Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-09-21
SAMUEL BAXTER
PASSES AWAY
One of the Best Known Pioneer Citi-
zens of This City Dies at
Ripe Age Of Nearly
Eighty-Five.
CAME TO WEBSTER CITY IN 1866
Active in Business for Many Years
and Had Held Many Posi-.
tions of Trust.

Samuel Baxter, one of the pion-
eer settlers of Webster City, passed
away Sunday afternoon at three
o'clock at the ripe age Of eighty-five
years, lacking a few months. He
had been i'll for about six weeks fol-
lowing a paralytic stroke, since
which his strength has been grad
ually failing. Mr.. Baxter retired
from active business life about tif-
teen years ago and has during these
years of retirement enjoyed the u.s.
ual health of the advanced in years.
Samuel Baxter was born in Musk
ingum county, Ohio, December 4
1880, where he lived until 1865,
when he came to Webster City.
His family did not come until
the following year at which time
they occupied house on east Di-
vision street, with the Sumner Will
son family. Later portion Of the
old frame block across the street
from the present Baxter home-now
known as the Rosenkrans building
was erected by him, and when fin
ished the upstairs was occupied by
his family. A few years later they
bought and remodelled the present
home where they have since resided.
III |. ,.r.l
was the buying of half interest in
l 1000 head of sheep. In 1857 he took
the contract to erect Hamilton coun-
tvs first court house, which he built
upon the northwest corner OF the
present city park on Bank and SEN
eca streets. In, 1868 he was elected
county recorder and filled the posi-
ton two terms. After retiring from
the Office he engaged in the real es-
tate business and continued in that
line until 1882, when he formed a
co-partnership with the late W. B.
Howard and opened up hardware
and farm implement business, occu-I
pying quarters for many years at the
corner of Seneca and Bank streets.
In 1874 he was elected a member
of the board of supervisors, serving
nearly six years, and was a member
of the board when the present court
house was erected. 1t was during
his term of Office also that the poor
farm was purchased and the first
county home erected. 1t was also
due to Mr.. Baxters efforts that such
a fine court yard park is now a
thing of beauty. When he became
6 member of the board not tree or
shrub was upon the grounds, and it
was through his personal efforts that
the work of planting trees was done.
Later he was elected mayor of Web
ster City and filled the position
with credit to himself and to the
general satisfaction of the people.
During his administration as mayor
the old city electric light plant
across from the court house was
built.
Mr.. Baxter was lifelong Mason,
uniting with the order il Nashport,
Ohio, and soon after coming to Web
ster City adding his name to the
number who constituted the earliest
members of the Masonic order in this
city. He was ever faithful attend
ant of the lodge in all its depart
ments.
Since the establishment of the
Kendall Young Library he has been
chairman of the board of directors,
serving in that capacity sixteen
years.
In all the relations of life, Samuel
Baxter averaged up to the full stat
ure of man. He was successful in
business and filled every position of
trust to which his fellow citizens
called him with fidelity and signal
ability and proved his true worth in
every test. During the late years he
has lived quietly with his family at
the old home on the corner of First
and Seneca streets and died with
the respect and esteem Of everybody
who knew him.
Mr.. Baxter was among the pioneer