1904 James Walter Baker Stereoview Photo, Columbus Junction, Iowa
#080 Son of Iowa Photographer James Geddes Baker
Printed on front: "James Walter Baker, on his first school day, Sept. 5, 1904, Col. Junction IA." Photo type: Stereoview Photograph. Photographer: James Geddes Baker, Columbus Junction, Louisa County, Iowa
Found in Public Genealogy Records:
James Walter Baker 1898-1989, also knonw as James W. Baker
His Wife: Louise Baker 1910-1994
Both are buried Lodi Memorial Cemetery, San Joaquin County, California
Source: History of Louisa County, Iowa, from Its Earliest Settlement to 1912, With Biographical Sketches of Some Prominent Citizens of the County, Volume 1 and II by Arthur Springer, S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912, Louisa County (Iowa): BIOGRAPH of his Photographer Father: JAMES GEDDES BAKER:
"James Geddes Baker, who is successfully engaged as a photographer at Columbus Junction, was born in Louisa County March 12, 1868, a son of Benjamin Stephen and Nancy Agnes (Wykert) Baker. The father was a native of New York state and the mother of West Virginia, later becoming a resident of Louisa county in 1835. Mr. Baker Sr., was a carpenter, but during the later vears of his life devoted his attention to farming. He died in 1882, the mother being called away three years later. They were the parents of two children: Benjamin Franklin Baker, who is now living in Louisa county, and James Geddes Baker. Mr. Baker, of this review, possessed advantages of education in the district schools until he was fourteen years of age. Not being attracted to farming, he learned the printer's trade, which he followed for fifteen years. In the meantime his natural artistic talents began to manifest themselves and he took up the study of photography, to which he has given his attention for the last fourteen years. He has had an extensive experience and has attained high proficiency in the art, being now the owner of the leading photograph gallery of Columbus Junction, where he has been located since 1907. In 1895 Mr. Baker was married to Miss Clara Elizabeth Grafe, a daughter of Theodore and Elizabeth Grafe. Mrs. Baker died in the fall of 1898, leaving a son, James Walter Baker, who was born in February of the same year. On May 5, 1907. Mr. Baker was again married, the lady of his choice being Miss Bessie Forbes, a daughter of William C. and Henrietta (Kincaid) Forbes. She was a member of a family of thirteen children, of whom the first two, Maud and George, are deceased, the others in the order of their birth being: Bessie, Mildred, who is the wife of Claude Lamar, of Muscatine, Iowa; and Frank, Addie, Ora, Lydia, Willie, Verda, Rowena, Nina and Zelma, all of whom are living in Muscatine. Politically, Mr. Baker is an earnest supporter of the republican party and fraternally is connected with the Odd Fellows and the Fraternal Aid Society. Mrs. Baker attends the Reformed church. The success of Mr. Baker in his business has been due to natural talents, and an ambition to excel which has not permitted him to rest satisfied with an ordinary measure of proficiency. He has made a close study of his art from every practical standpoint and his work attracts favorable comment wherever it is shown, his patrons being among the best people in this part of the state."
James Walter Baker in the Iowa, Births and Christenings Index 1800-1999
Birth Date: 11 Feb 1898
Birth Place: Louisa County, Iowa
Father: James Gettis Baker (known James Geddes Baker, photographer)
Mother: Clara Elizabeth Grafe Baker
James Walter Baker in the California, Death Index, 1940-1997
Birth Date: 11 Feb 1898
Birth Place: Iowa
Death Date: 2 Mar 1989
Death Place: San Joaquin, Fresno County, California
Mother's Maiden Name: Grafe
Note: His mother was Clara Elizabeth Grafe 1876–1898, born in Columbus Junction, Iowa and died in Trenton, Grundy County, Missouri. Her parents were Theodore Grafe 1841–1899 and Eliza Avesing Grafe 1853–1933. She is buried in Saint Josephs Catholic Cemetery in Trenton, Grundy County, Missouri.
This is a rare and beautiful old outdoor image of young James wearing his cowboy hat, bow tie, wool sailor coat, black tights and shiny high button leather shoes. The left side of the stereoview has some damage, the right side is clean. He is very proud and dapper and appears to be much loved. It is unusual to have a family stereoview photo, and wonderful that his James G. Baker father was an accomplished Iowa photographer. It was found in Madison County, New York this he may also have some east coast ties.
Size: 3.5 by 7 inches
Note: The original is sold, but you may still purchase large, detailed and intimate 300 dpi high resolution scans of front and back, sent immediately via email. Please check our site carefully, as many may be related to each other that we are unaware of. Click scan to place in your cart. Thank you, enjoy! ~debra (please also join me at Ancestorville Genealogy on facebook. contact info on top bar)