| Notes |
- from "A History of Texas and Texans, by Francis White Johnson et al, 1914
George C. Baker, Sr., was sent to his father's old home in Vermont, and for a time lived with an aunt in that state, attending school in the meantime. He attended a private school and afterwards a theological seminary at Fairfax, where he took a classical course. At the age of fifteen he started out for himself. It was his desire to come to the Texas frontier, but his mother objected to that, and he consequently embarked on a Mississippi River boat, proceeding up the stream to St. Anthony's Falls, where the present city of Minneapolis stands. He got off the boat there without a cent of money, and found the townsite of Minneapolis just being platted, and lots were offered him at almost his own figure. His first work was with a logging company, and in its employ he went three hundred miles north of Minneapolis and one hundred and fifty miles north of the utmost boundary of civilization among the Chippewa Indians. He remained there for eighteen months, on the Red River of the north, and afterwards returned to St. Claire county, Illinois, where he made a contract to manage a farm for one year. In a short time the Civil war broke out, and, as his sympathies were all with the south, he obtained a release from his contract and proceeded by boat to New Orleans, and thence home, where he arrived after an absence of six years...
On January 10, 1862, Mr. Baker married Miss Mary Staples. Then, in April, 1862, he enlisted in Captain Sullivan's Company E, Willis' Battalion and Wall's Legion, a cavalry organization. The Legion crossed the Mississippi River at Vicksburg and joined the Tennessee Army under Van Dorn. After the death of that commander, it became a part of Forrest's famous cavalry. In the army of that intrepid cavalryman Mr. Baker was in every foray, skirmish and battle engaged in by the troopers of Forrest until the end of the war... Mr. Baker also fought at Moscow, Tennessee, and was a member of the cavalry which did guard and picket duty at the siege of Vicksburg... On taking up civil pursuits, Mr. Baker became a farmer and stock raiser, and arrived home in April, 1865, at which time he first saw his son, then three years old. His wife died the following January. After that he continued his farming and boarded his child and in a few years began getting ahead in the world financially. He bought, largely on credit, fourteen hundred acres of land on the Brazos River, two miles above Rosenberg, and his industry and thrift enabled him to pay for this and improve it into a fine plantation. In 1870 Mr. Baker married Miss Ellen McGraw of Louisiana. The four children born of their marriage were: John H. of Waco; Judge George C. of Richmond, a former county judge of Fort Bend county; Mrs. Lydia A. Hirsch of Houston, and Mrs. Eva A. Moers of Rosenberg. The first son of Mr. Baker, by his first wife, is W. C. Baker, whose home is now in Rosenberg. After a married companionship of nearly twenty years the second wife died, and Mr. Baker later married a widow lady, Mrs. Lorena Boone, whose maiden name was Darst. No children were born to this marriage. Mrs. Baker, the third wife, lived with Mr. Baker for eighteen years, until her death. Since then Mr. Baker has resided partly alone and partly with his daughter in Rosenberg.
- from "The Rosenberg News-Herald", 13 Oct 1916 (findagrave.com)
The death of George C. Baker, Sr., one of the oldest residents of this section of Texas , occurred at the home of his daughter, Mrs. C.A. Moers, in Rosenberg last Tuesday nigh at 9:45, at the age of 77 years, 3 months and 5 days. Death came as the result of an attack of acute indigestion, the decedent being sick only about fifteen minutes. The funeral services were held from the residence of Mrs. Moers on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock and interment was made in the Masonic Cemetery at Richmond. "Uncle George" Baker, as he was known by hundreds of friends throughout this and surrounding counties, was an old time resident of Rosenberg. He was a Confederate veteran and one of the county's most highly respected citizens. He was a member of the Rosenberg Masonic Lodge, and hononary member of Hood's Brigrade and a member of the Dick Dowling Camp., U.C.V., of Houston. The funeral services were in charge of the Masonic body. Surviving Mr. Baker are five children. Mrs. Arthur Hirsch of Houston, Mrs. C.A. Moers of Rosenberg, W.C. Baker of Rosenberg, G.C. Baker, Jr. of Richmond and J.H. Baker of San Antonio. One of the largest crowds that ever attended a funeral service in this county was present to pay their last sad respects to this venerable gentleman, and the News-Herald joins with the host of friend in extending the hand of condolence to the bereaved ones.
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1839 - 1916 (77 years)
