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Benjamin Baker

Before the war

He was born on 2 April 1833, in Pennsylvania (12, 13). He was 33 years old when he was enrolled (3, 7 [26 in 1860], 8 [32 in 1870], 9 [47 in 1880], 15 [17 in 1850]). He was born in Pennsylvania (7, 8, 9, 15).

In 1850, he was living in Somerset Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania (15). He was living with Jacob and Rosina Baker (presumably his parents), and four presumed siblings (15). He was a farmer, and had attended school in the previous year (15).

He married Catherine Knepper (12, 13). They had four children (12, 13):

  • Cicero Wilson Baker (b. ca 1858, Somerset Cty PA)
  • Lydia Baker (b. 1862, Somerset Cty PA)
  • Emma J Baker (b. 1868 Somerset Cty PA)
  • Annie Cora Baker (b. Nov 1873, Brothersvalley Twp, Somerset Cty, PA)
  • In 1860, he was living in Somerset Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania (7). He was living with his wife Catharine, his son Cicero, and also Edward Baker (perhaps a brother?) (7). He was a carpenter, and owned $800 in real estate and $300 in personal property (7).

    During the war

    He was drafted (1, 3). He was enrolled and mustered into service on 11 March 1865 (1, 3, 4). He was enrolled as a private, at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania (3). He served as a private in company B (1).

    He seems not to have been charged for lost equipment, perhaps when the regiment mustered out (2).

    He mustered out with his company on 10 July 1865 (1, 3, 4 [1864]).

    After the war

    In 1870, he was living in Somerset Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania (8). He was living with his Wife Catharine [?], his children Cicero, Lydia, and Emma, and a carpenter (8). He was a carpenter, and owned $3,000 in real estate and $740 in personal property (8).

    On 31 May 1879, he successfully applied for a pension (5, 6).

    In 1880, he was living in Somerset Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania (9). He was living with his wife Catharine, and his children Cicero, Lydia, Emma, and Annie (9). He had heart disease (9).

    He died on 4 July 1885, in Pennsylvania (12, 13). He was buried in Lincoln Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania (13).

    On 7 January 1886, his widow, Catharine Baker, successfully applied from Pennsylvania for a pension (5, 6).

    In 1890, his widow, Catharine Baker, was living in Somerset Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania (4).

    In 1900, his widow, Catharine, was living in Brothers Valley Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania (10). She was living with her son Cicero and his family (10).

    In 1910, his widow Catharine was living in Brothers Valley Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania (11). She was living with her granddaughter Belinda and Belinda's family (11).

    His widow Catherine died on 11 July 1910 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania (13).

    Sources

    1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster) (Benjamin Baker)

    2 list of men who owed money [?] (Benj Baker)

    3 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 24 June 2004 (Benjamin Baker)

    4 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Somerset County, Somerset Township, supervisor's district 11, enumeration district 24, page 2 (image 6 of 15 on <www.ancestry.com>) (Benjamin Baker)

    5 pension index, by name (Benjamin Baker)

    6 pension index, by regiment (Benjamin Baker)

    7 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Somerset County, Somerset Township (post office Benford's Store), microfilm series M653, film 1183, page 496 = 118 [??] handwritten (Benjamin Baker)

    8 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Somerset County, Somerset Township, microfilm series M593, film 1452, page 497 = 61 [?] handwritten (Benjamin Baker)

    9 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Somerset County, Somerset Township, supervisor's district 8, enumeration district 22, microfilm series T9, film 1195, page 449 C = 11 [?] handwritten (Benjamin Baker)

    10 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Somerset County, Brothersvalley Township, supervisor's district 13, enumeration district 167, microfilm series T623, film 1486, page 108 B = 1 handwritten (Catharine Bake [sic])

    11 1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Somerset County, North Brothersvalley Township, supervisor's district 22, enumeration district 130, microfilm series T624, film 1420, page 70 A = 10 handwritten (Catharine Baker)

    12 'Foehl family forest', a gedcom available on RootsWeb WorldConnect (viewed June 2007, last revised 1 June 2007, contact Richard) (Benjamin Baker)

    13 'The family connections', a gedcom available on RootsWeb WorldConnect (viewed June 2007, last revised 17 May 2007, contact Linda Oliver) (Benjamin Baker)

    14 'Knepper ancestry', a gedcom available on RootsWeb WorldConnect (viewed June 2007, last revised 25 Jan 2005, contact Brenda Knepper) (Catherine Knepper)

    15 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Somerset County, Somerset Township, microfilm series M432, film 828, page 49 (Benjamin Baker)

    [I did not find an entry for him in the HeritageQuest index to the 1920 census (searched June 2007) or in the Ancestry indices to the 1920 or 1930 censuses (searched July 2007)]

    1850 census

    [1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Somerset County, Somerset Township, microfilm series M432, film 828, page 49]
    line15161718192021
    Dwellings visited378      
    Families visited389      
    NameJacob BakerRosina DoJacob DoBenjamin DoElisabeth DoSally DoEdward Do
    Age53521917221410
    SexMFM"F"M
    Color       
    Occupation of males over 15 yearsFarmer FarmerDo   
    Real estate owned4000      
    BirthplaceDo [sc. Penna]DoDoDoDoDoDo
    Married within year       
    Attended school within year  11 11
    Over 20 & can't read/write 1  1  
    Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.       

    1860 census

    [1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Somerset County, Somerset Township (post office Benford's Store), microfilm series M653, film 1183, page 496 = 118 [??] handwritten]
    line37383940
    Dwelling number831   
    Family number810   
    NameBenjamin BakerCatharine "Cicero W "Edward Baker
    Age2621218
    Sexmfmm
    Color    
    OccupationCarpenter   
    Value of real estate owned800   
    Value of personal estate300   
    Place of birthPa"""
    Married within year    
    Attended school within year    
    Cannot read & write    
    Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.    

    1870 census

    [1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Somerset County, Somerset Township, microfilm series M593, film 1452, page 497 = 61 [?] handwritten]
    line313233343536
    Dwelling-house number439     
    Family number435     
    NameBaker Benjamin- Catharine- Cicero W- Lydia- Emma JTenner Charles
    Age32 [sic]13138417 [?]
    SexMFMFFM
    ColorWWWWWW
    OccupationCarpenterKeeping house   Appr Carpenter
    Real estate value3000     
    Personal estate value740     
    Birthplace" [sc. Pennsylvania]"""""
    Father foreign born      
    Mother foreign born      
    Birth month if born within year      
    Marriage month if married within year      
    Attended school past year  11 1
    Can't read      
    Can't write      
    Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.      
    Male US citizen at least 21 years old1     
    Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ...      

    1880 census

    [1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Somerset County, Somerset Township, supervisor's district 8, enumeration district 22, microfilm series T9, film 1195, page 449 C = 11 [?] handwritten]
    line252627282930
    street name      
    house number      
    dwelling visit #82     
    family visit #88     
    nameBaker Benjamin- Catharine- C. W. [?]- Lydia- Emma- Annie Cora
    colorWWWWWW
    sexMFMFFF
    age47432218126
    month born if born in year      
    relationship WifeSonDaughterDaughterDaughter
    single  1111
    married11    
    widowed/divorced      
    married during year      
    occupation  At homeAt homeAt home 
    months unemployed      
    currently ill?Heart Disease     
    blind      
    deaf/dumb      
    idiotic      
    insane      
    disabled      
    school this year  1111
    can't read      
    can't write      
    birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
    father's birthplacePaPaPaPaPaPa
    mother's birthplacePaPaPaPaPaPa

    1890 census, veterans schedule

    [1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Somerset County, Somerset Township, supervisor's district 11, enumeration district 24, page 2 (image 6 of 15 on <www.ancestry.com>)]
    [line] 16
    [house] 73
    [family] 75
    [name] Catharine Baker widow Benjamin Baker
    [rank] Priv
    [company] B
    [unit] 91 Pa Vet Vol
    [enlistment date] 11 Mar 1865
    [discharge date] 10 July 1864 [sic]
    [length of service] x years, 3 months, 29 days
    [post office address] Sifresville [?] Penna
    [disability incurred] [blank]
    [remarks] [blank]

    1900 census

    [1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Somerset County, Brothersvalley Township, supervisor's district 13, enumeration district 167, microfilm series T623, film 1486, page 108 B = 1 handwritten]
    line86878889909192
    street       
    house number       
    dwelling number18      
    family number18      
    nameBaker Cicero- Mary E- Clara- BalindaBoyer WillieBake [sic] CatharineBayman Edward
    relationshipHeadWifeDaughterDaughterLodgerMotherLodger
    colorWWWWWWW
    sexMFFFMFM
    birth dateApr 1858Mar 1862Dec 1886July 1891June 1898May 1837Feb 1889
    age423813826311
    married?MMSSSWdS
    # years married1616     
    mother of how many children? 2   1 
    # of children living 2   1 
    birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
    father's birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
    mother's birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
    immigration year       
    # years in USA       
    naturalized citizen?       
    occupationFarmer At schoolAt school  At school
    # months not employed0      
    # months in school  55  6
    can readyes yesyes yesyes
    can writeyes yesyes yesyes
    speaks Englishyes yesyes yesyes
    owned/rentedO      
    free or mortgagedF      
    farm/houseF      
    # of farm schedule15      

    1910 census

    [1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Somerset County, North Brothersvalley Township, supervisor's district 22, enumeration district 130, microfilm series T624, film 1420, page 70 A = 10 handwritten]
    line1234
    streetBedford Blvd
    house nr    
    dwelling nr174   
    family nr178   
    nameKay Charles C- Belinda B- Mary EBaker Catharine
    relationshipHeadWifeDaughterGrandmother
    sexMFFF
    colorWWWW
    age2819372
    marital statusM1M1SWd
    #years present marriage44  
    mother of # children 1  
    mother of # living children 1  
    birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
    father's birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
    mother's birthplacePennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
    immigrated    
    naturalized/alien    
    speaks EnglishEnglishEnglishEnglishEnglish
    occupationFarmerNoneNoneNone
    nature of industry etc.General farm   
    employer etc.OA   
    out of work 15 Apr 1910?    
    # weeks out of work 1909    
    can readyesyes  
    can writeyesyes  
    school since 1 Sep 09    
    owned/rentedR   
    owned free or mortagaged    
    farm/houseF   
    nr on farm schedule96   
    civil war vet    
    blind    
    deaf & dumb    

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    revised 15 Jun 2007
    contact Harry Ide at hide1@unl.edu with comments or questions