The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-11-22
Retired Congregational Pastor
and His Wife Will Hold
Family Gathering

SuAAVuAINCu Ny uICIllUcTS Ol tIlclI
family, Rev. Walter A. Baker, who
has served as pastor of churches in
North Dakota for 40 years, and Mrs.
Baker, BOT Fourth ST., will celebrate
their golden wedding anniversary at
their home here Thanksgiving day.
Present for the occasion will be
their two children, Mrs. M. E. Todd.
Minneapolis, and Lyman Baker, 800
Mandan ST.. deputy state tax commits
sioner together with his wife and
family. Mrs. Todd will arrive this
evening.
Rev. Baker was married to Miss
Margaret E. Sim, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Peter Sim of Peabody, Mass, at
her home so years ago on Thanksgiv-
ing day, which that year fell on Nov.
&c. Throughout the years they have
followed the custom of celebrating
their wedding anniversary on Thanks
giving day.
Descended from family of Ameri-
can patriots, Rev. Bakers great-great-
neutrality-suspicious. was william
Baker, born in Boston, in 1855. His
great-great grandfather fought in the
battle OF Lexington and a great-great-
uncle in the battle of Bunker Hill.
John Locke, his maternal great-great
grandfather, served with the New
Hampshire troops in the Revolution
airy War.
Famed Minister Ancestor
Mrs. Baker also is a descendant of
hardy Puritan stock. The famous
preacher of the Pilgrims, John Rob-
lnSon, who accompanied them on their
flight to Holland, was her ancestor.
Although he never came to America,
his son, Isaac, came over on the next
boat after the Mayflower, landing at
Barnstable, Cape Cod, and later set
thing at Lynn, Mass.
Rev. Baker, who will be 70 years of
age next April 8, and looks 10 years
younger, was born at South Boston,
the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Baker.
He attended the grade schools and
was graduated from English high
school, Boston, in 1870.
Upon graduation he was offered a
scholarship in the Massachusetts In
stitute of Technology, but preferring
to go to work entered the office of
Henry w. Wilson, a civil engineer
where he remained for five years. He
had intended to enter Boston Uni
versity in 1876 to enroll for a the
illogical course, but a serious illness
with brain fever made this plan I'M
possible.
That same year he moved to Pea.
body, Mass, and engaged in the grain
business in an effort to regain his
health. During this time he renewed
his interest in religious work and held
many positions in the church at Pea
body.
One year following their marriage
In 1882, Rev. and Mrs. Baker moved
to farm at Methuen, Mass, where
they supplied milk to a route of 200
customers and built up a spring water
business Of 800 customers. Here also
he entered heartily into church work
In December, 1890, through the soli-
citation of Rev. A. McGregor, a for
mer pastor, Rev. Baker was induced
to come to North Dakota and was
given Methodist charge at Emer-
ado, leaving his family at Methuen
until his status as pastor was fixed
Work Was Arduous
The work was arduous. Rev. Baker
recalls, for in addition to preaching
two sermons day, sometimes in out
lying districts, he also had much
studying to do in order to be admitted
to the ministry. Much to his delight
he subsequently passed the four-year
examinations with grades of 90 to IS.
His next pastorate after Emerald
was Pembina, where he remained un-
til 1896, with brief trip east to settle
up an estate. That same year he
moved to Forest River with his FAM
lily, where he remained as pastor of
the Methodist church for two years.
From Forest River. he went to the
Methodist church in Wahpeton. a pas
torate he held for five years. Desiring
to remain there for the schools, Rev.
Baker accepted pastorates in Wynd-
mere and Barney, but lived in Wah-
peton. At this time he again took up
his old profession of civil engineering,
serving as city engineer at ,Wahpeton
and Breckenridge and drainage engi-
neer of Richland county.
The family remained at Wahpeton
until June, 1916, when Rev. Baker be-
came pastor Of the Congregational
church at Armenia, a position he held
for five years. -.
He next accepted call to the Con-
gregational church at. Hancock, Mimi.
where he served as pastor until his
retirement from the ministry Nov. 30
1929. They came to Bismarck in
1880. -.,,4
Map drawing and completing rec
ords of engineering work IS Rev. Bak-