From the "History of Steuben County, Indiana, 1885", pages 812-813.

Samuel Baker and his family settled in this township in the spring of 1850. He had considerable means and bought 640 acres of land which soon began to yield bountiful harvests as a reward for the labor bestowed upon it. Some years prior to his death he gave to John, Jacob, Nathaniel, Samuel, Jr., Thomas and Elizabeth each eighty acres and to Christopher seventy-five acres, still retaining a home for himself. He was born in Franklin County, Pa., June 19, 1801. His parents, John and Sarah (Stoner) Baker, were natives of the same State but in 1820 moved to Loudoun County, Va., where he was married Nov. 5, 1829, to Sarah Shriver, who was born in that county March 1, 1802. All that a wife should be she was the rest of his life to him. A willing toiler in converting the wilderness to a state of productiveness; a helper in all good work; kind and indulgent as a parent, carefully training her children and fitting them for the duties of life, she has her reward in the love and esteem now extended to her by children and friends and the consciousness of having spent her life in usefulness and doing what she could to make her husband’s home a happy one. In 1836 Mr. Baker, in company with his parents, moved to Wayne County, Ohio, where his father died in 1847 and his mother in 1854. He remained in Wayne County till his removal to this township. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Baker – John W., Elizabeth, Sarah, Christopher, Jacob, Thomas, Margaret, Nathaniel, Samuel, Jr., and Daniel. Sarah, Margaret and Daniel are deceased. Of the others all save Elizabeth, who lives on the homestead with her mother, are married and comfortably situated. Samuel Baker passed to the better life April 11, 1884, and his funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. C. Ambrose. His death cast a gloom over the entire community and the large attendance at his funeral showed the esteem and confidence in which he was held. He was for over half a century a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in all things was a faithful servant of his heavenly Master.

Submitted by: David D. Masterson