Baker, Archibald I.

ARCHIBALD I. BAKER, a member of a family which has long been connected with the business and public life of Mercer county, was born in its township of Hickory March 21, 1846, a son of Elijah and Elizabeth (Titus) Baker, born respectively in Center county, Pennsylvania, in 1819, and in Hickory township of Mercer county in 1826. The father died in 1891 and the mother in 1898. Of the ten children in this family, five sons and five daughters, six are now living, namely: J. R., whose home is in Green county, Illinois; James T., a supervisor of Hickory township; Archibald, who is mentioned above; Mary E., the widow of Thomas A. Hannah and a resident of Sharon; Ida J., wife of Levi Minner; and Emma French.

Elijah Baker, during many years a well known resident of Mercer county, learned the carpenter's trade in his early life at Howardville, Centre county, Pennsylvania, and when twenty-one years of age he came to Mercer county and began teaching school, teaching his first school in Hickory township. He taught about three terms in all, and then turned his attention to the carpenter's trade, both building and contracting, and many of the buildings yet standing in Hickory township are monuments of his skill and ability. From a contractor he became a farmer, and he also served as one of the three commissioners of Mercer county from 1873 to 1876, while for many years he was a township officer, a supervisor, auditor and school director. He voted with the Republican party.

When he had attained the age of twenty years, Archibald I. Baker left his parents' home to become a weighmaster in a coal mine, and he continued in the coal mining business from twenty to twenty-five years. At the close of that period he began farming at the old homestead and continued his agricultural labors until 1904, the year in which he was elected a director of the poor, his present position. He has also served his township as a supervisor, auditor and register, and is a stalwart supporter of Republican principles.

In 1871 Mr. Baker was married to Mary Coon, daughter of Absalom Coon, of Pymatuning township, this county, her father having been one of the pioneers of Mercer county. She died in 1878, after becoming the mother of one son, Charles C. Baker, a contractor and builder in Sharon and the senior member of the firm of C. C. Baker & Company. In 1881 Mr. Baker wedded Sarah P. Thompson, also from Pymatuning township, a daughter of James Thompson. By his second marriage Mr. Baker has five children—Lillian B., Samuel H., Archibald I., Jr., Rouena and Florence. He is a member of Eureka Lodge No. 293, A. A. S. R. M., and Sharon Lodge No. 347, I. O. O. F. of Shenango Encampment of the same order. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church.