Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-Silas Baker
Portrait and Biographical
Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
SILAS BAKER, a prosperous farmer residing
on section 26, Hayes Township, Dickinson
County, was born in Seneca County,
Ohio, November 26, 1837. His father was
Richard Baker, who was born in Steuben County,
N. Y., January 1, 1809. His death occurred February
16. 1889. His mother's maiden name was
Fannie Wheeler; she was a native of Wheeler, Steuben
County, N. Y., and was born on the 20th of
June, 1819. Her death occurred February 15, 1887.
They were married in Steuben County, N. Y., and
soon afterward removed to Seneca County, Ohio,
where they settled on a farm on which they lived
until their deaths. Richard Baker was a farmer by
occupation and followed that calling during his
entire life. Mr. and Mrs. Baker had a family of
six children, all sons, of whom our subject was the
eldest.
Silas Baker passed his childhood and youth on
his father's farm in Seneca County, Ohio. He received
his education in the common schools and
also attended the university at Berea and that at
Delaware, Ohio. When he was through attending
school he started in life on his own account, following
his father's occupation of farming, in his
native county. He resided in Seneca and Wyandot
Counties, Ohio, until 1879. In the spring
of that year, having disposed of his farm, he removed
to Dickinson County, Kan., where he purchased
one hundred and sixty acres on section 26,
Hayes Township, where he settled and where he
has since been a resident. He now owns and operates
four hundred and eighty acres, on which he
has made the best of improvements.
On the 15th of March, 1860, Mr. Baker was
married to Miss Delilah Brown in Crawford
County, Ohio. She is a daughter of Asa and
Elizabeth (Lee) Brown. Both Mr. and Mrs.
Brown were natives of Canada and the deaths of
both occurred in Wyandot County, Ohio. Mrs.
Baker was born in Crawford County, Ohio, July
11, 1838. To Mr. and Mrs. Baker was born
a family of four children, Robert A., who was
married to Miss Jessie Anderson and now resides
in Tacoma, Wash.; Fannie, who is the wife of
Arthur Simmers; Eliza, the wife of Charles Lee;
and Richard, who married Carrie Long, and resides
in Hayes Township, this county. Mrs. Baker
was connected from her girlhood with the Methodist
Episcopal Church and had always taken an
active and leading part in all church work and
benevolent enterprises. She passed away on the
17th of August, 1886, mourned by a large circle
of friends and acquaintances.
Mr. Baker owns a fine farm, which is highly
cultivated and on which he has erected good
buildings and made the most modern improvements.
His pleasant home has always been
the abode of hospitality and good cheer. In regard
to his political affiliations, he is a stanch Republican
and takes an active and interested part
in politics. In the fall of 1891 he was elected
County Commissioner, in which capacity he has
shown his public spirit and interest in the best
good of the community. Mr. Baker has met with
many reverses in life but has overcome them with
a manly fortitude worthy of emulation. He is
one of the most prominent and influential citizens
of this section, and the success which he has met
both in public and private affairs has been the result
of unusual energy and perseverance. We
take pleasure in presenting this brief sketch of so
worthy a gentleman to the readers of the Record.
(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for
Dickinson County KS AHGP