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Abner Baker
Death of Old Settler Mr. Baker was the first sheriff of Jefferson county. He leaves one daughter, Mrs. Foristall, with whom he lived and two sons neither of whom reside here now. The funeral was held at the M.E. church at Steele City Monday. [The Fairbury Journal, Friday, January 15, 1904]
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Daniel Baker
Pioneer Gone His disease was diagnosed as locomotor axtaxia which rendered him practically helpless, especially for the past two years. During the last few weeks of his life, he was entirely helpless and unconscious most of the time. Mr. Baker was one of the earliest settlers in this region, coming here in 1863. What is known as the Bates place, just northwest of Fairbury, was Dan Baker's homestead, but he lived for a few months on the Brawner farm just southeast of the city, now owned by E.P. Griffin. The first stop he made on Rose Creek with his wife and brother, Andrew. Mr. Baker was born in Jackson Borough, Tenn, October 14, 1829. When fifteen years of age he came to Missouri and lived with his parents on a farm in Ray county. On April 24, 1860, he was married to Mary J Richey at Kingston, Mo. The Baker boys comprised nine brothers, of whom Dan, Joe, Andrew, Henry, Wm and John settled in this county all at an early date. Andrew, Henry and Wm still live here, the former in Fairbury and the two latter on the farm just west of town. Joe moved to Western Nebraska several years ago, his post office being Elsie. In 1894, Mr. Baker's first wife died and in 1898, he was married to Miss Lona McFall at Kinston, Mo, who survives him. The funeral was held at the residence in this city Wednesday morning at ten o'clock, Rev. H.C. Holmes of the Christian church officiating. The remains were interred in the Fairbury cemetery. [The Fairbury Journal, Friday, December 22, 1905]
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Henry Baker After a long illness from locomoter ataxia, Henry Baker passed away at the home of his brother, Wm Baker, in this city, on Sunday, December 1, aged 64 years, 11 months and 15 days. Mr. Baker was one of the first settlers in Jefferson county, coming here in 1863, living on a farm west of Fairbury until a short time ago when, in company with his brother and family, he moved to Fairbury. Mr. Baker was born in Tennessee, moved from there to Missouri and then, on to Nebraska. He was one of a family of seven brothers, Thomas, Daniel, William, John, Henry, Joseph and Andy, in the order of their ages. Of these Dan, John and Henry are now deceased. Thomas lives in Oregon, Joe at Elsie, Nebraska and the other two in Fairbury. The funeral was held from the residence on Tuesday afternoon at half past two, Rev. Holmes acting in the capacity of minister. The remains were buried in the Fairbury Cemetery. [The Fairbury Journal, Friday, December 6, 1907]
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John Baker
John Baker whose name is familiar to every one who has been acquainted in Jefferson county for any number of years, died at the residence of his brother Will in the western suburb of the city last Sunday, and was buried Monday afternoon, Rev. Kirk conducting the services at the house. Mr. Baker was numbered among the very oldest settlers of the county, having come here from Missouri in 1863, and resided here ever since. He leaves no family, having been a bachelor. [The Fairbury Gazette, Saturday, January 5, 1895]
Another Old Citizen Gone Deceased was 56 years of age, unmarried and had lived in this county about 30 years. His death occurred Sunday, December 30th and the burial took place New Years day. [The Fairbury Journal, Saturday, January 5, 1895]
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Joseph Baker
Came Here in 1864 Joseph Baker was born August 15, 1835, at Jacksonboro, Tenn., and died at Fairbury, Nebr., April 28, 1921, at the age of 85 years, 8 months and 13 days. When nine years old he moved with his parents to Rae county, Missouri, where he lived until the beginning of the Civil war when he enlisted in the Southern army and served until the close of the war. He came to Jefferson county in 1864 and took a homestead just west of Fairbury across the Little Blue river. He lived in this county until 1902 when he went to Perkins county, Nebr., to live with his children, but two years ago returned to Fairbury, the altitude in western Nebraska being to high for his health. He was married to Miss Lulu Morrison in June, 1870 and nine children were born to them. Two died in infancy, the others being Mrs. Chas. Busing and Edith Baker of Fairbury; J.C. Baker of Gothenburg, Nebr.; J.D., J.M., T.J. and A.J. Baker of Elsie, Nebr., all of whom were at his bedside when he died except J.C. Baker of Gothenberg. His wife died four years ago. Short funeral services were held in Fairbury at 2:30 Friday afternoon and the remains were taken to Elsie, Nebr., accompanied by all the children, where services were held and burial made beside his wife in the Elsie cemetery.
Joseph Baker was one of the older of the six Baker brothers, who, in the order of their ages were, Dan, William, Joe, John, Andy and Henry. All are gone but Andy. A writer of Fairbury history has said of them: "They homesteaded land lying close together and worked in common for many years, in the pioneer days. Their main business at the homesteads was farming and the raising of livestock. Like nearly all the early settlers, they freighted across the "Plains" to earn their livelihood, during the summer months. The Baker boys freighted down the Santa Fe Trail during 1864-5-6, besides some between their place and the Missouri river. "While the boys did not take an active part in the politics of the county, nevertheless they had the best interest and welfare of the people ever in mind, and had they been of different political faith, perhaps most of their names would have been enrolled as public men. "As a family the Bakers are one of the best known and popular of the county." [The Fairbury Journal, Thursday, May 5, 1921]
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William Baker
William Baker Mr. Baker was one of the pioneers of this vicinity, setting here in 1864, almost a half century ago, and residing here during all that long period. He bought a homestead of Joe Mattingly, the farm he lived and died on, adjoining what is now Fairbury. His house was just west of the City Park and was not reached by a public road but by a road out from Fairbury. Mr. Baker was one of nine brothers, six of whom settled near Fairbury. Four are now dead, Dan, Henry, John and William. Andy still lives in Fairbury, having moved here from his farm several years ago. Joe lives at Elsie in western Nebraska. William Baker was born in Jacksonborough, Tenn., Nov. 22, 1833. With his parents he moved to Ray county, Mo., in 1844 and later to Caldwell county where he remained until 1861 when he became a resident of Nebraska. He served as a "freighter" on the old Sante Fe trail and later drove an overland train over the Oregon Trail which passed thru this county. In 1864 he settled here and in October 1866 he was married here to Miss Nannie Gibson. She died ten years later leaving two daughters, Mrs. Verg. Campbell with whom Mr. Baker lived on the farm when he died, and Mrs. Dan Kavanaugh of Fairbury. Funeral services will be at the house today, Friday, at 10:30, services by Rev. Orrill, and burial in the Fairbury cemetery. Mr. Baker was a quiet, unassuming man, best beloved by those who knew him best. He belonged to the generation which settled this county and which is rapidly passing away-a man of independent, sturdy character, well fitted for the pioneer life he lived. [The Fairbury Journal, Friday, November 21, 1913]
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