John Wesley Baker

John Wesley Baker was born in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia, February 13, 1826. The child of pious ancestry, he was, from infancy, the subject of prayer and the beneficiary of Christian example. His parents—stanch Methodist in creed—at one time were members of the Protestant Methodist Church. This was due to the fact that there was no Church of their choice in the neighborhood to which they had removed during the boyhood of their son. With this Church the subject of this notice, after a joyous experience of converting grace, united. He grew to manhood within its pale, and when about thirty years of age was licensed to preach. In due course of time he was ordained to the offices of deacon and elder.

Removing again to a place where they had access to a Church of their original choice —the Methodist Episcopal Church, South —the family transferred their names to its membership. At the Conference of 18G8 our deceased brother applied and was received on trial into the traveling connection. We have failed to find any record of his appointment for 1869. His other charges were as follows: Gwinnett, 1870; Hartwell, 1871-2; Morganton, 1873; Alpharetta, 1874; Dallas, 1875; Dawsonville, 1876; Belton Mission, 1877; Etowah, 1878-9; Polk Mission, 1880-1; Belton, 1882; Cobb, 1883-4. Here his health—long infirm—failing, he was retired from active work, sustaining a superannuated relation to the day of his death, which occurred at Madison, Ga., February 18, 1902.

Our brother died as he had lived, a faithful servant of his Church, his God, and his fellow-men. From boyhood he was noted for piety and a consistent Christian life. While yet a minor, in the absence of his father, he kept the fires burning on the family altar. In him the household found a youthful priest, ever ready to offer up the morning and evening sacrifices. His educational advantages were very limited. But with a will to dare and do he set himself to earnest work; and alternating between a year at toil and a year at school, he laid the foundation of an education which fitted him for a career of usefulness in after life. His chief book of study was the Bible, which, as we have been told, he read through forty-one times in as many years. His preaching gave abundant evidence of his familiarity with the sacred writings. His zeal in the pulpit and faithfulness in pastoral duty demonstrated that heart and soul were absorbed in his own work. In fact, devotion to his high calling, regardless of physical health and comfort, no doubt brought on and aggravated the distressing malady—asthma—with which he suffered greatly in his later years. Perhaps the distinguishing trait in his character was trust in God and faithfulness to duty. His pastoral charges were usually hard and unremunerative; yet, with a courage born of an inspiration which moved martyrs to do and to suffer, he went forth unmurmuringly to the work assigned him. And when the brethren of his Conference said to him, "Enough—rest from your active labors," he retired quietly and gracefully to that often-dreaded position, a superannuated relation.

On the 8th of January, 1902, his faithful wife, to whom he had been wedded for half a century, went home to heaven. After this sad stroke our venerable brother, exhausted by the wear of years and the ravages of disease, rapidly sank, till, on the 18th of the following "month, his ransomed spirit went to join the loved one gone before.