Samuel Baker born 1819 in Ohio to Henry Baker and Mary (Binkley) Baker, came to Illinois in 1833 at the age of 14 alone. (No one knows why he was alone.) He settled in the Yankeetown Settlement on the Banks of Salt Creek near present day Chestnut, Il. While a member of the Settlement he ran several business, a grist mill, a wagon shop and he was the maker of coffins. He married Mary Ripley in 1841. They had 5 Children: James 1849, Frank 1858, Betty 1860?, and two infants who died.

In 1862 he went to fight in the Civil War. He enlisted in Company E, 106th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Some of the military action was the Seige of Vicksburg on the Mississippi. In 1865 he finished His 3 years enlistment and was honorably discharged.

Upon returning home he bought 40 acres of farm land along the banks of Salt Creek outside of Chesnut, Il. This area became Known as Bakersville, because of all the Baker family living on one long country lane. Here they started a Family Brick Factory, many of their homes still standing were made from their bricks. As are some of Chestnut's buildings. The only reminder of that thriving business today is a lone chimney still standing tall and straight on Bakersville lane. There is a Historical marker with it. No Bakers live on the lane anymore but for years they did.

In 1884, 2 years after the death of Mary Ripley, Samuel remarried at age 64 to Sarah Gerhard from Schuylkill County, PA. Daughter of William Gerhard and Rebecca Alspach of PA. They had 3 more sons: Charles born 1885, Edwin William "Bill" born 1886, and Benjamin Harrison born 1888.

Samuel died on May 10, 1915 at age 96. He was buried along with his wives in Laena Cemetary, Chestnut, Il. Which is the area where the Yankeetown settlement was. He had a long and fruitful life and Civic Legacy in the community of Chestnut, Ill.

This page is "Samuel Baker Biography" on the Logan County, Illinois, ILGenWeb site. The address of this page is http://logan.illinoisgenweb.org/bios/bakersamuel.htm.