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- from "Vermont, Vital Records, 1760-1954" (familysearch.org)
Royal Baker was born 19 Dec 1801 to Thomas and Jerusha Baker. (transcribed from Newfane town records)
- from "Portrait and Biographical Album of Oakland County, Michigan", (1891)
Royal Baker, the father of our subject, was born in Vermont December 19, 1801. At an early day he emigrated to Massachusetts and then to New York where he was married, March 14, 1824, to Lorane Cronover. By this wife he had three daughters, Louisa, Mrs. Palmer; Jerusha, Mrs. Sigler, and Maria, Mrs. Hinkley. His second marriage was with Sarah Shaw. The wedding was celebrated February 8, 1831, in New York. To them were born the following children: Anson, our subject; Thomas F.; Emily J.; Edward; Larkin, and William H. In 1842 Mr. Baker came to Michigan and settled on the farm now owned by his son Anson. He now purchased forty-five acres. He had visited Michigan a number of times and had taken up two hundred and forty acres in Livingston, Shiawassee and Oakland Counties. All that is left in the family of the original purchase at the present date is forty-five acres. He was a shoemaker by trade and followed this calling most of his life. He lived at Rochester when there were only a few log houses there. Both he and his good wife were active members of the Baptist Church. He died April 10, 1853, and his wife followed him to the grave the following year, breathing her last August 16, 1854. He cleared one hundred acres of land. He was a Whig and took an active part in both politics and church matters, and in a word was one of the prominent men of his day.
- From "History of Oakland County, Michigan" by Thaddeus D. Seeley, 1912
Royal Baker, his paternal grandfather, came from Yates county, New York, to Oakland county, Michigan, in 1836, in territorial days. Settling in Highland township, he took up a tract of wild land in section eighteen, cleared and improved a farm, and lived to see the country roundabout well settled. He was quite successful in life, acquiring title to large tracts of land ere his death, which occurred on his homestead. His son, William Baker, of Grand Rapids, is the only one of his family now living.
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