Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1913-08-01
WILDWOOD
Continued from page l

not paidp. The sheriff dismissed the
people and left the farmer thrilled
and filed with new hope. Before
September he harvested his crops and
sold them. With the sale of several
head of cattle he met the obligation.
He declared Mr.. Baker had saved them
from ruin by his act.
In Wildwood this noble grandson
was pursuing such a career by his
knowledge of law. Recently one de-
clared to DIR. Laird, ~ shall never for
get Judge Baker, his counsel saved for
me my home.u Another stated t.If
it were not for the advice of Judge
Baker, | would have made a financial
wreck
A brilliant career had been. predicted
for him. Sensitive, sympathetic,
cheerful and optimistic, yet dignifled,
he was always a welcome guest in
every company, to know him was to
love him. He was prominent as an
after-dinner speaker and sought after
TO address local gatherings of import
ance.
AS a lawyer he was a painstaking
student, often reading far into the night
to be sure his counsel was right. Those
who sought his advice found him q
faithful counsellor. Those who were
In difficulty found him q noble pleader
and on the bench his impartial de-
: cisions were recognized.
Judge Curtis T. Baker, son of Philip
p. and Elizabeth Noyes Baker, was
born In Vineland, August 8, 1873. His
early education was obtained in the
public schools of his native town.
Graduated from the high school, he en-
tered Columbia University, Washing
ton, D. @. and later the law school of
the University of Pennsylvania.
In 1901 he began the practice of law
Camden. He formed a partnership In
1902 with Herbert Harris, son of John
Howard Harris, president of Bucknell
University. The partnership existed
under the firm name of Baker q Harris
for ten years. Shortly after the exal-
tation of Judge Baker TO the bench,
; the partnership was dissolved, Mr..
Harris removing to Philadelphia to
practice law In Pennsylvania.
In 1911 he was appointed by Presi-
dent Woodrow Wilson, then governor
of New Jersey, to preside over the
Court of Common Pleas in Cape May
county. Though many names were
urged upon the governor for this honor,
Curtis Z. Baker was chosen because of
his pre-eminent fitness. The many
delegations which went to Trenton
made an impression upon the Cover
nor and 1t Is said he withdrew a name
already sent to the Senate, and named
Mr.. Baker. As a Judge he served with
dignity and honor.
FUNERAL SERVICE AND INTERMENT
The funeral services were held in the
new Wild wood Crest home Of his IA
ther yesterday afternoon at 1 80 o'clock,
and was attended by a great throng
that filled all available space on the
first floor and on the porches. Perma-
nent and summe residents, friends
from Cape May aud Court House were
present to pay their last respects to
Judge Baker. Professional men, bank
ers, merchants and those from all walks
in life, by their presence, attested the
love and esteem ia which he was held.
Floral tributes In great variety were
.hanked1ho ttheAesket other
available places Ia the large room
where the body rested.
They were sent from the various mu-
inequalities on Five Mile Beach, the
Wild wood Board of Trade, Cape May
County Bar Association, frRternal or
ders, family, relatives and friends. 1t
was a display rarely, II aver seen IN
South Jersey on a like occasion.
The service was In charge of Rev. d.
II. King, ID. D., of Vineland. He was
assisted by Rev. DIR. Laird, Rev. 3. A.
Harker and Rev. DIR. Dubell, Of Glass
boro.
DIR. King had been the family pastor
for 25 years. He read the 18th chapter
of the Gospel Of John, saying 1t was
the most appropriate chapter in the
Bible. 1t told of the sympathy of
Christ for the sisters who had lost by
Heath their only brother. DR.. King
declared be was unable to speak COM
posedly, as Curtis Baker was so near
and dear to him. He had known him
from childhood aud received him as q
lad into the church. Hespoke feeling
ly OF the death Of his own son two
months before. His son was OF the
same age as Judge Baker, had adopted
law as a profession, and they had been
reared together as boys in VineIand.
Professor Nash, of Vineland, sang
LEAD, Kindly Light.n
The pail bearers were Herbert Har-
ris, George Comins, II. G. Bartlett,
Samuel f. Eldredge, Jonathan Hand,
w. q. Hendee, Elwood Thompson and
Harry Il. Nickerson, of Wildwood.
The scores of automobiles formed in
line. Several of them, including an
auto truck, were used for the flowers
and q host of friends accompanied the
body to the cemetery at Cape May
Court House.
The family received kilograms ofcon-
dolence from President Wilson and
Governor Fielder, as we'll as hundreds
of other messages and letters.
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