Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, ed. 8-B,
Jackson County

Rev. James H. Baker, a native of Clark County, KY, was born November 17,
1835.  His father, Abraham W. Baker, a native of Madison County, KY, was
born in 1813, and settled in Clark County, about 1827, on Red river, near
Vienna.  He was a farmer, and afterward removed to a farm in Estill County,
where he lived many years until the late war.  He entered the Federal
service and served fifteen months as First Lieutenant in Col. Lilly’s
Regiment.  After coming out of service he engaged in the mercantile business
for several years in Clark County, from whence he went to the State of Ohio
and remained a few years; he then returned to Kentucky and finally bought a
farm in Jackson County, upon which he settled and where he still resides.
He is good humored, a good friend, and always kind in sickness.  He is a
member of the Christian Church and also of the Masonic fraternity.  He
married Lucretia Adams, of Madison County, a daughter of John and Elizabeth
(Parrish) Adams, natives, respectively, of Virginia and Madison County, KY.
The birth of ten children followed their union, the subject of this sketch
being the second child.  Mrs. Lucretia Baker died in 1867, a member of the
Christian Church.  Abram Baker, grandfather of James H., was a native of
South Carolina, and settled in Madison County, KY, where he died.  James H.
Baker was reared on the farm and acquired a common English education.  In
1866 he entered the theological department of the Transylvania University of
Lexington, where he graduated in the leading classes of the Bible College of
Kentucky University in 1868.  He began teaching in 1854 and successfully
continued for three years in Clark, Estill and Madison Counties.  He then
engaged in merchandising at Ruckerville, in which he was engaged for twenty
years, at the same time giving attention to his farm, which first consisted
of 100 acres of improved land and was afterwards increased to nearly 2(X)
acres, where he now resides, giving his especial attention to buying and
selling cattle.  He became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church when
fifteen years of age, maintaining his membership four years, then connecting
himself with the Christian Church.  He began ministerial labor in 1861, and
has since been actively engaged in evangelical work, spending the first
years of his ministry preaching among the poor churches within his reach,
receiving but a small pittance.  Feeling his need of better qualification he
entered, as above stated, the Kentucky University.  After leaving the
University he was engaged by the Kentucky Missionary Board, as a missionary
for Estill County, making his headquarters at Irvine.  He subsequently moved
to Winchester and from there to Eminence, where he was called as a
missionary for the counties of Henry, Shelby, Franklin and Oldham at a
salary of $1,200 a year.  His labors were abundantly blessed in these
counties, many being added to the churches.  During his ministry he labored
as pastor for the churches at Ruckerville, Clark County, Irvine, Miller’s
Creek and Corinth, Estill County, Brush Creek, Powell County, Friendship and
Mt. Zion churches, Madison County, and Sycamore, Montgomery County; also
doing evangelical work in Estill, Bath and Montgomery Counties, making
several trips through the State; he was located at Mount Sterling two years
as missionary for Bath and Estill Counties.  He has held several public
debates with prominent ministers of both the Methodist Episcopal and Baptist
churches, in which he, to the entire satisfaction of his church, defended
its faith and practice and received from his religious opponents the
commendation of being one of the ablest logicians in the church; he is often
consulted by friends and brethren on theological matters and in the
selection of literature. May 4, 1850, Mr. Baker married Sally Ann Rucker, of
Clark County, a daughter of Reuben and Margaret (Hardin) Rucker, natives of
Virginia and Clark County, KY.  Thirteen children have been born to their
union, viz: Olive, Lucretia, Lillie, Laura, Margaret Ann, Sallie Janies,
Reuben R., John William, Henry J., Alexander C., Lonne E., Moses E. Lard,
Grover Cleveland.   Reuben R., John William, Lonne E. and Margaret Ann are
deceased.  Politically Mr. Baker is a Democrat.  He has been Postmaster and
assistant together of Ruckerville for nearly twenty years, is a member of
the Masonic fraternity, Winchester Lodge, F. & A.M., and is an able
expounder of the gospel.  He is very fond of books, and has the best library
of theological work in his part of the county, and is ever ready to defend
in public and in private "the faith once delivered to the saints."  He is a
firm believer in the eternal punishment of the wicked. 

Baker Lilly Adams Parrish Rucker Hardin
=
SC OH Bath Clark Estill Franklin Henry Jackson Madison Montgomery Oldham
Powell Shelby Winchester

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/jackson/baker.jh.txt