Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914
There are two traditions as to the progenitor of the BAKER family, represented in the present generation by Dr. Augustus L. L. BAKER, of Dover. One supposition is that Captain John BAKER is the ancestor; he came from England previous to 1660, and in 1664 served as interpreter for the English when they took New Amsterdam from the Dutch. He was chief military officer appointed by Governor Nichols, after which he founded Elizabeth, New Jersey, under grant by Governor Nichols. He was the owner of 1,200 acres of land there, and served as justice of the commonwealth and as overseer. The other supposition is that Thomas BAKER, the London tanner, who came to America in 1658 on the Ann and Little James and landed on the Massachusetts coast about ten miles south of Plymouth and drifted to Connecticut, was the father of Henry BAKER, of whom further.
Henry BAKER, evidently a resident of Sag Harbor, Long Island, died there and his remains were interred in a cemetery in that place. He married and has a son Henry, of whom later.
Henry (2) BAKER, son of Henry (1) BAKER, removed to Westfield, New Jersey, with his father, coming from Elizabeth, New Jersey, about the year 1726-27. He served as sergeant of the volunteer militia of Elizabeth which took the ship Blue Mountain Valley, January 22, 1776. His remains were buried in Westfield and his tombstone bears this inscription: "Here lies the body of Henry BAKER, who died May 13, A. D. 1780 in the 84th year of his age." His wife’s tombstone bears this inscription: "In memory of Phoebe, widow of William PETERSON formerly called wife of Henry BAKER, who died August 5th, 1813, in the 84th year of her age." Among their children was Jeremiah, of whom further.
Jeremiah BAKER, fourth son of Henry (2) BAKER, was born August 28, 1770. He was a resident of Westfield, New Jersey. He married and among his children was Andrew KING, of whom further.
Andrew King BAKER, oldest son of Jeremiah BAKER, was born April 5, 1799, died in Dover, Morris county, New Jersey, June 11, 1854. He married October 16, 1823, Nancy HURD, born January 10, 1802, died December 2, 1885, and among his children was Andrew Adolphus, of whom further.
Andrew Adolphus BAKER, son of Andrew King BAKER, was one of twins born April 24, 1832, at Dover, New Jersey, where he lived and died suddenly while on a hunting trip at Newberne, North Carolina, January 24, 1895. He was a contractor and builder by occupation, and was a man of excellent standing in his native city. He married Mary Amanda KANOUSE, born February 2, 1836, died May 11, 1876. Among their children was Augustus Dickerson, of whom further.
Augustus Dickerson BAKER, oldest son of Andrew Adolphus BAKER, was born in Dover, New Jersey, September 15, 1858, and died there September 24, 1885. He was educated at Columbia University, graduating in the class of 1883 and received the degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and Doctor of Philosophy. He married, June 6, 1883, Cornelia ROBERTS, born May 24, 1858, of Dover, daughter of J. Allen and Mary Elizabeth (PETERSON) ROBERTS, the former named born in Warren county, New Jersey, February 14, 1829, and the latter named was born December 4, 1831, died in 1908, aged seventy-seven years. Mrs. BAKER married (second) P. G. HILTS.
Dr. Augustus Lynn Landon BAKER, son of Augustus Dickerson and Cornelia (ROBERTS) BAKER, was born near Dover, Morris county, New Jersey, April 9, 1885. His early education was acquired in the local schools and he was graduated from the Dover High School in 1904. He then attended Cornell University, and later was a student in the Long Island Medical College, graduating in the class of 1909, since which time he has been a practicing physician at Dover. He served as interne at the J. Hood Wright Hospital, New York City; at the New York Lying-in-Hospital; at the general Hospital in Elizabeth, New Jersey. After establishing himself in practice in Dover, he was appointed police surgeon, surgeon for the Delaware, Lackawanna, & Western Railroad, surgeon of the Ulster Iron Works, and the McKiernam Drill Works, and medical inspector of the Randolph township schools, and examiner for Department Commerce and Labor, United States Government.
Dr. BAKER is a member of the leading medical associations in the State, belonging to the Morris County Medical Society, the New Jersey State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, and the Clinical Society of the Elizabeth General Hospital. He is also a member of the New York and New England Association of Railway Surgeons, and he retains his membership in the College Greek Letter fraternity, Alpha Kappa Kappa. He is an enthusiastic member of many fraternal associations, among which are: Acacia Lodge, No. 20, F. and A. M.; Zetland Chapter, No. 141, R.A.S.; F.O.E.; L.O.M., past dictator and at present deputy supreme dictator for this district; R.A.; I.O.R.M.; G.F.; Succasunna Council, No. 228, J.O.U.A.M. He is Assistant Surgeon, General of the First Brigade, Uniform Rank, J.O.U.A.M., and a member of the National Rifle Association and the National Geographic Society. He is member and trustee of the First Baptist Church of Dover.
Dr. BAKER married, November 8, 1911, Ellene Dodge BAKER, who was graduated from the Dover High School in 1904, in the same class as her husband, and from the Normal College of the city of New York, class 1907, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. She is the daughter of Andrew K. and Carrie L. (DODGE) BAKER, the former named born August 13, 1858, a grandson of Jeremiah, fourth son of Henry (2) BAKER before mentioned, a resident of Dover, though spending considerable of his time in Florida, greatly interested in mining properties and stone quarries and the latter named was born November 25, 1859, died August 17, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew K. BAKER were the parents of three other children, namely:
- Robert Carlton, born January 9, 1884, resides at Dover, married Edna Dwyer SELLERS, by whom he has one son,
- Carlton SELLERS, born December 13, 1911;
- Harold William, born January 16, 1893;
- Marion, born February 23, 1897.
This biography was transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003).