, the Landlord
heard it. and came out to see wha.
was the matter. He tried to quie
Baker. who then pitched into Boyel
for allowing a rebel and a traitor tt
his country to stay in the house. H,
said that unless Leland was put on
of the house, he would never stol
there again, and would tell his Friends
not t. stop there. Baker then turnet
on US, and called US towards ana
weaklings for letting such talk. g
on in our presence, and we surely fel
guilty. Bakers spirited talk changed
the atmosphere around the hotel.
don't think Leland went to dinner
and Boyer got rid of him later, ant
conversation thereafter was more 10y
al to the Union, and everybody wa
proud of F. P. Bakers loyal and spir
tied action.
Ny acquaintance with Father
Baker, as he was called later. wa
always pleasant. He was in afte
years, while living at Topeka, ap
| pointed United States agent for tn
| forestry congress at the Paris exposi
| ton. When he came back. ne GALE
| on his many friends here. and h
| looked at full Partisan. His whisker
were cut French style, and he wor
a French coat. hat and trousers.
| called him Louis Napoleon. In abou
| a year I met him again, looking Uni
| ted States. and he was plain Bake
again with me.
| Mr. Baker was bright, uprigh
Woodworking and useful man in hi
| time and age in Kansas. He and hi
| newspaper, the Topeka Common
wealth was a great force for the goo
and against the bad in his day. H
| died at the age of eighty-nine, but h
| work-always for the good as he sa'
| twill stand for years to come
Glen Rohr in the Atchison Globe.
Oil and Gas Bonds at FL Dorado.
Ell Dorado, Kan, June BY
/ good majority Ell Dorado voted to is
/ sue $4,000 bonds to prospect for o