OBIT: Baker, 1837 - Bracken Co

 This is the obituary of Capt. Isaac B. Baker as it appeared in the
Plattsburg Leader during the week of Feb. 11, 1929. The spelling and
puncuation are as they appeared in the original newspaper article.
_____________________
 
DEATH OF CAPT. I. B. BAKER
________

Was the Last Surviving Clinton
County Ex-Confederate
Soldier.
________


    Capt. I. B. Baker, one of the oldest and most highly respected residents
of Clinton county, died early Sunday morning at his home in Plattsburg. Capt.
Baker had been in very poor health for several months.
   Capt. Baker came with his parents to Missouri from Kentucky when he was
about twelve years old. He attended the old log school house on the Winn
farm, which will be remembered by the old settlers as one of the early day
schools of the county. Capt. Baker also attend school at Weston and at
Pleasant Ridge college three years.
    Capt. Baker's farm upon which he lived nearly half a century is just west
of Grayson. He was a progressive farmer and stock grower, a kind neighbor,
and community upbuilder during all these years.
    The interest and the activity of the Baker family made possible the
securing of the Rock Island Railroad through Plattsburg and Grayson to
Leavenworth. This was for some time the road's main line between Chicago and
the Missouri River. Thru Pullman trains used to be run over this line between
Chicago and Leavenworth and on west. After the growth of Kansas City became
so much more rapid than Leavenworth, the railroad company routed it's thru
trains over the Burlington from Cameron Junction into Kansas City, and the
Grayson line was made a branch.
    Capt. Baker was one of the first Clinton county young men to enter the
Confederate army, and was the last surviving member of the group.
    He entered the Confederate army in June, 1861,at the age of twenty four
years. James Clay raised the company of about seventy men, and they were
drilled on the ridge south of the old Clay farm home, as Mr. Clay was living
on the farm at that time.
    Darius Bainbridge was chosen captain of the company and they went to the
battle of Carthage the fourth of July, 1861, and to the battle of Wilson's
creek, where Capt. Bainbridge was killed. Mr Baker went on with Price's army
into southern Missouri and into Arkansas. He came home in the spring of 1862
and took his father to Kentucky and joined the company at Clarksville, Tenn,
under Capt. Paige. He was chosen captain of the company in the summer of
1862, and continued in that company until the close of the war. Capt. Baker
and his company were with Gen. Johnston, who surrendered his division April
26, 1865. General Lee's surrender was on the 9th of the month.
    The funeral which was a largely attended one, was held at the Plattsburg
Christian Church Monday afternoon, at two o'clock, and burial was in the
Grayson cemetary. The funeral was conducted by the pastor of the church, Rev.
Vere H. Rogers. The H-RCA men's quartet, composed of Supt. Allison, Rev.
Rogers, J. W. Holmes and R. C. Cook, sang at the service.
    The following obituary sketch was read at the funeral service. 
    Capt. Isaac B. Baker, the highly respected and useful citizen, in whose
memory this service is held, was a son of Isaac and Elizabeth Baker, very
early pioneer settlers in the Grayson community, of Clinton county. They were
the parents of twelve children who lived to manhood and womanhood. Of these
twelve children, only one now remains, Jesse Baker, of Grayson.
    Capt. I. B. Baker was born December 28, 1837, at Augusta, Ky, and was
therefore past 91 years old at the time of his death, which occurred Sunday
morning, February 10, 1929, at his home in Plattsburg, following a long
illness of rheumatism and old age infirmaries.
    Early in the Civil War Mr. Baker entered the Confederate army, and served
with distinction, being promoted to the rank of Captain, and not only by will
of his superior officers, but the unanimous vote of the other members of the
company, when a vacancy occurred in that office.
    Capt. Baker was the last surviving Ex-Confederate soldier in Clinton
county. Capt. Baker was united in marriage Feb. 22, 1866, to Miss Frances D.
Stoutimore, daughter of Josiah and Amanda Stoutimore, also pioneer residents
of Clinton county. The marriage took place shortly after Capt. Baker's return
from his army service, at the Stoutimore farm home, five miles south of
Plattsburg.
    Capt. and Mrs. Baker had a most happy married life of nearly sixty-two
years, terminated by her death which took place May 11, 1927.
    To this husband and wife there were born three children: J. D. Baker, of
Plattsburg with whom he had made his home for some time; Rosa Lee who died in
early childhood; and Mrs. Myrtle Grayson, who died about nine years ago, who
is survived by one son, John C. Grayson, of Phoenix, Ariz.
    Mrs. Baker also lived to advanced age, and was 81 years, 7 months and 20
days old at the time of her death.
    After their marriage Capt. and Mrs. Baker went to housekeeping on their
farm, and lived there until about fourteen years ago, when because of
advancing age and failing health they moved to Plattsburg. Shortly before
Mrs. Baker's death they left their home in Plattsburg and went to live with
Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Baker, at Grayson, where Mrs. Baker's death occurred.
Capt. Baker, after the death of his wife, continued to live there with Mr.
and Mrs. J. D. Baker, until about a year ago the three came back to the Baker
home in Plattsburg, where his last months were made happy ones by the tender
care of his son and daughter in law, and the kindly visits of many friends. 
    The home of Capt. and Mrs. Baker on their farm near Grayson, was one of
the landmarks of that part of the county. It was built in 1867, shortly after
their marriage. The lumber and material for erection of the house Capt. Baker
hauled with wagon and team all the way from Lathrop, and the highways were
not the broad and well graded ones of today. With such handicaps the citizens
of that pioneer day built up this county and made possible the many
advantages of this present generation. This pioneer farm home, which had been
the center of so large a portion of the hospitality and social life of the
county, burned about a year ago.
    Since early life Capt. Baker had been a member of the Christian church.
He and Mrs. Baker were Charter members of the Christian church at Grayson,
and Capt. Baker was the last surviving charter member of that congregation.
Their earnest interest in the church, and education, and worthy ideals
everywhere, is well known by all who were acquainted with them.
    They were active and efficient leaders in the work of the church, and
liberal supporters of the church, and missions and education and benevolences
with their financial blessings. In their home the preacher was always
welcome, and often went away with gifts more substantial than mere words. The
lives of Capt. and Mrs. Baker, and their daughter, Mrs. Grayson, and son J.
D. Baker and his wife, have had much to do with the developmentof religion,
education, good roads, industrial advance, and every worthwhile activity of
Clinton county.
    Capt. Baker's life was a long one; it was also a most useful one. Many
are the lives that are better and nobler because of the fellowship with him.
Through such lives come the progress and betterment of the world.
    The body at the close of this service we tenderly will place beside that
of his wife in the beautiful cemetary near his former home at Grayson. The
spirit has already returned to the God who gave it, whose he was, and whom he
served so long and faithfully.

From: RPhill1715@aol.com
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 1997