BIO: Reuben T. BAKER, Huntingdon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lana Clark 
<myclarkhistory@hotmail.com>

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm 
**********************************************************
__________________________________________________________  

Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 280-281
__________________________________________________________  

  REUBEN T. BAKER, Trough Creek, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in Tod 
township, June 23, 1843, son of George W. and Elizabeth (Householder) Baker.  
His family are of good German stock, with a record of patriotic service to the 
United States.  Mr. Baker's paternal-great-grandfather and grandfather were both 
soldiers, the former in the Revolution and the latter in the war of 1812.  
George Householder, his maternal grandfather, was killed in the battle of 
Antietam, in the Rebellion, at the age of sixty.  John Baker, the paternal 
grandfather, was a farmer of Penn township, married to Rebecca Royer; his son 
George W. Baker was also a farmer, first in Penn, afterward in Tod township, 
where he passed the remainder of his life.  He owned and tilled a farm of 167 
acres, on which he built a house and barn and made other improvements.  He was 
also a stock raiser.  He was married in Penn township to Elizabeth Householder, 
born in that township.  Their children were: Rosanna, deceased, wife of Jonathan 
Brindle; Reuben T.; Andrew J., deceased, was in Company K, Pennsylvania Cavalry, 
but was killed at home; Catharine (Mrs. Matthew Beaver), of Ohio; Benjamin H., 
of Stonertown, Bedford county, Pa.; Rev. George W., pastor in the Methodist 
Episcopal church, is in Kansas; John, farmer, of Tod township; Samuel, farmer, 
of Hopewell township;  Ettie B. (Mrs. R. Lynn); Martha, died in childhood; 
Bruce, principal of the high school, Indiana, Pa.  George W. Baker belonged to 
the State militia in Tod township.  He was a Republican; he served the township 
as supervisor and as auditor. He died at the homestead in 1886.  His wife is 
still living, in Hopewell township, and is seventy-two years of age. 
  After attending for a number of years the common schools of his native 
township, Reuben T. Baker began work on the home farm, and continued it until he 
reached the age of eighteen, working also for several months at carpentry.  Then 
war came; and he enlisted in Tod township, August 25, 1862, in Company I, One 
Hundred and Twenty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Higgins and Capt. W. 
F. Thomas.  He spent ten months in the service, and was in several engagements, 
including the battle of Chancellorsville.  During his term of enlistment he was 
ill for six weeks.  He was mustered out in June, 1863, returned home and 
continued work as a carpenter until August 18, 1864, when he again enlisted in 
Tod township, for one year, in Company D, Two Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, Colonel Matthews and Capt. T. B. Reed.  During this term Mr. Baker 
was in the battles of Fort Steadman and Petersburg; he was present at the 
surrender of Lee, and at the grand review in Washington, D. C.  Being discharged 
at Harrisburg in June, 1865, he went home and resumed the business of his trade.  
Two years later he turned his attention to farming.  Mr. Baker now bought 217 
acres under cultivation, at a cost of $7,000; he had only $25 to pay in cash, 
and had to borrow money to meet the recurring payments of interest.  All has 
been paid off, $8,000 of the money being interest.  Mr. Baker has worked that 
farm for more than thirty years; he built upon it a frame dwelling, costing 
nearly $2,000, and made other improvements.  He also bought the homestead in Tod 
township, comprising 167 acres, and added some improvements to it.  He is a 
stock raiser and general dealer in stock.  Thus Mr. Baker, by a combination of 
thrift and industry, judicious management and courageous enterprise, has 
acquired abundant means, though beginning life with limited resources; and in so 
doing, has obtained a position of influence.  He has been a member of the school 
board of his township for nine years, and has been its secretary for two terms.  
He has also been supervisor, tax collector, and for four years treasurer.  He is 
a Republican, and is a member of the A. P. A, and of the Grange of Tod township. 
  Reuben T. Baker was married, July 3, 1866, in Cass township, to Harriet E., 
daughter of John Whitney, manager of a mine in Tod township, and of English 
descent, Mrs. Baker was born in Tod township.  Their children are: Viola U. 
(Mrs. R. E. E. Hall), her husband a farmer of Tod township; Lorena C. (Mrs. B. 
A. Benson), of Jeannette, Westmoreland county, Pa.; Mary A. K. (Mrs. W. Sherman 
McClain), of Tod township; Reuben E., of the homestead; and two who died in 
early childhood.  Mr. Baker is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of 
which he is trustee, and was for several years steward.  He has also been both 
teacher and superintendent of the Sunday-school.