Legislator Details
Image Description:
Portrait captured from Find-a-Grave.com 6/25/2025; same photo in 1911 Michigan Manual preceding p.800.
Number of sessions served 5
Gender: Male
Age at election: 44
Vital Records Information:
Birth
Date: 1/13/1862
City: Dover Township, MI
County: Lenawee County, MI
Country: US
Death
Date: 1/4/1930
City: Murers, MI
County: Cheboygan County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial:
Burial
Date: 1/7/1930
City: Cheboygan, MI
County: Cheboygan County, MI
Country: US
Cemetery: Munro Township or Pine Hill Cemetery
Marital Information:
married Martha R. Roberts; 2, Thomas E. and Charles W. [adopted]
Number of Children: 2
Background
Religion: Methodist Episcopal
Military Service:
Occupation: teacher, farmer, merchant, businessman
Race: Caucasian or White
Education:
Educated in Dover Twp MI schools; attended Adrian College
Biographical Sketch:
Son of John and Lidia (Burchham) Baker. He was a county teacher for a few years. In the early 1880s, he ranched in the Dakotas. Moved to Cheboygan Co., 1889 to farm. He served as supervisor and held other township offices. He was Michigan Assistant Secretary of Labor at the time of his death. Member of the Grange; Elks; Modern Woodmen of America; Knights of Pythias. He had a general store in Weadock for some time.
Notable Facts:
Unsuccessfully ran for some offices as a Progressive. Nicknamed the 'Cheboygan Bear Cat' for his flamboyant style.
Died of apoplexy. Place of burial on death certificate says Cheboygan, Pine Hill; Find-a-Grave says Weadock/Munro Cemetery. Obit. says place in Pine Hill vault to be transferred to Munro in spring.
Sessions Served:
Committees Served On: Elections , Highways , Judiciary , Normal Schools
City of Residence: Weadock
County of Residence Cheboygan
District Description: Comprising the counties of Alpena, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, Montmorency, Otsego and Presque Isle
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Normal Schools
Committees Served On: Elections , Highways , Judiciary , Labor , Normal Schools
City of Residence: Weadock
County of Residence Cheboygan
District Description: Comprising the counties of Alpena, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, Montmorency, Otsego and Presque Isle
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Normal Schools
City of Residence: Weadock
County of Residence Cheboygan
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed
Committees Served On: Fish and Fisheries , Insurance , Roads and Bridges , Supplies and Expenditures
City of Residence: Weadock
County of Residence Cheboygan
District Description: Cheboygan County
Date Left Office: 1/1/1753
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Committee chairmanship: Insurance
Committees Served On: Geological Survey , Insurance , State Public School
City of Residence: Weadock
County of Residence Cheboygan
District Description: Cheboygan County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Bibliography:
PolGryd; MIBiog 1:41; Manual 1919, p. 799; Michiganology; USCen 1910, 1920; Find-a-Grave.com, includes portraits; Petoskey News Review 1/7/1930; DetNews 1/6/1930 p.7, col.4; DetNews 1/5/1930 p.18, col.4-6, includes sketch
