Contra
Costa County
Biographies
JOSIAH
R. BAKER
The various interests
contributory to the growth and development of Antioch for years have received
the substantial support of Josiah R. Baker, who in the capacities of president
of the board of trustees and acting mayor, also the incumbent of the postmaster’s
office for a long period, and an experienced business man, has been a factor of
no small importance in the history of this thriving town of Contra Costa
county. The active part of his life has been passed in Antioch,
whither he came with other members of the family at the age of seventeen years.
It is probable that no resident of the community is better known than he, and
certainly none has accomplished more in behalf of local interest, for he has
labored unweariedly (sic) to promote enterprises for
the good of the people and has united his efforts with those of other pubic
spirited men in furtherance of worthy projects.
The family represented by Mr. Baker
is of English lineage. His father, Henry W. Baker, was a native of London,
England, and there grew to manhood and received his education. After his
marriage to Eliza Elliott, who was likewise of English birth and descent, he
brought his wife to America in 1850 and at first lived in Salt Lake City, Utah,
where he engaged in the mercantile business. Upon the discovery of gold in
Montana he left his family there and went to one of the camps and secured an
excellent livelihood by running a freight train between Ogden and Helena.
During 1870 he came to California and settled in Contra Costa county accepting a position as superintendent of the New
York ranch under Mr. Robinson. When failing health, do to the infirmities of
advancing years, rendered a continuance at hard work inadvisable, he retired to
Antioch, where he purchased a small place and lived in retirement. Here his
death occurred in 1899, when he was sixty-six years of age. His wife survived
him until 1904, dying at seventy-four years of age. They became the parents of
eight children, namely: Henry W., Jr., Josiah R., Edwin D., John D., Alvin W., Chauncey,
who died in boyhood.
During the residence of the family
in Salt Lake City Josiah R. Baker was born April 20, 1853. Educationally he
received fair advantages in the Ogden schools. For one year prior to coming to
California he was agent for the Utah Central Railroad at Farmington, and in the
meantime he had also learned telegraphy. After coming to Antioch he acted as
operator of the Western Union Telegraph Company, Antioch at that time being the
end of the route. In addition he served as agent for the Wells-Fargo Express
Company. During the administration of President Hayes the office of postmaster
was tendered him in recognition of his faithful service in the interests of the
Republican party. The appointment was renewed under
President Garfield, and, indeed, under all succeeding presidents up to the date
of this writing (1904) with the single exception of the Cleveland
administration. His long record in this office is probably unsurpassed by any
postmaster in the entire state, especially for a town the size of Antioch.
Popularity as a citizen and faithful service as a Republican are indicated by
the long tenure of office.
The accurate and careful discharge
of the duties of postmaster does not represent the limit of Mr. Baker’s
activities. In young manhood he became interested in a drug business in
Antioch. After having conducted the store for eighteen years he sold the stock
of drugs to M. W. Dunigan. About the same time he
acquired an interest in a hardware business with C. M. Brown, who later was succeeded
by J. C. Rouse, now of Oakland, but a silent partner in the store. For several
terms Mr. Baker has been a member of the board of trustees and president of the
body, a position entailing upon him the duties of mayor. The comfortable
residence which he erected in Antioch is presided over by his wife and
brightened by the presence of their two daughters, Ina and Jean. Mrs. Baker was
formerly Alice Wills, and was born in Illinois, being a daughter of the late
Dr. T. N. Wills. In fraternal relations Mr. Baker is influential in the local
work of the Masons, being past master of the Blue Lodge, a member of the Royal
Arch Chapter, and past patron of the Eastern Star. As past grand he is
officially connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Antioch, and
he is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, in which he holds
the office of past master.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 526-527. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Cecelia M. Setty.
Contra Costa County Biographies