Transcript:Indiana, United States. Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties/B/Baker, James S.

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James S. Baker (p 905)

This well known and highly esteemed citizen of Milton, Indiana, who now conducts a livery, feed and sale stable at that place, is a native of this state, born in Fayette County, December 25, 1837, was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools and the Industrial College, of Richmond, Indiana. His parents, John and Mary (Hanna) Baker, were born, reared and married in Bourbon County, Kentucky. The paternal grandparents of our subject were Abraham and Mahala (Fifer) Baker. The grandfather was born near Ellicott's Mills, Maryland, a son of Jacob Baker, a native of Germany, and from there removed to Kentucky. He was a stonemason and farmer, most of the family being tillers of the soil. In 1824 he came to Fayette County, Indiana, and located at what is now known as the Baker settlement. In political sentiment he was a Whig. His children were David; John, father of our subject; Nancy, wife of J. Grove; Harrison; Eliza, wife of J. Lewis; Ellen, wife of D. Groves; and Daniel. All lived to a ripe old age but are now deceased. The father was over ninety years of age at the time of his death.

Soon after his marriage, John Baker, the father of our subject, came with the other members of his father's family, to Fayette County, Indiana, in 1824, making the journey with a four-horse team and cutting his own road through the forest for many miles. Land had previously been entered on two sections about two miles east of Falmouth, and there all the members of the Baker family improved good farms, on which they reared their respective families. Our subject's father was a successful farmer and stock raiser; was first a Whig and later a Republican in politics; and was called upon to fill some township offices. Although not a member of any religious denomination, he was a strictly moral man and gave his support to churches. His wife, who died December 2, 1857, was a consistent member of the Methodist Church. His death occurred April 16, 1891. Her father, Joseph Hanna, was born in the north of Ireland, was a strong Protestant, and on his emigration to America settled in Kentucky, where he engaged in farming until called from this life. Both he and his wife were earnest members of the Methodist Church. In their family were ten children, namely: Jane, who died unmarried; James, a resident of Rush County, Indiana; Mrs. Thomas Wright; Mary, mother of our subject; Mrs. Margaret Thomas, David, Isaiah, William, Mrs. Nancy Carter and Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson.

The subject of this review is the fifth in order of birth in a family of seven children, the others being as follows: Elizabeth, now a widow, who first married W. Dickey and after his death wedded D. Wymer; Harrison, deceased; Sally A., wife of H. Jackson; Harriet, wife of J. Stookey; Jane, wife of T. Van Buskirk; and David, who owns the old homestead.

James S. Baker was reared to the life of a farmer and remained upon the old homestead until his marriage in 1861. He then settled on a farm, to the improvement and cultivation of which he devoted his energies for twenty years, and was next employed as a traveling salesman for the Dorsey Implement Company, of Milton, until 1885. The following three years he was with the Deering Machine Company, and with the Champion Machine Company for two years, traveling in the southern states. He then traveled in the northern states in the interest of the Buckeye Implement Company for six years, and on retiring from the road, in December 1895, established himself in the livery business at Milton, where he now owns a large and well-equipped stable and also a commodious and pleasant residence on the same block. In politics he is a Democrat, and as a public-spirited and progressive citizen he gave his support to all enterprises for the public good.

On the 9th of October, 1861, Mr. Baker married Miss Mary H. Wallace, and to them have been born three children: Kate, who is now the wife of S. Wilcox; Della, who first married James E. Gresh, an express messenger that was killed in a railroad wreck, and is now the wife of Elmer Weaver, a merchant of Abington, Indiana; and John C., a cigar manufacturer of Milton, married Grace Kemmer.

Mrs. Baker traces her ancestry back to William Wallace, who immigrated from Scotland or the north of Ireland to the colony of Virginia about 1730 and resided in Albemarle County, where his five children --- John A., William, Michael, Josiah and Mrs. Hannah Woods --- were born and reared. They continued to make their home in the Old Dominion, and in each generation the name of John appears. The Indiana branch of this family is descended from John Wallace, who was born in Virginia, in 1732, and had four children, John, Samuel, Laura and Alice. Of these John removed to Kentucky about 1800, and during his short residence there his wife died; and the same year, with the remainder of his family, he went to Monroe County, Ohio. His children were Hannah, Rosanna, Polly, John, Patsy, Thomas and Betsy. In 1811 his son John came to Indiana territory and entered a tract of land in what is now Washington Township, Wayne County, and the following year took up his residence thereon. At that time his three children --- John, Thomas and Betsy --- were all single. The first summer the daughter was sent to one of the older settlements on the east fork of White River, where she made her home with the family of a Mr. Hunt. Mr. Wallace's land was only two miles from the Indian reservation and his family was constantly in danger of an Indian raid. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary War and in religious faith a Presbyterian, and died in 1820.

John Wallace, the son of this Indiana pioneer, was the grandfather of Mrs. Baker. He wedded Mary Banks, and the marriage ceremony was performed by her father, Adam Banks, of Kentucky, who came to Indiana about 1814 and located in Wayne County, where he entered land and improved a farm. He also engaged in teaching school and in preaching, as a minister, first of the Baptist and later of the Christian Church. He organized churches over a large territory and as one of the most popular ministers of those days he joined in holy wedlock many of the pioneers of this section of the state. The children born to John and Mary (Banks) Wallace were Oliver and Cyrus, residents of Washington Township; Stephen, James and John, all deceased; William and Preston, both residents of Wabash, Indiana; Mrs. Sarah Wright and Richard, both deceased; Mrs. Emily Williams; and Allen R., deceased. The parents of these children were both consistent members of the Christian Church.

Cyrus Wallace, Mrs. Baker's father, early became familiar with the hardships incident to pioneer life, and assisted in the arduous task of clearing a new farm and making rails. He was born in Washington Township, Wayne County, May 19, 1817, and remained with his father until his marriage, when he located on a small tract of heavily timbered land, built a cabin and commenced to improve his place. He added to his farm from time to time, until he had three hundred and eighty-five acres, which he later divided among his children, while he still retains another farm. Throughout his active life he was successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of the raising of fine horses, but is now living retired in Milton, enjoying a well-earned rest. In 1843 he married Miss Catherine Hunt, a native of Wayne County. Her father, John Hunt, a native of North Carolina, came to this county in 1811, and, being a gunsmith by trade, he repaired guns, not only for the white settlers, but also for the Indians, and became a great favorite with the latter. Mr. Hunt possessed the secret of welding cold steel, a process never acquired by any one else, but unfortunately the secret died with him and is lost. During the early Indian wars his services were in great demand by both parties. He died in Wayne County. His wife was a member of the Baptist Church. Their children were William, Wilson, John F., Caroline, Martha, Sally, Labonia, Salina, and Catherine, mother of Mrs. Baker; Lazarus died in infancy. To Cyrus and Catherine (Hunt) Wallace were born two daughters: Mary, wife of our subject; and Martha, who married O. Ferguson, and died leaving two children.