At left: Charles Edgar BakerC. E. Baker, County Attorney of Comanche County for many years, and who during the past 12 1/2 years had been employed by the U. S. Treasury Department passed away at the home of his sister, Mrs. Alice White, in this city at 2:23 a.m. on Friday of last week. He had not been in good health for several years and had been seriously ill since last December.
Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. last Sunday afternoon in the Methodist church in this city and were in charge of the pastor, Rev. Major W. Parker. Mr. and Mrs. Gurney W. Hadley sang, "We Are Going Down The Valley," "The Old Rugged Cross," and "Lead Thou Me On." There was a profusion of flowers from the many friends of Mr. Baker.
The pallbearers were six nephews of Mr. Baker, through blood relationship or marriage, Raymond Broadie of Ashland, Roy King, Dwight Copple and Orville Craig of Meade, and Bowman Hewett and Arthur White of Coldwater. Burial was in Crown Hill Cemetery.
Obituary Charles Edgar Baker, son of Martha and Andrew Harrison Baker, was born in Lawrence County, Missouri, December 29, 1873, and departed this life June 18, 1943, at the age of 69 years 5 months and 19 days. Death was caused by a heart ailment which had incapacitated him since last December.
When he was nearly five years of age, he with his parents and four sisters, left Lawrence County, Missouri, in a covered wagon for Kansas and after a stormy trip, they spent the winter on a farm several miles from where Burden, Kansas is now located.
In the spring of 1879 the family moved to a farm in eastern Cowley County, where they made their home until April, 1885, when the Baker family, composed of the parents, six daughters and two sons, started with three other families for western Kansas to look for government claims. They arrived in Comanche County April 20, 1885, and camped just west of Coldwater on Cavalry Creek.
Two days later a bitter county seat election was held, in which Coldwater won over Nescatunga. A week later, or on April 28, the Bakers settled on a claim south of Protection, in Collier Flats, where a large sod house was built.
As Mr. Baker grew to manhood, he sought further education and attended the Emporia State Normal and the Wichita Business College. He then taught several terms of terms of school in his home county.
During two terms of the State Legislature, from 1898 to 1902, Mr. Baker served as a secretary of the Kansas law making body. For eight years, from 1902 to 1910, he was court stenographer for the 7th Judicial District of Kansas, during that time making his home in Dodge City. He was admitted to the Kansas bar in 1910 and began the practice of law in Coldwater. In 1912 he was elected County Attorney of Comanche County and served in that capacity ten consecutive terms.
During his 20 years in office in this county, Mr. Baker was true to every trust imposed in him. He was a faithful and efficient official, always a stalwart supporter of the Right, and none there was who did not respect him. The continued confidence of his fellowmen and the high esteem in which he was held, was evidenced by his re-election to office over a long period.
Mr. Baker came from sturdy pioneer stock, and he incorporated in his life the consideration of others, the generosity and kindness of heart and the sterling character which mark a true Christian gentleman.
On December 8, 1930, Mr. Baker accepted a Civil Service appointment with the Treasury Department of the United States government in Kansas City, Mo., and remained in this service until his death.
On January 31, 1901, in Topeka, Kansas, he was united in marriage with Miss Lula Boyd of Burden, Kansas. To this union three children; Elsie, Irene and Charles Jr., were born. In August, 1933, his wife, Lula Boyd-Baker, passed away. On July 25, 1937, Mr. Baker was united in marriage with Nancy Smith Thornton at Independence, Mo.
Mr. Baker was a faithful member of the Methodist church in Coldwater, uniting with the church in November, 1911. He organized and was teacher of the Loyal Legion Sunday school class, one of the strong classes of the Sunday school today. He was a member of Comanche Lodge, No., 295, A. F. & A. M., for over 27 years.
No man was ever more faithful to his home county and its institutions. During the years Mr. Baker's work took him away from Coldwater he continued to vote here and to maintain his membership and an active interest in his home church and lodge. Comanche County was his home most of his life.
Deceased is survived by his wife, Mrs. Nancy Baker; his children, Mrs. Clarence Whelpley and Mrs. George Thompson of Coldwater, Kansas, and Charles Baker Jr. of Beardstown, Illinois; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Fagan Stinnett of Kansas City, Missouri; six sisters; Mrs. Ella King and Mrs. Emma Craig of Meade, Kans., Mrs. Alice White and Mrs. Grace Copple of Coldwater, Kans., Mrs. Jessie Cook of Cherokee, Okla., and Mrs. Essie Keltner of Protection; two brothers, Frank Baker of Patosi, Mo., and Fred Baker of Selman, Okla.; eight grandchildren, Bob and Donald Whelpley, Victor, Norene and Elvin Thompson, Eddie and Kay Ann Baker and Edgar Allen Stinnett, also by many nephews, nieces and a host of friends.
Mr. Baker was preceded in death by his wife, Lula, his parents, two sisters; Mrs. Fannie McDaniel of Waynoka, Okla., and Mrs. Hallie Broadie of Ashland, Kans, and an infant grandson, Glenn Arthur Whelpley.
Also see:
About Comanche-co.'s County Attorneys
The Western Star, March 18, 1927.Comanche County Officers, 1885 - 2007
Kirby Humphrey Arrested on Liquor Charge
The Western Star, March 18, 1927.Wilmore Bank Robbed, The Western Star, March 30, 1928.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for transcribing and contributing the above obituary!
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