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Biographical sketch of SIMON M. BAKER from the book entitled, "Biographical Memoirs of Saint Clair County, Michigan," published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Publishers in Logansport, Indiana.
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This bio spans two (2) pages: 420-421
SIMON M. BAKER
More is heard of the strenuous life today, perhaps, than ever before. Yet it may be truthfully said that to one strenuous life today there were fifty a half century ago. The pioneer settler of southeastern Michigan, if asked to define such a life, need only answer you by pointing to the events in his own career. One of these settlers is the subject of this sketch, Simon Baker, of Marine City, St. Clair county, Michigan. He was the son of Rowling Baker, a native of Nova Scotia born October 5, 1834, who in his youth was brought by his parents to the state of New York, locating at Oswego, where he became expert as a carpenter and builder. Here he married Miss Susan Rouse. They were the parents of four children, Deborah Ann, Andrew, Simon and Elizabeth, the older two of whom are dead. In 1842 Rowling Baker moved his family to East Oxford, Ontario, where he purchased sixty acres of land, build a home upon it, cleared and improved it, and on this he resided until 1861, when he sold it and moved to Wood county, Ohio, where he died. Mrs. Baker died at the home of her son in Marine City, Michigan.
Simon Baker, the subject of this sketch, was born in Oswego, New York, October 5, 1835. He was only five years old when the family moved to Canada. At the age of eleven he left home and started out to make his own way in the world. Anxious for an education, and knowing that the best way to get a knowledge of the world was by coming in contact with it, he traveled about a great deal. Each winter he made it convenient to be where he could attend school. Being at so much trouble to attend, it is safe to say that he profited by it. He served a three-years apprenticeship at London, Canada, acquiring a knowledge of the trade of a wheelwright. For twenty years he sailed on the lakes, more than half of this time being pilot or master. Wearying of life on the water, April 14, 1860, he abandoned the ship and took up the calling of a wagonmaker. His previous knowledge of the wheelwright trade was of much use to him in this vocation. But he found it no easy task to wean himself from the waves, so he again became a sailor and followed the lakes until 1879, when he turned his back upon them with a firm determination never to return.
On December 3, 1853, Simon Baker was united in marriage to Miss Beulah Blanchard, of Marine City, the daughter of Ebenezer and Lydia Blanchard. To this marriage ten children have been born, viz: Lydia married G. W. Day, a ship carpenter, of Algonac, Michigan, and has one child, Robert B.; Rowling G., a jeweler in Lenox, married Hattie Sullivan, of Detroit, and has one child, Lina I.; he is a deputy grand master of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also a Mason; Wellington S. married Almira L. Cottrell, and has four children, John S., Mary C., George C. and Franklin M.; he has always been interested in business with his father, and is worshipful master of Sam Ward Lodge, F. & A. M.; Calvin A. is by trade a carpenter, married Maggie Rush of Marine City, and is past noble grand of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; George W., a teamster in Marine City, married Martha Noarling and has one son, Curtis W.; Franklin E., who is city marshal of Marine City, married Nellie Duke and has one children, Gertrude; Henry B.; William A. married Martha Zinke; Cora E. married Fred V. D. Larke, a printer of Rogers City, Michigan; Carrie E. lives at home with her parents. Mr. Baker is a member of Sam Ward Lodge No. 62, F. & A. M., at Marine City, and of Sam Ward Chapter No. F. For many years he has been a member of and an attendant upon the services of the Methodist Episcopal church. The family is distinctively Republican, not only in the principles of that party, but expressing their belief in the most effective way at the polls. Mr. Baker is now serving his fourth term as a justice of the peace.
At the time Mr. Baker gave up sailing for the last time, an industry that promised to be remunerative in Marine City was the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds. The mechanical knowledge acquired by Mr. Baker in his youth enabled him to readily become familiar with this. He interested his son with him, a partnership was entered into, and in 1879 the firm of S. Baker & Son was established. It was soon upon a paying basis, and for six years was most successful. Then it was converted into a plant for the manufacture of elm hoops and general saw-milling. For seventeen years this has been their business, and during that time they have built up an extensive trade.
Having thus lived the “strenuous life,” it might be supposed that Mr. Baker, with the weight of his sixty-seven years upon him, would be most anxious to take a rest. He, however, considers that to people of his temperament “rest means rust.” Alert in mind, agile in body, despite his years, he still feels that he is capable of accomplishing much. Starting with a capital that consisted of little more than health, without education, knowledge of the world, or even friends or relatives who were interested in his welfare, and at a time not very pregnant with opportunity, his success is really astonishing.
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PLEASE NOTE: I do not have any personal interest in researching the BAKER surname or the St. Clair county, Michigan location. I am merely posting a select number of the biographical sketches found in the above-referenced book *upon specific written request* as a service to the genealogical community. Therefore, please do not contact me with regard to research interests in the above. Thank you.
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