Fayette County PA Archives Biographies.....Baker, Michael February 12, 1827 - ????
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Marta Burns marta43@juno.com August 26, 2024, 9:48 am

Source: Gresham and Wiley, 1889: Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia, Fayette Co, PA, pg 496
Author: John H. Gresham & Samuel T. Wiley

MICHEAL BAKER is of German-French extraction, and was 
born in what is now Nicholson township, Fayette county, 
Penna, February 12, 1827. He is a son of Joseph Baker and 
Anna Larch Baker.
    Joseph Baker was the son of Micheal Baker, a German 
Baptist minister and early settler of Fayette county. Joseph 
Baker was born, reared and educated in Springhill township. 
He was a farmer and owned a valuable farm of 128 acres; he 
subsequently added to it by purchase, forty five acres of 
adjoining land. He was a life-long democrat, an upright 
member of the Mount Moriah Baptist church at Smithfield, and 
was one of the old and substantial citizens of Nicholson 
township, and died May 15, 1858, aged fifty five years.
    He married Miss Hannah Larch, daughter of Paul Larch. 
Their union was blessed with four children: Micheal Baker 
and George Baker, twins; Josiah Baker, cabinet maker in 
Hamilton, Ohio; and Caroline Baker, married and resides in 
Smithfield. 
    Paul Larch, maternal grandfather, as related won his 
wife in rather a romantic manner. He was a native of France, 
emigrated to the Illinois country, and engaged as an Indian 
trader. He stile his wife at night from an Indian camp where 
she was confined as a prisoner. She had been employed during 
the day in carrying wood, which the Indians intended to use 
in burning her during the next day. 
    He owned four hundred acres of land where Kaskaskia, 
Illinois, now stands. Being in fear of the Indians, he came 
to George's Creek and took up four hundred acres of land 
where he resided till his death.
    Micheal Baker grew to manhood on the farm, attended the 
subscription schools and read and studied during his spare 
moments around the fireside at home until twenty one years 
of age. Starting out in life for himself, he engaged in 
farming as his life pursuit. He now owns the home farm of 
128 acres, besides having an interest in a large cattle 
ranch in Wyoming Territory.
    September 20, 1859, he was united in marriage to Miss 
Jane Dowlin, daughter of John Dowlin of Greene county, and 
sister of John Dowlin, ex revenue collector. They have three 
children: Lizzie Baker, Ella Baker, married, and Chauncey 
Larch Baker. 
    Mr Baker and his family are members of the Mount Moriah 
Baptist church at Smithfield. In 1873-75 he served very 
acceptably as poor house director of Fayette county. He is a 
prosperous farmer, an energetic and reliable business man. 

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2000.

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