The Republican journal., 1916-01-06
OBITUARY.

S VIM Ahe" MIN professionally as well
as socially, will regret to learn of the death oil
DR.. John H. Baker of Winterport, who passed
away on Wednesday. December 22nd, after q
painful illness continued through several weeks
and terminating in cerebral paralysis, totally
obliterating nationality and consciousness. DR.
E. P. Goodrich of this town W as in attendance .
with nurse and his wife and daughters, and
nothing was omitted that could contribute to
his relief or comfort, though nothing could be
done for his restoration. He leaves behind to
mourn him. his faithful wife, two daughters
the Misses Ethel and Jessie Baker, four broth
ers and sister. Mrs. Smith of Bar Harbor.
DR.. Baker was born at Steuben. Washington
county, Maine, January 20. 1854; SO that at his
death he had nearly attained his sixty second
birthday. He was the son of Henry c. Baker,
carriage-maker in the town of Steuben,
prominent in town affairs, at one time repre-
sentative of his district in the State Legisla-
ture; and of his wife. Sarah Curtis. born in
Baker belonged to family Of twelve children,
several of whom died in infancy. Two sur.
vived to adult age, who are now deceased
Edith S. Howard and Mrs. Minar C. Smythe.
Five still remain: George w. Baker of Brook
line, Mass, Alger L. Baker of Mapleton, Me-.
Howard C. Baker Of Bar Harpor, Me-, Kenneth
R. Baker of Ashland. Me-, and Mrs. Henry M.
Smith of Bar Harbor, Me.
He grew up in his native town, with the
educational advantages it afforded; and with
the exception of period of his boyhood spent
in Boston in the home of his grandmother, he
continued with his father in the carriage max
ing business until his twenty-firs year. He
then went to Boston where he entered course
OF. training in the Boston Dental School, and
graduated. taking his diploma. In the intro
duction to little manual of dentistry he
printed some years ago, he says: Il came to
Winterport in 1882, soon after completing my
studies at dental school and in the Office of my
preceptor, and during all these years have
enjoyed good practice, counting among my
patients the best people of this and adjoining
towns; and thank them for their patronage
and more especially for their confidence in me
and for their loyalty. During all this time
have kept abreast of all improvements in the
dental science, by frequent visits to the dental
infrmaries and leading dentists of Boston and
New York, as well as being an active member
of several dental associations. and by subscrip-
tion to the best dental journals" :"
DR.. Baker was married September II, 1881,
to Miss Helen M, Spiller of st. John, New
Brunswick, who survives him. Their family
consists Of two daughters. Miss Ethel, grad
uate of Cornell University, and now student
at Emerson College of Oratory, Boston, and
Miss Jessie, an accomplished musician and
pianist. DR.. Baker was warm lover of home
and family and devoted himself untiringly and
unsIintingly to their welfare.
DIR. Baker was closely identified with all the
public interests of the town. He was active
in school matters and in the promotion of
higher education. He served on the school
board for sixteen years and helped materially
in the establishment of High school in Win
terport He was received into membership
with the Methodist Episcopal Church in Win
terport. December q, 1903, under the ministry
of Rev. John W. Hatch, and mas been one of
its most faithful members and Office bearers.
During the past eight more years he has
SeiNeu DIS A2uAuey SCiloOI luLeIlGGLL anu DIS
steward and trustee. He joined the Masonic
Lodge at Wintefport, January 25, 1889, and for
about twelve years he has served most effici-
emily in the secretarist of the lodge; being
at the same time treasurer OF the lodge of In
dependent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he
became a member June 27, 1887.
The funeral service was held at the Metho-
dist Episcopal Chucrh, Wnterport, on Monday,
Dec. 9th, at /. 80 p. The funeral direction
was in charge of Mr.. Daniel Spencer, and the
church service conducted by Rev. A. J.
Lockhart. OF DR.. Baker, the pastor said, in
part: "In Bro. Baker much of the tender
the humane, the poetic. He was very sensitive
to refining influences. He was open to the in
coming of pure and noble thoughts and as pira-
tions. The better things of our literature ap-
pealed to him and he was lover and studen:
, of that best of books, the English Bible. He
was lover of nature, and would wander by
our native brooks and woods and sounding
, shores, amid the scenes he loved, and feel how
weet is an hour of communion with that won-
ierful spirit which pervades the universe. On
he last evening when we met together on
4 lblic occasion, as We sat side by side we con-
'rsed in a low tone OF John Muir's rambles
aout the mountains of California, and he
nnifested deep sympathy and desire to
hte leisure in which to some of the wild
+ sc1es of nature yet unvisited; as if in premo-
nibn of the adventure so soon to come, when
hehould put forth on that voyage to the un-
! dis9vered country from whose bourne no
trae ler returns. He was lover of children
ano'f flowers. The voices of the little ones
ne lsed. and he longed for them in his illness,
The overs of field and forests made no vain
appel to him. They seemed
To smile up to his human face
With quiet looks of love,
And cheer his spirit with the grace
vi sweet thoughts from above
he wa a lover of the social hour; and SO far
as delIhts of this world were concerned, he
was neer happier than when conversing with
some cHgenial frienc' or joining some festive
compan. in their woodward rambles or their
excurslo's up or down the river. These traits
IN MN " Il endear his memory to many of his
hie-iopg associates. Bro Baker had
Iaith In God He trusted in Jesus Christ for
salVatIon- During his last illness, and several
months pfeyiOnS his rplipious life visihv doaD.