Charles A. Baker

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Charles A. Baker

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

A member of an old and substantial Morris county family, Charles Adolphus BAKER has lived in the county all his life, has been successful both in business and public affairs, and represents those solid elements of citizenship which give vitality and wholesomeness to a community. Mr. BAKER's home is at Kenvil in Roxbury township.

He was born on the old BAKER farm in Roxbury township of Morris county, son of Jeremiah and Mercy (SOLOMON) BAKER. His father was likewise born on that family homestead in Morris county, and died August 8, 1913, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, after a long and active life. The mother died at the age of fifty-seven. Andrew BAKER, the grandfather, was born in Morris county, and spent all his life in this vicinity. He married Nancy HURD, and they became the parents of three sons and four daughters, namely: Mrs. Emily BYRAM; Jeremiah; Adeline, who was the wife of Thomas POST; Adolphus and Augustus, both deceased; Ann Eliza, who was the wife of David JARDINE; and Louisa, now Mrs. James BEAMER. The maternal grandparents were Richard and Julia SOLOMON, who had the following children: Abraham Dickerson, deceased; Charles; Mercy. Grandfather SOLOMON was again married and his children were: Corenlia and Hannah. Hannah is now the wife of A.D. WINFIELD, who was a silk manufacturer, and was elected county clerk of Passaic county, New Jersey, and held the office ten years.

The children of Jeremiah and Mercy (SOLOMON) BAKER were as follows: 1. Charles Adolphus, of whom further. 2. Richard S., a New York business man and has his summer home at Lake Hopatcong, married Anna PHILLIPS. 3. Mary Adeline, now deceased, was wife of Charles SALTAU. 4. Sylvester G., married Sylvia MERRITT; he was engaged in the bottling business and died in 1911. 5. Nancy, wife of Wesley RYERSON, at Lake Hopatcong.

Charles Adolphus BAKER as a boy received substantial education advantages in the grammar schools of Dover, and also the high school. During his early years he pursued farming, and for fifteen years was connected with the railroad service as a train dispatcher at Port Morris. Having always taken an interested part in public affairs, he was in 1894 elected to the New Jersey general assembly, serving during that and the following year. In 1900 he was again called to public office as sheriff of Morris county serving during 1900, 1901 and 1902. In 1904 the district returned him to the general assembly. For the past six years, Mr. BAKER has been a member of the Morris county board of taxation. He is Republican in his political belief.

Among his other substantial interests, he owns a good farm, and also some sand beds, supplying large quantities of sand to builders and the general trade. Mr. BAKER is affiliated with Musconetcong Lodge No. 151, A.F. and A.M., and also with Chapter, the Council, Commandery, and the Mystic Shrine. He has gone the full course in the York Rite. His other affiliations are with Rockbury Lodge, No. 184, I.O.O.F. and the Heptasophs. Mr. BAKER built a splendid house at Kenvil in 1902.

On January 1, 1880, he married Elizabeth A. TRIMMER, daughter of Anthony and Mary TRIMMER, of Middle Valley. The four children of their marriage are: 1. Ethel Adeline, at home. 2. Albert W., engaged in business in New York City; married Clara ROY, and has two children, Dorothy and Richard Jr. 3. Mary Trimmer, at home. 4. Charles A. Jr., aged twenty, and connected with the Bell Telephone Company of Philadelphia.