History of Northeast Indiana
LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties
Editorial Supervisors: Ira Ford [LaGrange], Orville Stevens [Steuben],
William H. McEwen [Noble] & William H. McIntosh [DeKalb]
The Lewis Publishing Company
1920

Frank W. Baker, a farmer in com fortable circumstances near Angola in
Pleasant Township, represents a family that has been identified with
Northeast Indiana since about 1850, most of the time in Steuben County.
Mr. Frank W. Baker was born in Pleasant Township, February 16. 1966.
A son of Edward and Susan [Sandal] Baker. His parents were both
natives of England, his father born in 1821 and his mother September 24,
1826. They were married January 21, 1847, and the first two of their
children were born in England. April 11, 1850, they took passage at an
English port and on the 14th of May arrived in New York City. Their
first settlement was in LaGrange County, Indiana, and they had their
home at Applemanburg about eight years. Edward Baker then bought a farm
from Philo Nichols in Jackson Township, near Otter lake, later sold that
and in 1865 moved to Pleasant Township of Steuben County. Here he
bought eighty acres, cleared it up and for a time his family lived in a
log house. Edward Baker spent his life usefully and honorably, and died
with the respect of a large community in 1909. His wife passed away May
4, 1899. He was a republican voter, remained true to the faith of the
Church of England, while his wife became affiliated with the Christian
Church at Angola. They had seven children: Susie, widow of Chester
Crain, of Steuben county; Naomi, wife of James North, of LaGrange
County; Mary, widow of Alexander Halstead; Edward James, of Jackson
Township in Steuben county; and Frank W.
Frank W. Baker grew up on his father's farm in Steuben County,
acquired a good education in the local schools, and on reaching manhood,
having no capital and no land of his own, he went to work as a farm
hand. His first purchase of land was fifteen acres. Later he bought
forty acres in Jackson Township, and successive years have brought him a
slowly accumulating prosperity. In 1906 he acquired seventy-two acres
two miles west of Angola, where he lives today. This farm was formerly
owned by his wife's father, Jacob Wolf. Mr. Baker is doing a good
business as a general farmer and stock raiser. He is a republican in
politics and attends the Christian Church. He is affiliated with the
Odd Fellows Lodge at Angola.
July 3, 1892, Mr. Baker married Miss Loma Wolf. She was born in
Steuben County January 9, 1870, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth
[Menges] Wolf. Her parents were both born in Ohio, and were married in
1866, after they came to Steuben county. They settled in York township,
where Jacob Wolf had eighty acres, and on selling this property moved to
Kansas and spent six years in the Sunflower state. Returning to Steuben
County, he located in Steuben Township, rented a farm for a time, and
then bought the farm in Pleasant Township. Mrs. Baker's mother died in
1906, at the age of sixty-four, and her father is now eighty-three years
of age. In the Wolf family were four children: Cora A., wife of Peter
Crowl; Mrs. Baker; Alice, who died in 1894; and Peter, living in
Michigan.
Mr. And Mrs. Baker have four accomplished daughters. Blanche L., the
oldest, born October 4, 1894, is a graduate of high school and the
Tri-State Normal College, had a teacher's license for three years and
taught school, and is now the wife of Ray D. Hosack. Lola Alice, born
September 9, 1897, also took the high school and Tri-State Normal
courses. Cora Gladys, born July 18, 1902 is a student in the Angola
High School, as is also the youngest daughter, Mildred Berdina, who was
born March 10, 1904.

Submitted by: Joey Pedigo