Jasper N. Baker, a prominent farmer, and one of the county commissioners of Harper county, is a native of Illinois. He was born, October 4, 1853, on a farm in Menard county, and is a son of James H. and Elizabeth (Turner) Baker. The father was born January 14, 1826, in the same locality in Illinois, in a neighborhood known as Baker's Prairie. The Baker family settled there when that section was still inhabited by the Indians. The Bakers were Virginians. James H. Baker removed from Illinois to Carroll county, Missouri, with his family in 1869, where he followed farming until his death which occurred April 27, 1811. His wife was a native of Kentucky, born October 12, 1830. Jasper N. Baker is one of a family of six, two of whom died in infancy, the others are: Jasper N., the subject of this sketch; Charles, born August 12, 1859, a farmer in Carroll county, Missouri; Mary, born May 12, 1866, the wife of William Day, a merchant at LeGrande, Ore., and Robert, born November 20, 1868, and died December 24, 1883. Mr. Baker was reared on a farm, and in early life his educational advantages were limited. He is self-educated, and has been a student of books, as well as men and events all his life. In 1884 he came to Harper county, Kansas, and bought unimproved land, five miles west of Harper, which he has improved and developed to a high state of cultivation. His farm consists of 400 acres, and is one of the best equipped, modern farms in that section of the State. He was united in marriage, January 1, 1877, at Carrollton, Mo., to Miss Hattie, daughter of Jacob and Maria (Westbrook) Tiliman, natives of Germany. Mrs. Baker was born in New York State, February 28, 1854. To Mr. and Mrs. Baker have been born ten children: Ella, born October 2, 1877; George, born January 4, 1879; Frank R., born February 17, 1880; Nellie G,. born September 8, 1881, died October 12, 1882; Flora May, born December 31, 1884; Della L., born October 2, 1886; Mabel, born May 18, 1889, married Ernest Barber, September 30, 1904, and they have one child, Marie, born April 22, 1908; Hattie V., born September 15, 1891, married Silas Maninger, September 7, 1912, and they have one child, Glenn M., born May 26, 1913; Robert D., born July 13, 1895, and Ruth E., born July 14, 1898. The Baker family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Baker is a Democrat, and while not a politician, he takes a commendable interest in promoting the principles of his party. In 1911, he was elected to the office of county commissioner, and since that time has performed the duties of that office with integrity and sound business judgment which has met with the approval of his constituents.