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Leonard Fiske Baker

Male 1824 - 1912  (87 years)


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  • Name Leonard Fiske Baker 
    Birth 5 Dec 1824  Phillipston, Worcester, MA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Census 22 Aug 1850  Phillipston, Worcester, MA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    age 25, born MA, school teacher, living with father 
    Census 23 Jul 1860  Hampton, Rock Island, IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    age 35, born MA, dry goods merchant 
    Census 15 Jul 1870  Hampton, Rock Island, IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    age 45, born MA, does retail dry goods 
    Census 1 Jun 1880  Hampton, Rock Island, IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    age 55, born MA, general merchant, parents born MA/MA 
    Census 2 Jun 1900  Hampton, Rock Island, IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    age 75, born Dec 1824 in MA, marr 49 yrs, dealer in dry goods, parents born MA/MA 
    Census 27 Apr 1910  Hampton, Rock Island, IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    age 85, born MA, widowed, on own income, parens born MA/PA, loving in house of son Silas. 
    Death 18 Mar 1912  Chicago, Cook, IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Burial Hampton Township Cemetery, Hampton, IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I16108  Family Tree
    Last Modified 31 Mar 2018 

    Father Silas Baker,   b. 5 Apr 1781, Phillipston, Worcester, MA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 15 Aug 1867, Phillipston, Worcester, MA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 86 years) 
    Mother Abigail Hagar,   b. 12 Feb 1786, Phillipston, Worcester, MA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 14 Feb 1850, Phillipston, Worcester, MA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 64 years) 
    Marriage 28 Dec 1808  Phillipston, Worcester, MA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • from "Vital records of Phillipston, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849", 1906
      Marriage of Silas Jr. Baker and Nabby Hager, Dec. 28, 1808.
    Family ID F6135  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Milla Wright Sawyer,   b. 25 Dec 1829, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 7 May 1887, Hampton, Rock Island, IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 57 years) 
    Marriage 7 Sep 1851  Phillipston, Worcester, MA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • from "Massachusetts, Marriage Records, 1840-1915" (ancestry.com)
      On 7 Sep 1851 in Phillipston MA, Leonard F Baker, 26, a clerk residing Phillipston, born Phillipston to Silas & Abigail Baker, married Milla W Sawyer, 21, residing Phillipston, born Phillipston to Silus & Mercy Sawyer. 1st marriage for both.
    Children 
     1. Myra Sawyer Baker,   b. 5 Jul 1855, Hampton, Rock Island, IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 5 Aug 1856, Hampton, Rock Island, IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 1 year)
     2. Agnes Maria Baker,   b. 29 Jul 1858, Hampton, Rock Island, IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 Jun 1927, Chicago, Cook, IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 68 years)
     3. Mary Hortense Baker,   b. 7 Nov 1861, Hampton, Rock Island, IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 21 Aug 1862, Hampton, Rock Island, IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 0 years)
    +4. Howard Grant Baker,   b. 3 Aug 1865, Hampton, Rock Island, IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 24 Sep 1920, Rock Island, Rock Island, IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 55 years)
     5. Marion Eliza Baker,   b. 15 Sep 1868, Hampton, Rock Island, IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 6 Feb 1896, Hampton, Rock Island, IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 27 years)
    +6. Silas Sawyer Baker,   b. 17 Nov 1869, Hampton, Rock Island, IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 18 Apr 1943, Reynolds, Rock Island, IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 73 years)
    Family ID F6162  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 30 Apr 2017 

  • Headstones
    Leonard & Milla (Sawyer) Baker Family Gravestone
    Leonard & Milla (Sawyer) Baker Family Gravestone
    Leonard & Milla (Sawyer) Baker Gravestone Inscription Side 1
    Leonard & Milla (Sawyer) Baker Gravestone Inscription Side 1
    LEONARD B. BAKER, / BORN DEC. 5, 1824 / DIED MAR. 19, 1918
    MILLA W. SAWYER / WIFE OF / LEONARD F. BAKER. / BORN DEC. 25, 1829, DIED MAY 24, 1887.

  • Notes 
    • from "Vital records of Phillipston, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849", 1906
      Leonard Fiske, son of Silas Jr. and Abigail, was born Dec. 5, 1824.
    • from "The Moline Dispatch", 20 Mar 1912 (newspapers.com)
      ANOTHER PIONEER OF COUNTY IS AT REST
      Leonard F. Baker, Merchant of Hampton for Half-Cdentury, Dies in Chicago
      LONG IN PUBLIC OFFICE
      Justice of Peace, Member of Board of Supervisors and Postmaster - Man of High Ideals
      Leonard F. Baker, a resident of Rock Island county for sixty-two years and a merchant of Hampton for more than a half-century, died yesterday in Chicago at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J. Louis Wells. Death was a result of a stroke of paralysis which he suffered last Sunday. Mr. Baker retired form business about four years ago and since that time had been making his home with his children. Last Summer he had a slight paralytic stroke, while at the home of his son, S.S. Baker of Reynods. He recovered sufficiently from this to be removed to the home of his daughter in Chicago.
      Something of His Life.
      Lenard F. Baker was born in Worcester county, Mass., Dec. 5, 1824. He was a son of Captain Silas and Abagail (Hager) Baker, both natives of Massachusetts, his family being of English origin. His education was secured in the common schools and in the Massachusetts academy, where he remained a student for three years. He then engaged in teaching school for several years, and in 1850 came west to this county with the late M.W. Wright, for whom he worked as clerk in a general store in Hampton, for three years. In 1853 he went into partnership with the late H.F. Thomas and built a fine stock of goods. The business continued and prospered until the civil war, when Mr. Baker sold out. In 1852 he was elected justice of the peace of Hampton township and served in that office for thirty years. In 1865 he was elected to the board of supervisors and served for one term. For nearly seventeen years he served as postmaster. For a time he was in partnership, in merchandising, with the late Henry Clark. He continued in active business until 1893 and after that time the business was conducted under the name of L.F. Baker & Sons, S.S. and H.G. Baker being the active members of the firm.
      Married in 1851
      Mr. Baker was united in marriage Sept. 7, 1851, to Milla W. Sawyer, who was also a native of Massachusetts, and a member of one of its oldest families. His wife died in May, 1887. The surviving children are Mrs. John Louis Wells of Chicago, Howard Grant Baker of Rock Island, and Silas Sawyer Baker, a merchant of Reynolds, this county. Tow children died in infancy and Marion E. died in 1896. Mr. Baker was a whig before the republican party was formed, and then became an ardent republican and so remained until the time of his death. He was a good citizen, a staunch supporter of the Congregational church of which his late wife was an active and devoted member. Mr. Baker couldn't knowingly do wrong. That was the reputation he had among those who knew him best. His ideals were high and he lived up to them. He fought for what he believed to be right, but his fighting left no sting, because of his charity for the views and the rights of others. He took unto himself only that which he was willing to concede to others.