From A Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. I, p. 117
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902

LEW BAKER

   Upon section 21, Wilson township, Rice county, resides Lew Baker, who follows agricultural pursuits and is engaged in the raising of stock.  He is well known as an enterprising citizen and has made his home in Rice county since 1880.  He was born in Norwalk, Huron county, Ohio, October 4, 1863, and is a son of Ansel Baker, whose birth occurred in the Empire state in 1818.  When a young man the father emigrated westward to Ohio, and in that state was united in marriage to Miss Martha Foster, who was born in Vermont.  She was greatly beloved for her kindness of heart and mind.  Her death, which occurred when she was fifty-five years of age, was mourned by all who knew her.  Mr Baker, the father of our subject, was born in 1818, and died April 14, 1890, at the age of seventy-two years, after devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits as a life work.  In politics he was a Republican and in religious belief was a Methodist, holding membership in the church of that denomination in his boyhood.  His children are:  Mrs Frances Robbins, of Huron county, Ohio; M F, one of the prominent early settlers of Wilson township, Rice county; Norman, who is also living in Ohio; Charles, who makes his home in Chicago, Illinois; Lew, whose name introduces this review; and Thomas, who is likewise a resident of the Buckeye state.

   The boyhood days of Lew Baker were quietly passed.  He worked upon the home farm during the summer months and was trained to habits of industry and economy.  In the winter season he pursued his studies in the public schools and by business experience has also added to his knowledge.  At the age of seventeen years he made his way westward to Kansas, locating in Rice county, where his brother, M F, resides.  Here he engaged at farm work, and by industry and economy he secured a capital sufficient to purchase a small tract of land and thus gained a start.  As time has passed he has added to his property until he now owns a valuable tract of three hundred and twenty acres, upon which are splendid buildings, and his excellent pasturage affords golden opportunities for stock-raising.  There is an orchard upon the place and he has every facility for raising and feeding cattle.  Besides being a splendid judge of cattle, he is a good manager, and in his business efforts he has won creditable success.

   In the year 1893 Mr Baker was united in marriage to Miss Lulu Black, a lady of intelligence and culture, who has spent her entire life west of the Mississippi river.  She was born in Lee county, Iowa, near Fort Madison, where she was reared and educated.  She is a daughter of A and Frances Black.  Her father is now a resident of Wilson township, but her mother departed this life in Lyons, in 1901.  The marriage of our subject and his wife has been blessed with two children, Foster M, whose birth occurred December 23, 1897, and Everett Lewis, born April 2, 1902.  Mr Baker is a man of strong mentality, of splendid business ability and is frank and genial in manner.  His business associates find him reliable and trustworthy and he is an enterprising and successful farmer.