Baker Township

Baker Township

Originally Baker township was a part of Yellow Creek, one of the three original townships of the county. In 1845, Sullivan county being organized from the territory of Linn, this latter county was divided into seven municipal divisions, of which Baker township was one, and one of the three largest townships in the county, only being equalled in territory by Yellow Creek and Jefferson. At that time, 1845, Baker township was composed of all of congressional townships fifty-nine and sixty, of range eighteen, and two-thirds of the same townships of range nineteen; but the upper or north line of township sixty, bearing south, ranges eighteen and nineteen of township sixty, was not a full congressional township of six miles square. The township occupied the northeast corner of the county, and was not settled as rapidly as some of the others excepting its south part which is now Baker township proper. Previous to the census of 1870, North Salem township was cut off of Baker, being from the north part, but left a mile wide runing to the Sullivan county line still as a part of Baker. This gave the township a peculiar shape. That arm was afterward given to Enterprise township. In 1870 Baker township had a population of 1269, but in 1871 a strip of two miles wide on its western border was given to the new township of Grantsville. That ended the curtailment of Baker township with the exception of about half of section fourteen. A change was made in the boundary running from West Yellow Creek from the section line to a point half a mile east, and then the township line running straight north to the north boundary of the township, which is the congressional township line between fifty-nine and sixty. This gave a north and south line of six miles, and an east and west line on its southern border of eight miles, and seven and a half on its north side. It has forty-six and a half square miles, with a land and water area of 29,440 acres, mostly prairie, excepting along the water-courses which flow through the township. These are West Yellow Creek, on its western border and forming a portion of its west boundary line; Winneson Creek, and branches from both West and East Yellow Creek, many of which take their rise within the township.

Baker township shows the least wealth of any township, according to size, in the county, and is only a little over $4,000 greater than Enterprise town- ship, the smallest in size and wealth in the county, the latter being but very little over half its size. The assessed valuation of Baker township in 1881 was placed at $166,301, which is not speaking in high terms of the financial condition of its people. But, as there is room for improvement, let us hope that by the next census, at least, it will show new life, activity and wealth. The cutting oif of a portion of this township, as mentioned above, gave it a less population in 1880 than in the year 1870, that year, as before stated, having a population of 1,269; in 1880 the census gave it but 1,175. Baker township has all of congressional township fifty-nine, range eighteen and a portion of range nineteen of the same township.

Settling

The township did not improve much or have many settlers previous to 1840. A few settled in the southern portion, and the wilds to the north were principally a hunting-ground both for the pale-faces and the Indians. Robert Baker, from whom the township takes its name, was born in Clay county, Kentucky, and came to Linn county in 1839, bringing his wife and son, "William Baker, now living, who was about two years old when his father came. They came from Chariton county direct and settled on the southwest quarter of section seventeen, township fifty-nine, range eighteen.

John "W. Huftaker came from Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1840. He settled on the northeast quarter of section nineteen, township fifty-eight, range eighteen, and has lived since that date on the same place. He has a fine grazing farm and has a barn two stories high with a storage capacity, in the hay part of it, for fifty tons. The barn is forty by forty-eight, and thirtytwo feet to the comb.

Frederick Nestor came in 1842 and moved from Montgomery county, Virginia, to Linn, an old man as well as an old settler, having been born November 10, 1792, and was a soldier in the War of 1812, having belonged to Captain Hogan's company, and the regiment commanded by Colonel Wooden. The old gentleman is not well, but his intellect is clear. He settled on section four, township fifty-nine, range eighteen.

Pendleton Richardson came to Baker township in 1839. He is a native of Kentucky and moved from that State to Howard county, Missouri, and from Howard to Linn, as above stated. His home is on the southwest quarter of section four, township fifty-nine, range eighteen.

John W. Pace came from Clark county, Kentucky, in 1861, where he was born, and settled on section fourteen, township fifty-nine, range eighteen.

Andrew Baker, a Kentuckian by birth, came to Chariton county, and moved from there to Linn, and Baker township, in 1843. He resides on section seven, township tiftj'-niue, range eighteen, and his son, Boland G., who came with him, was a Chariton county boy by birth, but was still an infant when he came to Linn county. Boland G. Baker is now living on the northeast quarter of section thirteen, township fifty-nine, range eighteen, and a prominent citizen of the township.

W. J. Stone, of the firm of Stone & Mitchell, came to Baker township in 1851; is a son of Granville and Mary Stone, and has been all this time a resident of the township.

James A.. Crowder, a resident of New Boston village, came in 1852, and James Pace located on the southwest quarter of section twenty-three, township fifty-nine, range nineteen, in 1855.

William Pace came from Clark county, Kentucky. He left Kentucky in 1835, but did not reach Linn county until twenty years later. He built the house in which he now resides.

Walter B. Bailey, one of the prominent citizens of the township was born in Barren county, Kentucky, July 12, 1817, and came to Linn count}' and Baker township in 1839. He first settled in Chariton county, and was the son of Jacob and Catharine Bailey, who settled in that county the year it was incorporated, 1820. Their home is on the northwest quarter of section thirty-three, township fifty-nine, range eighteen.

John G. Bailey came the same year, 1839, and located his claim on the northeast quarter of section fifteen, township fifty-nine, range eighteen, and has always been a resident of the township since the year of his ai-rival.

Albert Nickerson came in 1842, and located on section twenty-seven, township fifty-nine, range eighteen, choosing the southwest quarter. William Ray came in 1840, and drove his stake on the northeast quarter of section twenty-two, township fifty-nine, range eighteen; while Morris Robert came a few years later, not until 1856, and settled on section twentyseven, township fifty-nine, range eighteen, dating his arrival from February 26. All these pioneers came from Kentucky, and proved themselves worthy descendants of the pioneers of the dark and bloody ground.

Then we have Thomas Greenstreet from the same State in 1852, and James Harrison Bell in 1855. The latter settled on the northeast quarter of section twenty-six, township fifty-nine, range eighteen. Mr. Greenstreet is one of the most pro minent stock-raisers in the township, and has some fine blooded stock, among which is a stallion of the " Swiss Tiger" stock.

There were other settlers who came later, but can hardly be called pioneers. They did not have to travel from fifty to sixty miles to go to mill, or to purchase their supplies of groceries, or hunt deer and other wild game to keep them in meat. There was plenty of game, yet the pioneer life, while not all thus, was not considered a bed of roses.

Some Other Ma.Tters

Baker township seems to have had its drawbacks, and one was that it was not considered, in the quality of its land, the best part of Linn county.

Still there is nothing to prevent a splendid hay and corn crop, which makes stock-raising a success, but its soil is adapted to fruit, and that ought to be a leading industry' with the farmers of Baker township.

The first marriage seemes to have been that of Moses Dowell to Miss Kachel Carpenter in the year 1841, and the marriage ceremony was performed at the residence of the bride, on section thirteen, township fiftynine, range nineteen.

Dr. James S. Cantwell, who was born in Indiana, but came west to grow up with the country, via., Keokuk, Iowa, was the first physician who settled in Baker township. He came in 1849. Other physicians had calls and practiced in the township prior to his arrival, but he seemed to have been the first to settle and practice. His residence was on section twenty-six, township fifty-nine, range nineteen.

George W. Baker, uncle of Robert Baker, was the first preacher, and the township is said to have been named after him. There is really a belief among some that it was named after young Boland, but let that be as it may, it was named after the Baker family, and it is a representative one of the township. Eev. George belonged to the Hard Shell Baptist, and was a preacher of strong sense, and held in high esteem by all who knew him. He died many years ago.

Among those early days there would sometimes be trouble among the Indians and white hunters, and it is said that Sampson Wyett actually whipped an Indian with the ramrod of his rifle. Sampson lived in another township as this history shows, but he performed the above operation on Baker's classic grounds.

Golden Chapel

was the first church organized in Baker township, and was located on the southwest corner of section twenty-one, township fifty-nine, range eighteen. The minister himself built the church in the year 1842, and it was composed of logs. The reverend's name was Conway, but his first name was forgotten. He preached in this house for several years. A good many of his congregation now and then gave him a helping hand, especially at raising time, but the Rev. Conway put on the finishing touches. His bill was sixty dollars on the completion of this fine edifice, and it broke his church all to pieces financially. There were, however, other denominations, and as is reported of late years, these churches, Baptist, Methodist, and Christian, pooled their assets, paid off the church debt, and all used it until unfortunately a prairie fire got hold of it and reduced it to ashes. The Rev. Conway preached the dedication sermon, and held afterward the first service in the church.

Wyett Chapel

This was a Methodist Episcopal Church and was located on the northeast quarter of section nine, township lifty-nine, range eighteen, and named Wyett Chapel. The original members were Wm. Wyett and wife, Nancy Finney, Harvey Hamilton, Harriet E. Richardson, James Ainsworth, Eliza Ainsworth, and Mary Ainsworth. The church was erected in 1870, partly by the school district, and is now* used both for church and school purposes. The church has grown until it now numbers some forty members. Not all of the names of the pastors can be given, but the following have officiated as such in the church: Rev. Alexander, Rev. John A. Munpower, and the Revs. Gregory, Gibbons, Richardson, Worley, Bolin, Milam, Warren, Hirly, and Dock, the latter the present pastor.

Pleasant Gkove Chuech

This church, which is now located on section twenty-six, township fiftynine, range eighteen, was first organized in 1843, and called Yellow Creek Church. Meetings were held at the residence of Jacob G. Bailey, and the church organized there, the original members being Jacob G. Bailey and wife, Sarah Maddox, Ann Long, Thomas Childers and wife, and Julia A, Bailey. The church meeting was held at Mr. Bailey's, whose residence was on section thirty-two, township fifty-nine, range eighteen. In 1872, the church, which had lain dormant for some time, was reorganized under its present name, Pleasant Grove," and had not less than one hundred members. The church is not an expensive one, but a neat and plain house of worship, built when the congregation was poor in purse, but rich in faith, and cost about l-iSO, or perhaps a little more. It was erected in 187-1. It was dedicated by the Rev. Sparrow, who became its first minister, and he was followed by the Revs. Wellman, and Hough, A. F. Martin, and he was succeeded by Rev. Sparrow. Prior to its reorganization this Last named gentleman was its first and only pastor, and he has done much to increase its membership, which now numbers one hundred and seventy-five, and to increase its usefulness.

Ewanjilian Lutheran Church

This is a Swedish church, and was erected in 1875, at a cost of $500. It is situated on section twenty-four, township fifty-nine, range eighteen, in the midst of the Swedish settlement, which is located in the southeast corner of the township, an economical and thrifty set of people. The original members of the church were N. A. Anderson, Axel Hultam, John Araan, Gns Johnson, S. G. Erekson, R. G. Erekson, A. G. Erekson, Emanuel Anderson, C. Oman, M. Larson, E. A. Erekson, S. Nelson, J. S. Kogland,^S. Anderson, J. F. Johnson, and S. Nelson. The church is out of debt^andjn flourishing condition.

The Baker graveyard was laid out in 1840, by Robert Baker, the early pioneer. It contains about one-fourth of an acre of ground, and located on the same section as his residence. The first body interred in it was that of Bolaud Baker, the father of Robert; and since then, there have been some forty buried within its sacred enclosure. *

The Wester graveyard was located on the northwest quarter of section four, township fifty-nine, range eighteen, in the year 1842. It was laid out by Frederick Wester, who donated a half acre of ground. One of his children was the first that was buried there. There have been other interments since, it beinor the home of the dead for all that section of the township, as well as a portion of North Salem.

Baker township has eight public or free schools, and the cause of education is deeply fixed in the hearts of the people. When the school fund runs low, taxation is resorted to for the purpose of keeping up the full term for the year. The first school believed to have been taught in the township was at what was known as Hickory Ridge. The teacher's name was Davis, and he had a fair number of scholars. The first school-house was built in the neighborhood, it being located on section sixteen, township fifty-nine, range eighteen. This was in 1843.

The Wyett school-house, and also chapel, being used for both purposes, as before stated, is located on the northeast quarter of section nine, township fifty-nine, range eighteen. This school is in a pretty thickly settled neighborhood, and some forty pupils make an average attendance. Its present directors are John T. Goddard, president. Marshal Davis and Adam H. Stone. This school has a winter term of four months, and the salary paid from ^30 to $35 per month. The teacher the past winter was S. Baugher.

The Hackler school-house is situated on the northeast quarter of section twenty-nine, township fifty-nine, range eighteen. It is hardly known by that name now. The building is a neat frame structure, costing $375, and the average winter term is from four to five months. Its present directors are Marion Young, George Wyant and AV. W. Bailey. The average attendance is from forty -five to fifty, and the salary paid $35 per month. On the southwest quarter of section twenty-six, township fifty-nine, range eighteen, stands Pleasant Grove school-house, which was built in the Centennial year, or 1876. It cost nearly $400, and is, in all respects, a neat and comfortable school building. Mr. Henry Herrington taught the last term, and received a tuition fee of $35 per month. They manage to have in this district six months of schooling each year. Messrs. David Chal-

The Baker school-house, the present one, was erected in 18S0, at tlie cost of $300. It answers the purpose for which it was intended, and is well attended. It is situated on section eighteen, township fifty-nine, range eighteen, and on the northwest quarter. The school term is four inonths, and Miss Newkirk received a salary of $25 a month for the session of 1881 and 1882. The directors are William Baker and David Watson.

Charles Henderson and a Mr. Overstreet were killed during the war by the militia. Just what caused this summary proceeding, unless it was hate, is not recorded. It was in this township that Mart Hamilton succeeded in raising a portion of his company; and a spice of family war caused a Mr. Taylor Picknell to run away with a Mrs. Coffman. This was the first runaway in the county. It is also of record that two men. Baker and Williams by name, who returned from the army, concluded to turn bushwhacker, and raid it on their own account. The report is that they robbed Andrew Nestor and some two or three others, when some men hearing of it at New Boston, started in pursuit of the thieves. Baker was wounded and died of his wounds in about two weeks. There is no mention of what became of Williams.

It is said that the only slave ever owned in Baker township was a colored man belonarine: to Georere W. Na^le, and that since the war and freedom no colored man has ever made his home in Baker. It looks as if the colored man had no use for that section of the country. In fact Linn county, out of a population of 20,000, has less than nine hundred colored people in the entire county.

The best portable mill in the township is owned by Byler & Kidder, and has a cutting capacity of 6,000 feet of lumber, or 18,000 shingles per day. It is located for the spring of 1882 on the southwest quarter of section ten, township fifty-nine, range eighteen. A fine stationary saw and custom mill is that of Joseph Reece, which is located on the southwest quarter of section sixteen, township fifty-nine, range eighteen.

In the southeast quarter of the township some Swedes settled about the year 1869. Since then the colony has grown and prospered. In fact there are more continually coming from over the sea. They differ considerably from the native American. They can and do work as hard, but are more frugal in their living, and are not given to tine houses or barns. While not altogether liked by their American neighbors, they are a peaceful class of citizens, and are, of course, no way disturbed, but are admired for their great thrift and ability for hard work. They are making some very fine farms in that section of the township. It is claimed by a traveler that Ba- ker towi'sliip has the economical man of Linn county, and his reason for this assertion was, that in talking with a rather well-to-do farmer in the township, he asked hitn to hold his horse while he made a memorandum of some facts gleaned. The old farmer held his horse so well that he would not allow hini to nibble the grass at his feet, but continually jerked the horse's head to prevent it from stealing his grass. This certainly showed a prudent care of his property. The discoverer of this magnificent graduate in the school of economy, thought that such qualities as were possessed and exhibited by his farming friend should not fail to be recorded, and be handed down to the rising generation as a standard to be aimed at if never attained. While our informant was sorry for the the horse, his admiration for the man and the exhibit of his marvelous trial of character, knew no bounds. It was a sight to be remembered.

Town Officers

As the new organization law gives each township their own local officers the last election gave the following named citizens iheir official position: trustee, A. H. Stone; clerk, J. T. Goddard; constable, James Ray; justices of the peace, John A. Brown, and L. B. Hudson,

New Boston

Xew Boston, the only village in Baker township, is located on section one of township lifty-nine, range eighteen, being the extreme northeastern section of land in the township. The village is principally located on the southeast quarter of said section, and is a small place, without any great pretentions to metropolitan proportions or the expectation of ever reaching any very great size. Not being on a line of railroad, it has not the vanity or importance of towns thus located, and it fears no rivalry. Thus, being comparatively free from jealous}' of rival towns, New Boston moves along with a sort of slow, humdrum life, now and then erecting a new buiding, clearing up a new garden spot, or canvassing its future prospects, if a few live and energetic farmers would move into the neighborhood, with large families. New Boston is essentially a village in all its departments. The women have their gossip, and the men congregate at some store and tell their stories, and they all feel happy and are satisfied with their little town and town-life. There is a pretty good section of country around it, and a good deal of business is done during the year. The business men keep fair stock and sell cheap, so that the f\irmers find it to their interest to patronize the village, rather than to go to more pretentious towns, pay higher prices and lose a day more time.

The founders of New Boston were A. Borron and R. A. C. Wright. It has never had any town plot, nor has it been incorporated. The citizens buy their lots by the acre instead of by the foot, and a garden spot is as necessary as the ground the houses stand on. The village has not yet reached the height of a vegetable market, and the inhabitants do their own raising in that line. New Boston became a post-office in 1872, with E.. A. 0. Wright as the first postmaster. Messrs. Borron & Wright erected the first store, and in that was kept the post-office, and they were the first merchants.

Some years ago there was a log house built by a William Murray, on the spot where New Boston now stands, but the hut is gone and New Boston rises gradually on its ruins.

Schools, Churches, And Lodges

The first school house was built 1873 and its first teacher was John S. Wilkes. The house is frame and cost some three hundred dollars. They have an average attendance at the school of some thirty-three pupils; and they pay thirty dollars, and even forty dollars, per month to a competent instructor. The school trustees are: L. D. McKinney, president, Jason Crail and John Anderson; clerk, John Baker. The last teacher was Miss Fannie James and she received thirty dollars per month tuition. The past year there were six months' schooling.

The Christian Church of New Boston was organized at the Wyett schoolhouse on section nine, township fifty-nine, range eighteen, in the year 1873. The original members were: Marshal H. Davis, Thomas Greenstreet and wife, Edgar Davis and wife, Joseph Cable and wife, James Crowder and wife, and a few others whose names were forgotten. The church building cost eight hundred dollars and was erected in 1875 and dedicated the same year by the Rev. W. W. Jones. The church has no regular preacher, but the minister above named resides there and service is held occasionally by him. The membership numbers forty.

New Boston Lodge No. 284, of A. F. & A. M., was instituted by Dr. B. B. Putnam, and dispensation granted October 20, 1880. The lodge received its charter October 13, 1881, and the names of the following persons were inscribed on the charter: W. C. Tolly, George W. Nagle, J. W. Forrest, Presley Moore, E.. A. C. Wright, W. C. Kelse}^ Lorenzo McKinney, and a few others. The officers elected on its organization were: W. C. Tolly, W. M.; G. W. Nagle, S. W.; J. W. Forrest, J. W. Its present officers are: W. C. Tolly, W. M.; George W. Nagle, S. W.; William Davis, J. W. They have no hall of their own as yet, but meet over the store of Wright & Davis, where a comfortable lodge room has been fitted up. The present membership is fifteen.

The first marriage was that of Thomas R. Davis and Miss S. E. Wright, July 7, 1873, William Davis, justice of the peace, performing the ceremony.

Charles Borron was the first male child born within the incorporated limits of New Boston, and the first female child born was Eva, daughter of John and Mary Wright, the latter being also the first child born in New Boston, and the year, 1873, if not 1872.

The New Boston cemetery is situated just outside of the town, and has enclosed a half-acre of ground given by L. B. Hudson. It lies on a gentle slope northwest of the town. A daughter of C. E. McKinney was the first body interred within its sacred enclosure, and at this time some thirty-five mounds tell of death's work in the country around.

As before mentioned. New Boston has no rival, but this was not so in its early day. In 1872 and 1878 there was a town, or village called New Boston, over the line in Macon county. It was called New Boston, but it was old enough to be the grandfather of the present village of that name in Linn county. Age had so crippled the Macon county village, that it had every appearance of dying without any outside help. This decreipt appearance with the look of ultimate extinction, within a few years at farthest, caused the building up of the Linn county New Boston, and the Macon county affair was called "old town." This starting up of the real and present New Boston was the signal on the part of a few persons, who lived at the old place, to get upon their ear and hurl anathemas deep and vengeful at New Boston. It was interfering with the growth of their town, they said, when, in fact, it had its growth and was far on the shady side of life with the down grade unexceptionally smooth for its rapid extinction and death. They became very much excited at the progress of their rival, and with an evil spirit, and also with a reckless disregard of polite language, they named Linn county's New Boston, "Hell's Square Acre."

Its Business Interests

One school-liouse, a church, Masonic lodge, and post-office, and is a pretty lively little town of nearly one hundred inhabitants. The merchants deal largely in shaved hoop-poles and ship large quantities annually. Arthur Borron kept the first hotel. The only lire which has ever occurred there, was the burning of the store of J. M. Davis, in January, 1882, fully insured and the loss promptly paid. There are no saloons in the place and none necessary while the drug stores hold their own. As there is no town in North Salem township nearer than ten miles, New Boston has quite an extent of country, and its trade, while perfectly safe from all rivalry, is destined to grow as the country settles up. There is an abundance of cheap land in that section of Linn county, and when it shall become known will hasten the increase of the population in that section of the county. When you take the price of land in Baker township into consideration, there will be found few more inviting townships for the immigrant.

J. W. Baker

was born in this county, February 13, 1815. He is a son of Andrew and Catharine Baker, his father having been one of the early settlers of Baker township. Mr. Baker was raised a farmer, and has always followed that vocation. He was married March 5, 1867, to Sarah Pace, a native of Buchanan county, Missouri, and daughter of James and Zerelda Pace, both of whom were born in Kentucky. Mr, and Mrs. Baker are the parents of five children, all living, named, H. R. Baker, W. Bertie, Edward G., Florence May, and Bose. Mr. Baker is of English-Irish descent, that mixture of blood which rarely fails to produce vigorous constitutions of both mind and body.

Dr. James S. Cantwell

was born in Indiana, August 2, 1816. He is the son of Adam and Sarah Cantwell, tlie maiden name of the latter being Simmons. Dr. Cantwell began the study of medicine, first in Indiana under Dr. A. H. Stewart, of Louisville. In 1839 he and Dr. Stewart went to Iowa together, and continued to read under his direction in the latter State. He attended lectures at the Keokuk Medical College, and first began the practice in that city, in 1836. Dr. Cantwell was married on the ninth of November, 1838, to Miss Catharine A. Everheart, daughter of John and Elizabeth Everheart, and born in the city of Cincinnati. Both her parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and her father was for many years a prominent minister and presiding elder of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Dr. Cantwell's father was a Baptist minister. He and wife are the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are still living. Their names are, William H. (deceased), Edward J., Martha Jane, Harriet Frances, Mary (deceased), Emily, Louisa, Nancy, Minnie (^^deceased), Eva (deceased), and James L. Dr. Cantwell belongs to tlie Methodist Ciiurch, and his wife to the Presbyterian Cliarch. It was in 18-i9 that Dr. Cantwell came to Linn county and located. He has been a citizen here ever since, and has therefore practiced thirty-three years in the county. During the war he was in the Forty-second Missouri Infantry, and was Urst detailed for the recruiting service, and subsequently to practice as army physician and surgeon. He was part of the time in Benton Barracks at St. Louis, Missouri. Was also in the Clay Hospital, at Louisville, and in the general hospital at Xashville. Dr. Cantwell is a Freemason, and belongs to the St. Catharine lodge. His residence is in section twenty-six, township fifty-nine, range nineteen.

Dillard V. Howard

was born in Macon county, Missouri, November 17, 1843. His parents were Thomas J. and Ann Howard, both natives of Kentucky. Dr. Howard received his professional education at the Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati, graduating in the spring of 1866, with the degree of M. D. He first began practice at the old town of New Boston in Macon county, but in 1876 moved to " new " New Boston in Baker township, Linn county, where he has ever since continued to practice. He was married December 9, 1875, to Miss Corena F. Jones, a native of Howard county, this State, and a daughter of Hardin and Susan J. Jones. They have one child, a daughter named Dora Y. Mrs. Howard is a member of the Christian Church. The doctor belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and is in fellowship with the New Boston lodge No. 284. During the civil war Dr. H. served in the Confederate army, and was in the company commanded by Mart Hamilton of the Fourth Regiment of Missouri Yoluenteers, General Clark's brigade. He was but seventeen years old when he enlisted, and while yet a boy, smelt the powder of battle in the Pea Ridge engagement in which he participated as his first battle. Dr. Howard does a good practice in his locality, and keeps on hand a supply of pure drugs which he uses in his profession.

Albert H. Stone

The subject of this sketch was to the manor born, being a native of Baker township, Linn county, born April 7, 1844. His father and grandfather were born in Virginia, and his mother in Howard county, Missouri. Mr. Stone has always lived in Baker township, engaged in farming. He served one term, and was elected to a second terra as township assessor under the first adoption of the township organization in this county. He was prevented from completing his second term by abolition of the system of organization. On the twenty-ninth day of August, 1865, he was married to Miss Maria E. Eoberts. She died September 2, 1876, having borne him four children, all of whom still survive. Their names arc, Robert L., William W., Mary J., and Arthur M. Mr. Stone was a second time married September 25, 1878, to Miss Sarah E. Cable, a native of Wolf county, Kentucky, and daughter of Joseph and Margaret Cable. Two children have been born of this second union, named Emma Alma, and Orie Ellen. Mr. Stone is a member of the Baptist Church, and his wife of the Christian Church. He has his homestead, in section three, township lifty-nine, range eighteen, well improved, with good residence and barn, and a fine young orchard. He owns three improved farms, aggregating six hundred acres in all.