Page:One of a thousand.djvu/46

BAKER. BAKER. the Beverly Savings Bank. He takes a lively interest in the history and the pedi- gree of the early families of Beverly and vicinity, and continues an active and un- wearied promoter of the growth and pros- perity of the town which has so uninter- ruptedly given him so flattering a support at the polls. His sagacity and wide ac- quaintance with the prominent legislators in different parts of the State has had no little influence in keeping historic Beverly still undivided and in the enjoyment of all its town privileges, and with its property un- impaired. BAKER, Nathan Babbitt, the son of Joel Baker, was born July 20, 1841, at West Hawley, Franklin county. He received his early education in the common schools in Savoy until 1858, when he was sent to Athol, where he attended the high school for one year, at the same time supporting himself by sawing wood mornings and nights. He was then called home to assist his father on his farm. In 1S60 he was hired out to a farmer in Cheshire for six months, and in the follow- ing year to a farmer in Hawley. Mr. Baker is now a farmer at Savoy Centre, being much interested in agricul- tural pursuits. He is a member and vice- president of several agricultural societies. His valuable services as an expert have frequently been called into requisition at agricultural fairs. He is a member of the town school board, and has been frequently elected to represent the Republican party of his dis- trict at conventions and county nomina- tions. He enlisted August, 1862, in company E, 5 2d Massachusetts volunteer militia, which was raised in Greenfield, and was honorably discharged in the fall of 1863. His health, however, was very seriously impaired, and he is one of those who to- day are suffering physical disability, oc- casioned by constant exposure and arduous service in the army. Mr. Baker was married at Savoy Centre, October 28, 186S, to Sarah Abbie, the only daughter of Harman Snow, of that town, by whom he had live children : Walter Joel, who died in 1884, aged ten years, Sarah Abbie, Angie Mary, Nellie Bell, and Ada Hannah Baker. He has been prominently identified with the Grand Army for several years, served in 1888 on the stall of Department Com- mander Walker, was re-appointed by De- partment Commander Goodale for 1889 as aide-de-camp and assistant inspector. It is a singular fact, and one probably without a parallel in army history, that Mr. Baker was permitted to enlist while suffer- ing at the time from a disability which should have at once disqualified him from active service. His ambition to serve in the war led him to conceal his inability to raise his arm to a level with his shoulder, and this defect was not discovered until at an inspection at Port Hudson his superior officer tossed him a musket which he was unable to properly catch. It was too late, however, to prevent his continuing in ac- tive and honorable service. BAKER, SMITH, son of Smith and Mary (Smith) Baker, was born in Bowdoin, Sagadahoc county, Maine, February 18, 1836. He was graduated from the Bangor (Maine) Theological Seminary in i860, and was settled over the Congrega- tional churches of Orono and Veazie, Maine, until 187 1, when he became the pastor of the First Congregational church, l,( iwell. Mr. Baker has always taken an active interest in Sunday-school work ; the school connected with his church is one of the largest in New England. He has been a member of all the international Sunday- school conventions, and for several years past has been a member of the national executive committee. He is also chair- man of the Sunday-school committee of the national council of Congregational churches. Mr. Baker is a frequent contributor to various religious publications, and since the reorganization of the " Golden Rule," has edited the Sunday-school lesson for that paper. In this work is seen the same pithy terseness of expression which char- acterizes his sermons. He has published two small books of "Talks to Young Men and Young Women." Mr. Baker's pastorate in Lowell has been phenomenally successful. No less than twelve hundred have united with the church since his acceptance of its pastoral charge. The new and elegant place of worship has a seating capacity of thirteen hundred, and is admirably adapted to modern church work. Mr. Baker has been instrumental not only in preventing all dissensions, but in unifying the sentiment of his people. His is distinctively the " People's Church." Mr. liaker was married September 13, 1S60, to Isabella A., daughter of Alvah and Elizabeth Ditson, of Northumberland, Vt. The wife and one son, Alvah S. Baker, are livillnr.