Baker Family

Nathan Baker was a resident of New Jersey, and lived near Philadelphia for several years, finally removing with his family to Chester county, Penn. Afterward he purchased a farm of 150 acres in Washington county, near Fredericktown, where he managed a mill, drove stock and carried on the work of the farm. His first wife was Elizabeth Baker, of New Jersey, and their children were Aaron, Nehemiah, David, Joseph, Nathan, Enoch, Mrs. Lydia Townsend and Mrs. Mary Linton After the death of the mother of this family, Mr. Baker married a widow, Mrs. Jordan, who bore him the following children: William, Israel, Mahlon and Mrs. Hannah Rejester. Soon after Mr. Baker came to Washington county he went to Baltimore, Md., with stock, and while there was taken sick and died; this occurred in 1803, and he was buried beside his first wife.

Joseph Baker, son of Nathan, was born July 9, 1786, in the State of New Jersey, and passed his early youth at home, attending the rate schools, and assisting in the farm duties. When seventeen years of age, his father died, and he then learned the carpenter's trade of Spencer McKay, which he followed many years. He first purchased the Miller farm, comprising thirty acres, and in 1830 bought the place which is now the property of his son Zachariah, and here passed the remainder of his life. On January 1, 1818, he was united in marriage with May Corwin, of Amwell township, who was born November 1, 1797, and the results of this union were the following children:

Eunice, born November 15, 1818; Alpheus, born May 27, 1821;

Stephen, born June 8, 1824; Sophia, born September 29, 1826 (deceased August 9, 1840); Asenath, born August 22, 1829;

Enoch, born April 5, 1832;

Zachariah, born December 19, 1835;

Ruth, born November 11, 1837, and

David, born August 20, 1842.

Mr. Baker was a successful business man, and his property represented the result of his own integrity, economy and perseverance. Politically be was formerly an Old-line Whig, afterward becoming a Republican. He and his wife were members of the Baptist Church at Mount Vernon. He died July 22, 1863, after a long and useful life.

Zachariah Baker, son of Joseph, was born on the farm in Amwell township, where his entire life has been passed. In his boyhood days he attended the district schools, but at the age of twenty-one he began working by the month, continuing in that way several years. On August 22, 1862, he enlisted at Amity in the One Hundred and Fortieth P. V. I., remaining in the service until July 6, 1865. He participated in the battles of Gettysburg, Auburn Heights and Spottsylvania Courthouse, in which latter engagement he was wounded. On December 21, 1865, he was united in marriage with Rosa A. Voorhes, who was born March 6, 1839, near Amity, in Amwell township, a daughter of A. W. and Mary Voorhes;

the other children in his father's family were Nelson, born February 27, 1829;

Samuel, born June 12, 1830;

Jane, born March 24, 1832;

Albert, born December 26, 1833;

Margaret, born October 16, 1835;

Nancy, born May 11, 1837;

Rose A. born March 6, 1839;

Julia (Mrs. Swiggler) born February 4, 1841;

Elizabeth, born August 24, 1842;

Mary, born March 24, 1844,

Andrew, born March 28, 1845; and

Peter, born February 28, 1847.

The record of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Zachariah Baker is as follows:

Sophia Jane, born October 19, 1866, is the wife of Joseph Tucker, of Amity;

Victoren, born July 25, 1868, died September 14, 1869;

Elizabeth Ann was born January 11, 1874;

William Horner, born December 22, 1879, died November 16, 1880.

Mr. Baker has been a successful business man, and is a highly esteemed citizen. He is a zealous worker in the Republican party, and he and his family are all members of the Methodist Church at Amity.

Text taken from page 1195 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Enoch Baker was of Quaker parentage, and was born in Maryland, Nov. 28, 1788. When he was about six months old his father, Nathan Baker, who was a farmer, moved to Chester County, Pa., where he remained until the beginning of the present century (from 1800 to 1803), when he removed to Washington County, Pa., and settled in East Bethlehem township. During Nathan's residence in Chester County his first wife died, leaving eight children --Lydia, Mary, Aaron, Nehemiah, David, Joseph, Enoch, and Nathan; and he was married to his second wife, a widow, Mrs. Jordan, by whom he had four children, William, Israel, Hannah, and Mahlon. Soon after settling in Washington County Nathan returned to Chester County with a drove of horses, and while there died, and was buried beside his first wife.

Enoch Baker learned the blacksmith trade with Nathan Pyle, of East Bethlehem township. After serving his apprenticeship he worked as a journeyman four years with Christopher Slusher, and then purchased a farm on the road from Lone Pine to Ten-Mile village, where he spent the balance of his life. He was a hard-working, thrifty, conscientious man, who left a stainless character and reputation. He was prudent and discreet, a gentleman, and never permitted himself to say harsh things to those with whom he conversed. He was a man to whom his neighbors turned and asked advice when surrounded by difficulties. He was for many years a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and delighted to study and practice the precepts of Christianity.

He was married March 3, 1814, to Elizabeth Jennings, of Amwell township, Washington Co., Pa. He died Aug. 29, 1861. His wife died Aug. 5, 1862.

The children of Enoch and Elizabeth (Jennings) Baker were Nathan, Lemuel, Elmey, Permelia, David, Lucinda, and Daniel.

Nathan Baker was born Oct. 24, 1816. He is a farmer, and resides in Amwell township. He married Maria Horn, and has four sons, --John W., David E., Robert C. and Colin R.

Lemuel Baker was born Sept. 25, 1818. He is a farmer of Amwell township. He was married Jan. 4, 1844, to Sarah Jane Ross. She died Dec. 24, 1849, leaving one child, Permelia Baker, who married Franklin T. Shrontz, a farmer of Amwell township, and has six children--Sarah Frances, Cordelia B., Elmey Mary, Lemuel Baker, Permelia T., and John Frederick.

Lemuel was married to his second wife, Cordelia K. Lindley, May 11, 1852. She died May 7, 1873, and he married his third wife, Mrs. Anne Eliza McCollister (nee Gass), Jan. 4, 1875. She died May 28, 1881. Lemuel married his fourth wife, Elizabeth H. Black, of Jefferson, Greene Co., Pa., July 26, 1882.

Elmey Baker was born Aug. 26, 1820. She married Abel M. Wilson, a farmer of Amwell township, Nov. 17, 1842. Their children are Nathan B., Elizabeth (married to A. B.Samson),

Lucinda (married to John Reynolds, deceased), Ruth A. (who died July 15, 1880), Enoch B., Victorine, and William M.

Permelia Baker was born Nov. 9, 1822, and died April 6, 1838.

David Baker was born Jan. 19, 1826, and died April 11, 1838.

Lucinda Baker was born Oct. 16 1828. She married Robert Stockdale, May 2, 1850. They reside in Henry County, Iowa, and have two children—Enoch B., and James.

Daniel Baker was born Sept. 4, 1832. He married Minerva A. Walton, Feb. 12, 1857, and resides upon the old homestead. Their living children are Flora (married to A. J. Meek), Ida May (married to Abram L. Paul), Viola, Lydia, James, and Bird.

The brothers and sisters of Enoch Baker, who are all dead, married as follows: Lydia, married Benjamin Townsend. They removed to Columbiana County, Ohio, where they both died.

Mary married Joshua Linton. They lived and died in East Bethlehem township, Washington County, Pa.

Aaron married Ruth Jordan. They lived upon the farm where his father settled.

Nehemiah married Eliza Pyle.

David married Margaret Robbins. They lived and died in East Bethlehem township.

Joseph married Mary Corwin, of Amwell township, wherein they died.

Nathan married Abba Ruble. Their children were Levi, Lavina, David, Mary Ann, Albert, Malinda, and Hiram.

Boyd Crumrine, "History of Washington County, Pennsylvania with Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men" (Philadelphia: L. H. Leverts & Co., 1882).