SOME STORIES ABOUT JAMES BAKER AND HIS FARM

On a research trip to OK., in Jan. 2001, I drove to Blackburn to locate his property that was said to be near Blackburn.  Here I met an 84-year-old man by the name of Ralph Hagle whose parents had rented the Blackburn farm from George Espy Baker in 1921, just 3 years after James' death.  Ralph had a little different story to tell which George had told him many times.  According to Ralph, George actually made the 1891 run in his father's name.  Both James and George rigorously exercised the horse on a daily basis to get him in shape for the run.  They spent a year training the horse for the grueling event, making certain that both rider and horse were in top condition.

On the day of the race George and a friend lined up together agreeing to which properties they were going to stake their claims.  At the start of the race George and friend both rode long and hard and then rode some more, rode until they finally reached "their" land.  George rode up and jumped off his horse and began marking his claim while his horse stood there calmly grazing.  The friend also jumped off his horse and began staking his claim and while doing so looked over to see his horse lying dead upon the ground, the horse not being conditioned as was the Baker horse.

My grand daddy, Steward Baker was the son of James and brother to George, and it was grand daddy's claim that James made the run.

The Baker family raised Kentucky thoroughbreds and it was on one of these Kentucky bred horses that James (or George) rode.  Later in Maramec, OK., George was to raise 3 and 5 gaited horses, carrying on the family business of Thoroughbred horse breeding. 

Ralph (he introduced me to his wife as “a fast California woman”) took me to James’ farm located outside of Blackburn, which was no easy feat.  First for me to get to Blackburn I had to drive the highways and byways of OK. all I had was a large state map that had no details of local areas.    I started on the interstate then turned onto a state route, which turned into a graveled road and then unto dirt roads which had no road signs posted.  I drove under these primitive conditions for almost an hour, stopping at intersections and blocking the road with my car in order to flag down any passing vehicle whose driver might point me in the right direction.  I repeated this procedure 3 times then once I stopped at a farmhouse to ask directions.  [in Blackburn I learned that there was a "front entrance" to the town and could have arrived using all paved highways!]  Finally arriving in Blackburn I found a town that is made up of a Baptist church, Methodist church one empty building, two buildings that were falling down, a dead armadillo, and a two pump gas station which fortunately was still in business.  I asked them to fill the car gas tank, and on going inside the station I found about 6 farmers sitting around talking.  I told them what my quest was and they started conferring and decided who would be most knowledgeable about the farm coming up with Ralph's name.  A very kind woman who goes by the name Billie Jo took me to Ralph's farm and introduced us.

Ralph and I headed down the back country roads in his big old farm truck, down dirt roads then across pastures and then we headed off into the "wild country" where we went down ravines and up over fallen trees getting stuck at one time but that old truck dug it's way out.  After awhile Ralph stopped the truck and said,  "now we walk".  I was more than happy to get out of the lurching vehicle and use my own legs.  We didn't have far to walk when Ralph spotted an old track leading into the farm that would have served us much better than the route we drove.

The house that Ralph lived in as a child was a house that seems to fit the description given by James on his homestead papers .  Ralph said that there was one room standing over the cellar when he first moved there.  I believe that one room to be the smokehouse that is described in James homestead papers where it is listed that there was a "cellar and smokehouse".  He pointed out the location of the barn, granary, north garden, south garden and orchard. 

James Baker Farm Near Blackburn, OK. The Farm Was Located In The Area Known As "The Hills"

Rear View Of Farm Showing The Orchard

Letter and Plot Map Written By George E. Baker To His Brother Steward After Their Father's Death

James Robert may have owned  (3) pieces of property in Ok.  The first being the western land obtained in the OK, land rush of 1891.  It has long been told that James made the run and was successful in staking his claim; his papers were filed at the Enid land office. 

James Baker testified on his Homestead proof that he was 56 years old of Blackburn, O.T. and was born in Kentucky.  He testified to the following questions.

Question 4:  "When was your house built on the land and when did you establish actual residence thereon?

December 1895 - Two rooms 16 X 26 & kitchen 12 X 18 all frame between.  40 and 50 acres breaking, stable, well, 20 acres fenced, 500 mixed fruit tree's cellar & smoke house about $900.00

Question 5:  Of whom does your family consist; and have you and your family resided continuously on the land since first establishing residence thereon?

Myself wife and one daughter -yes -

He also testifies that in the years 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900 that he had 40 acres under cultivation.

He describes the land as "Prairie, rough land, most valuable for grazing & farming." 

There are remnants of the old wood bridge that James built over a creek bed and the well is still there but is now in a concrete housing instead of the original wood housing.  According to Ralph the well had the "best water in that part of Oklahoma."  There is also a dry creek bed where even during the dust bowl days the creek ran until in 1930 the upside neighbor built a pond and "killed the spring".  

The land now sits idle and is fenced off.  When sold in 1949 it was sold in two parcels of 40 acres and 120 acres respectively.  The total piece of 160 was in the shape of a T. There is a woodlot of maples that James planted and a few conifers that are recent self-starters.  This area is known as "the hills" as every once in awhile there is a swale in the topography.  Corn was planted in the hills in the early days and was an excellent crop standing very high but the ground played out after five or six years and would support only wheat, rye and oats.  James would have harvested prairie hay to feed his horses.  Ralph lived on the farm until 1947 when he purchased his own farm.  The present owner moved in the 1950’s the little house that James built to the town of Pawnee where it is used as a rental.

This Blackburn property was a homestead that was proved Nov. 22, 1894 at the cost of $10.00 for the 160 acres.  The property description is as follows; NE ¼ of the NW ¼ and the west ½ and the NE ¼ of the NE ¼ Section 26 twp 22 N. range 6 East of the Indian Meridian.  It sits back from the road about ¼ mile and extended back for ¾ mile.

Neighbors; Henry Carter homesteaded and proved his place on March 28, 1894, that too, was 160 acres at $10.00.  (Henry married James daughter Rebecca). 

The Remnants Of The James Robert Baker Cellar And Smokehouse.

The Bricks Were Hand Made By Him And Are All That Remains Of His

Homestead In The Year 2002.

Children of JAMES BAKER and MARY BENNETT are:

                              37.   i.   FAY EFFIE TOMYE GEORGANNA BAKER, b. September 20, 1869

                              38.   ii.  GEORGE ESPY BAKER, b. March 07, 1871

                              39.   iii. OLIVE BAKER, b. May 05, 1873

                              40.   iv. STEWARD BAKER, b. February 08, 1876

                              41.   v.  REBECCA MOORE BAKER, b. March 17, 1878

                              42.   vi. ABIGAIL BAKER, b. August 08, 1880

                                      vii. S. BRANT BAKER, b. November 11, 1885, Shelbyville, MO; d. November 1918.

by Mrs Merrifield

"S. Brant Baker, son of James Robert Baker and Mary Gee (Bennett) Baker; He was born near Shelbyville, Missouri, Nov. 11, 1885.  His first name for the initial S. is not known.  Brant had his spine injured when a child.  This affected his mind and character.  He could never mature mentally.  As his parents could not watch Brant continuously and care for him, they placed him (when a boy) in an institution.  There he existed for years and died Nov., 1918."

Name on tombstone appears only as Brant

Died of the flu epidemic

                              43.   viii.  MARY JIM BAKER, b. August 18, 1889

19.  JULIUS A. BAKER (GEORGE WILLIAM³, EDWIN², REASON¹) was born Abt. 1847 in Boone Co., KY.  He married MARY E. ENGLE May 30, 1876, daughter of SAMUEL ENGLE and ELIZABETH SMALL.  She was born 1848 in Bourbon, KY.

Notes for JULIUS A. BAKER:

"Mr. Baker is a son of George W. Baker and wife, Rebecca J. Baker, who were reared and married in Kentucky, and came to Missouri in 1852.  They settled near Shelbyville, but since have moved to Shelbyville, MO.  The father is one of the energetic and respected men of that vicinity, and has held the office of constable for four years.  He and wife are members of the Christian Church.  Julius A. was born in Boone county, Ky., October 14, 1846 and is the fifth in a family of ten children.  He was reared in Shelby county and received a common school education.  In 1876 he was married to Miss Mary Engle of this county, a daughter of Samuel P. and Lizzie Engle, who came here in 1855 from Kentucky.  Mr. B. has followed farming in the county since his marriage, and on rented lands until January 1882 when he was awarded the contract of superintending and carrying on the county poor farm, which he has since done with excellent success and to the satisfaction of the county court and the public generally.  This farm contains 160 acres and is managed by Mr. Baker to the best advantage.  Mr. and Mrs. Baker have two children, Irene and Frank W.  Mr. B is a member of the A. F. and A. M. and is Past-Master of St. Andrew Lodge No. 96, at Shelbyville."

Source: History of Monroe and Shelby Co. MO. 1884.

More About JULIUS A. BAKER:

Occupation: Farmer, Superintendent of the county poor farm

Children of JULIUS BAKER and MARY ENGLE are:

                                      i.   IRENE BAKER, b. Abt. 1877.

                                      ii.  FRANK W. BAKER, b. Abt. 1880.

20.  MARY JANE BAKER (GEORGE WILLIAM³, EDWIN², REASON¹) was born 1848 in KY.  She married LILBURN SMITH HALE;  February 04, 1850 in MO. d. February 06, 1916 Shelby Co, MO.

Notes for LILBURN SMITH HALE:

This family came to Shelby Co., Mo. from TN.  They settled in the north-western part of the county, about 15 miles from Shelbyville.  Lilbrun (father of Lilburn Smith Hale) was a farmer and one of the substantial, highly respected citizens of the county.  He lost his life during the war, being accidentally shot by bushwhackers, April 2, 1862.  He was on his way home from Shelbina, and had fallen into the company of a body of Federal soldiers, traveling the same road.  He was riding by the side of Col. Lipscomb, the commander of the soldiers, when unexpectedly they were fired upon by bushwhackers, who were lying in ambush for the soldiers, which resulted in Mr. Hale's and two of the soldiers being instantly killed, and three other soldiers being wounded, one of whom died soon afterwards.  Although a Union man in principle, he had taken no part in the war, and his death, therefore, was purely accidental.  His widow is still living on the farm south of Shelbyville, where the family had settled previous to her husband's death.  She is now in the seventy-first year of her age.  Her youngest son, Lilburn S., has charge of the place. 

Source: History of Monroe and Shelby Col, MO. 1884.

Notes for MARY JANE BAKER:

                                                                                      Obituary

'Mrs. L. S. Hale Dead.

Mrs. Mary J. Hale, 67 years old, passed away at 4 o'clock Sunday morning at the family residence in Shelbina, following a two weeks illness of pneumonia.

Mary J. Baker was born in Kentucky Nov. 20, 1848, and at the age of 4 years removed to Missouri with her parents, who later located in Shelby county.  In 1869 she was married to the Rev. L. S. Hale and they made their home on a farm near Hale school house until they removed to Shelbina some twelve years ago.  The husband and seven children survive to mourn the loss of a devoted wife and mother.  The children are Mrs. L. B. Davis, Mrs. Fannie Hehr, Misses Nan and Effie Hale, all of this city; Rev. Geo. L. Hale of Hannibal; Rev. L. M. Hale of Maryville, Mo. And Julius Hale of Shelbina.

The remains were brought to this city and funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. G. W. Humphrey.  Internment took place in Masonic cemetery."

Children of MARY BAKER and LILBURN HALE are:

i.       GEORGE LILBURN HALE, b. 1871

ii.      FANNY BEATRICE HALE, b. 1873

i.             SALLY REBECCA HALE, b. 1874

ii.           JAMES H. HALE, b. 1876 b. Dec. 2, 1876, d. Sept 2, 1895

iii.         JOHN L. HALE b. Oct. 29, 1886, d. Oct 27, 1895

iv.         SANFORD HALE b. Oct. 8, 1888, d. Oct 21, 1895

More About JAMES C. HALE:

Owned mining interests in CO.

Mason

Occupation: Attorney

                                       v.     NANCY HALE, b. 1878

                                      vi.    EFFIE MAGDALENE HALE, b. 1880

                                      vii.   LEWIS HALE, b. 1882

                                     viii.  JULIUS EDWIN HALE, b. 1884

                                      ix.   JOHN L. HALE, b. October 29, 1886. d. October 27, 1895. He is buried in the Masonic Cemetery Shelbyville, Shelby Co, MO.

                                       x.   SANFORD H. HALE, b. October 08, 1888.  d. October 21, 1895. He is buried in the Masonic Cemetery Shelbyville, Shelby Co, MO.

21.  SARAH ELIZA ALLPHIN (CATHERINE³ BAKER, EDWIN², REASON¹) was born July 02, 1846 in Big Bone Springs, Boone Co., KY.  She married ROBERT LEWIS ROBERTS October 28, 1864 in Boone Co., KY, son of THOMAS ROBERTS and MARGARET HIND.  He was born December 17, 1842 in Verona, Boone Co., KY, and died October 10, 1913.

Children of SARAH ALLPHIN and ROBERT ROBERTS are:

                                      i.   TOM BENNY ROBERTS, b. August 27, 1866, Verona, Boone Co., K.; m. HOPE ROBINSON, March 11, 1895; b. April 27, 1880, Verona, Boone Co., KY.

                                      ii.  JIM BERT ROBERTS b. January 17, 1869; d. July 04, 1898.

22.  ALBERT ALONZO ALLPHIN (CATHERINE³ BAKER, EDWIN², REASON¹) was born September 30, 1851 in Boone Co., KY, and died March 17, 1924.  He married MARY HOWE HUME September 03, 1877 in Madison, IN..  She was born January 26, 1854 in Boone Co., KY, and died March 17, 1925.

22.  BENJAMIN B. ALLPHIN (CATHERINE³ BAKER, EDWIN², REASON¹) was born September 22, 1860.  He married PINK (Baker?).  She was born 1867.

More About BENJAMIN B. ALLPHIN:

May 17th no year given in Cleek Family Bible as date of birth

Child of BENJAMIN ALLPHIN and PINK is:

                                      i.   JIMMIE ALLPHIN, b. 1885; d. 1909.

Notes for JIMMIE ALLPHIN:

Buried next to Pink Allphin, dates only correct if he is the James G. Allphin buried there.

23.  MARY HUME (MARY ELLEN³ BAKER, EDWIN², REASON¹) was born November 02, 1858 in Boone Co., KY, and died January 29, 1949 in Florence, Boone Co., KY.  She married GEORGE OMER CLEEK September 26, 1877 in home of bride, Boone Co., KY.  He was born January 03, 1850 in Boone Co., KY., and died June 15, 1929 in Beaver Lick, KY.

Child of MARY HUME and GEORGE CLEEK is:

                              45.   i.   HOWE HUME CLEEK.

24.  BOODLE HUME (MARY ELLEN³ BAKER, EDWIN², REASON¹)

More About BOODLE HUME:

This sounds like a nickname & he may already be on the list

Child of BOODLE HUME is:

                                      i.   MARVEL HUME.

25.  DOVIE HUME (MARY ELLEN³ BAKER, EDWIN², REASON¹).  She married STEWART. 

More About DOVIE HUME:

This sounds like a nickname & she may already be on the list

Children of DOVIE HUME and STEWART are:

                                      i.   MAMIE STEWART, m. JOHNSON.

More About MAMIE STEWART: Also known as Nanny

                                      ii.  BENNET STEWART.

26.  THOMAS BAKER (AQUILLA³, EDWIN², REASON¹) was born Abt. 1852.  He married KATE. 

Notes for THOMAS BAKER:

According to Jennie Lee Hance notes; he was a prominent Louisville physician, a Republican who was later Postmaster

of Louisville.

Child of THOMAS BAKER and KATE is:

                                      i.   ELLA BAKER, b. Abt. 1872.