No. 4354 Edmund James Baker, 1804-1890
From American Series of Popular Biographies. Massachusetts Edition. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Boston: Graves & Steinbarger, 1891.
EDMUND JAMES BAKER, surveyor, genealogist, and antiquary, late a resident of Dorchester, was of the seventh generation in descent from Richard Baker, his first Colonial ancestor, the line being Richard; John, who married Preserved Trott; John, who married Hannah Withington; James, who married Priscilla Paul; Dr. James; Edmund; Edmund James.
Richard Baker, the pioneer of the Baker family in this country, landed in Boston from the Norsey (North Sea) bark “Bachelor,” of which he was second in command, November 28, 1635. He settled at Savin Hill in Dorchester. On November 4, 1639, he became a member of the church in Dorchester, and about the same time married Faith Withington, a daughter of Henry Withington, the ruling Elder of the church. From the numerous ancient deeds now extant in which he was a party, we conclude that Richard Baker was an extensive land-holder as well as a prominent and enterprising citizen. From early manhood to old age his name appears almost every year among the officers of the town of Dorchester. In 1658 he joined the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company.
James Baker, of the fourth generation from Richard, born September 5, 1739, and graduated at Harvard in 1760, married Lydia Bowman, daughter of the Rev. Jonathan Bowman, who was the first minister of the First Church of Dorchester, and a grand-daughter of the Rev. John Hancock, of Lexington. He was a physician of extensive practice in Dorchester. His homestead was on the corner of Washington and Norfolk Streets, and embraced a large tract of land, a part of which is still owned by the heirs of Edmund J. Baker. It was formerly known as Baker’s Corner. In 1772 Dr. Baker started the manufacture of chocolate at Dorchester Lower Mills, which business was pursued with great success by his son and grandson.
Edmund Baker, son of James, was born April 20, 1770. He removed to Dorchester Lower Mills in 1791, and became sole proprietor of the chocolate mills, with the water privileges on the Dorchester side of the river. He built a house at the corner of Washington and Richmond Streets. Hc married first, September 29, 1701, Sarah Howe, by whom he had three children – Walter, Charles, and Horatio. Mrs. Baker died January 29, 1802. He then, October 5, 1803, married Mrs. Elizabeth Lillie, daughter of Daniel Vose, of Milton, and they had three children: Edmund J., the subject of this sketch; Lydia Bowman; and James Edmund. The second wife of Edmund Baker died March 28, 1844, and he died October 11, 1846. His son, Walter Baker, who was born June 28, 1792, and was graduated at Harvard in 1811, was his successor in the chocolate business. He resided at the corner of Washington and Park Streets, Dorchester, on the estate formerly owned by Lieutenant Governor Andrew Oliver. A part of the Baker mansion now standing was built by Governor Oliver.
Edmund James Baker, the direct subject of this sketch, son of Edmund and half-brother of Walter, died January 15, 1890. He was born in Dorchester, November 15, 1804, and received a good academic education. His early manhood was occupied in mercantile pursuits. He subsequently became a surveyor, and one of his early surveys was that of the towns of Dorchester and Milton, where he established the monument of 1830 for a general survey of the State. The map of the two towns, which is found in old collections, and is still referred to as an authority in real estate operations, was lithographed on the scale of one hundred rods to an inch and published in 1831. From year to year his business increased. He had made drawings of almost every piece of real estate in Milton and largely in Dorchester and the surrounding towns, and his plans were in great demand by those interested in real estate matters. For several years he was a resident of Milton, and in 1837 was the Representative of that town to the General Court. From 1838 to 1842 he was the Postmaster in Milton. Subsequently he removed to Dorchester, and took possession of the homestead at the corner of Washington and Richmond Streets, and by inheritance acquired land on Dorchester and Richmond Streets, and elsewhere in Dorchester, most of which has been in the possession of the family for two hundred years. In 1872 he removed the old house and built the mansion now belonging to the estate.
In addition to surveying he devoted much of his time, especially in later years, to the conveyance of property by will and the final settlements of estates. The probate judges in his own county and elsewhere marked him as an expert in such matters, and his probate business in time superseded his surveying. He was sought by rich and poor to draw wills and administer estates, and it was to the latter class he gave most of his time. If he could help the discouraged and suffering, it was enough, and the matter of pecuniary consideration was of small moment. There are hundreds, particularly widows and orphans, who have been made glad by him, and many still living can testify to this.
The above pursuits of so public a nature opened the way to a minute knowledge of individuals and families; and this, coupled with a natural taste for investigation, led to an interest in genealogical research.
He was one of the founders of the Dorchester Antiquarian and Historical Society, and from 1873 to the time of his death was its president. With other members of this society he was engaged in the composition of the History of Dorchester issued in 1859, and several chapters are from his pen. The manuscripts he has left contain sketches and brief genealogies of many families. In 1888 Mr. Baker compiled the genealogy of Richard Baker, with the line of descendants extending from 1635 to 1840. This was printed in 1889, and the edition is nearly exhausted. There is in manuscript an unfinished genealogy of the Vose family, upon which he spent much care, labor, and research.
On March 3, 1884, the citizens of Milton, in town meeting assembled, voted “that Edmund J. Baker be appointed as a committee for procuring the writing and publishing of a history of the town.” This history, by the Rev. A. K. Teele, D. D., was issued in 1887, the entire manuscript being submitted to Mr. Baker for amendment and approval; and the volume takes its tone in no small degree from his apt and wise suggestions. The careful revision of the work while in process of construction by two of our most noted antiquarians, Edmund J. Baker and James M. Robbins, was a great satisfaction to the author.
Various other enterprises occupied the attention and service of Mr. Baker, and of these was the Dorchester Fire Insurance Company, whose president and treasurer he was for more than twenty-five years. He had an original way of expressing himself, and many of his sayings are still treasured by the officers of the company as unique words of wisdom.
He was the enemy of all pretense, shams, and evil doings. It was the aim of his life to help the poor. His instruction to his executors and trustees was to deal carefully and gently with his debtors in limited circumstances. Fair dealing, honesty, and integrity marked the whole tenor of his life, and when he died, the people inquired, “What shall we do?”
Mr. Baker married September 1, 1847, Mrs. Sarah Howard Sherman, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Bowman, of Augusta, Me. Of this union there were two children: Lydia Bowman, born November 11, 1848; and Ellyn Lithgow, who was born February 16, 1850, and died November 27, 1867. Mrs. Baker died June 27, 1870. She had three children by her first Marriage, to Mr. Sherman. Lydia Bowman Baker was married on October 1, 1867, to John H. Edwards, of Philadelphia, Pa. They were the parents of five children: Lydia Bowman, born November 7, 1868; Mary Gertrude, born August 14, 1870; Ellyn Lithgow, born July 30, 1872; Edmund Baker, born July 1, 1875; and Elizabeth Rosalie, born September 27, 1876. Mr. Edwards died February 12, 1877, and Mrs. Edwards again married April 24, 1879, Orray A. Taft, Jr. of Providence, R.I., and from this union there are two children: Ray Baker Taft, born June 19, 1880; and Eleanor Baker Taft, born February 12, 1883. Mr. Taft died February 12, 1889. Mary Gertrude Edwards married September 21, 1895, Eustace Lee Florance, of New York. They have two children: Eustice Lee, Jr., born in France, September 19, 1896; and Rosalie Nathan, born September 6, 1897.
Baker also had an entry in the The Rich Men of Massachusetts: Containing a Statement of the Reputed Wealth of about Fifteen Hundred Persons, with Brief Sketches of More than One Thousand Characters. By A. Forbes and J.W. Greene. (Boston: Published by W.V. Spencer, 1851).
Worth: $50,000
Son of the late Edmund Baker. Received his property mostly by inheritance, yet he is thrifty in business. A man of strong powers of mind, and excellent judgment, in all business concerns. Very benevolent, but like his father before him, in his own peculiar way; a whining professional beggar, or a genteel sponger, will make but little headway with him. He cheerfully meets all the rational demands of society.