Memorial Record of Western Kentucky, Lewis Publishing Company, 1904,
pp 512-515 [Caldwell]

     SANFORD WILSON BAKER, who for many years was engaged in farming in
Caldwell county, is now living a retired life in Princeton, and
the fruits of his former toil enable him now to enjoy a well-earned
rest.  He is a native son of this county, born on the 30th of March,
1843.  His parents were Wiley and Nancy (Howard) Baker.  The father
was born in North Carolina in 1802, and when twenty-two years of age
came to Kentucky, where soon afterward he married, and then located
upon a farm seven miles east of Princeton.  Upon that place his nine
children were born and reared.  In order to provide for their
support he always carried on agricultural pursuits, and became a
well known and prosperous agriculturist, for although he started out
upon his business career a poor man he steadily advanced through
energy and industry until he had reached the goal of success,
brooking no obstacles that could be overcome by persistent and
earnest effort.  He was a Democrat in his political affiliations,
but never sought or held public office, preferring to give his
undivided attention to his business affairs.  His wife was born in
Caldwell county, in 1807, and was a daughter of William and Sarah
(Cook) Howard, very early settlers in what is now Caldwell county,
while their descendants are now numerous in this portion of Kentucky
and to some extent have become scattered through other states.  They
were the parents of eleven children.  By her marriage Mrs. Baker
became the mother of nine children, namely: Matilda, now deceased;
Sarah F.; William H. and Zera Allen, who have also passed away; Mary
W.; Robert L., who has also departed this life; George Ann,
deceased; Sanford W.; and Martha Mildred, deceased.  The father's
death occurred in 1881 and the mother, surviving him for a number
years, was called to her final rest in 1891.  Both were members of
the Predestinarian Baptist church and led earnest Christian lives.
     On the home farm Sanford Wilson Baker spent the days of his
boyhood and youth, and in the public schools received a limited
education.  He was early trained to habits of industry and economy
and integrity, as he also became familiar with the labors of field
and meadow and learned of the best methods of producing good crops. 
When old enough to engage in business on his own account he
determined to make the occupation to which he had been reared his
life work, and he always followed farming until he retired to
private life.  As the years passed he prospered, working diligently
and continuously until he had gained a comfortable competence.  The
fields were plowed and planted, and in the autumn rich harvests were
garnered, and thus time went by until 1889, when, wishing to provide
his children with better educational advantages, Mr. Baker removed
to the city.
     In 1867 Mr. Baker was united in marriage to Miss Alzara Jane
Miller, of Hopkins county, Kentucky, and to them were born six
children: Gustavus B., Thomas Lula, Ella May and Bertie; two are
deceased, one dying in infancy and one, Margaret V., dying aged
three and a half years.  Mr. Baker has always been devoted to his
family, putting forth every effort in his power to promote the
welfare and enhance the happiness of his wife and children.
     At the time of the Civil war, Mr. Baker, who was then but a boy
in years, enlisted in the Confederate army and served from 1861
until 1863.  He was a private of Company B, Eighth Kentucky
Infantry, and loyally defended the cause which he espoused.  His
political support has ever been given to the Democratic party, and
he greatly desires its success, but has never sought official
preferment for himself, and has held no office save that of
councilman in Princeton.  In the county where his entire life has been
passed he has a very wide acquaintance and the uniform regard
of those with whom business or social relations have brought him in
contact.
     Gustavus B. Baker, his elder son, was born on his father's farm
in Caldwell county, July 31, 1869, was educated in the district
schools and in the graded schools of Princeton.  He then secured a
teacher's certificate, and successfully engaged in teaching school
for about three years, after which he became a student in the
Louisville School of Pharmacy, in which he graduated.  For four
years thereafter he was engaged in the drug business in Princeton,
after which he sold his store and attended the school of embalming
at Louisville.  He established a furniture and undertaking store in
Princeton in 1898, and has since been very successfully conducting
it, carrying a large and well selected line of goods in both
departments and receiving a very fair share of the public trade.  He
is widely recognized as one of the leading young business men of the
city.
     In 1896 Gustavus P. Baker was united in marriage to Miss Madic
Bond, and to them has been born a son, Wiley.  Mr. Baker belongs to
the Masonic fraternity, and by his ballot endorses the principles
and platform of the Democratic party.  He is a member of the
Christian church, and his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal
church.  Both are held in high esteem in the community, occupying an
enviable position in social circles.

Baker Howard Cook Miller Bond
=
NC Hopkins-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/caldwell/baker.sw.txt