“Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County,” published:  
Chicago;  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892.

DR. JAMES THOMAS BAKER, a physician of Dallas, was born in 
Yalobusha county, Mississippi, February 14, 1844, the third of eight 
children born to Milton and Minerva C. (Hodge) Baker, also natives of 
Mississippi.  The parents were married in that State, and at an early day 
emigrated to Tennessee, settling on a farm, where the father died in 1852, 
and the mother in 1857.  After the death of his parents, Mr. Baker, our 
subject, was taken to Shelby county, Illinois, where he was reared by John 
M. Friedley to the age of twenty-three years.  He attended the district 
schools of that county, and after reaching maturity he first engaged in 
gardening at Cobden, Union county, Illinois, and a few years later he took a 
two years’ course at the Southern Illinois College at Carbondale, and 
afterward commenced reading medicine at home.  In 1878 he entered the 
American Medical College at St. Louis, Missouri, graduating from the class 
of 1879.  He continued the practice of medicine at Fairfield, Illinois, for a 
few years, and in 1890 he came to Dallas, Texas, where he gives his 
attention strictly to chronic diseases.  After leaving Fairfield he went first to 
Clay city, thence to St. Louis, and next to Texas, where he built up an 
extended practice.

The Doctor was married at Fairfield, Illinois, in 1880, to Laura C. Hanks, a 
native of Scott county, Missouri, and a daughter of Green and Catherine B. 
(Stanley) Hanks, the father a native of Murray county, Tennessee, and the 
mother of McNairy county, same State.  The parents were married in 
Tennessee, and at an early day removed to Scott county, Missouri, thence to 
Pulaski county, where the father was a merchant.  His death occurred in that 
State in July, 1860, and his widow now resides at Tioga, Grayson county, 
Texas.  Mr. and Mrs. Baker have one child, Milton H.  Socially, the Doctor 
is a member of Decatur Lodge, No. 142, I. O. O. F., at Decatur, Texas, and 
both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church at Dallas.

Submitted by: Justina Cook