WI BIO - Dane Co - BAKER, John U.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893. Vol II, pp 483-485

John U. BAKER, an honored and respected farmer of Madison, Dane County, WI, 
now at No. 227 West Gilman Street, was born in Cornwall County, England, 06 
Feb 1815. His parents, Digory and Thomasine (UGLOW) BAKER, natives of the 
same county, were reared there and the mother always made it her home, dying 
there when over 60 years of age, but the father came to the U. S. and died at 
the home of his children, when 72 years of age, in Iowa County, WI. He and 
his good wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church all their lives. 
Our subject is one of 9 children born to these good people, 7 of whom were 
sons, and 2 daughters, all of whom grew to maturity and came to the U. S., 
settling in WI. All of these children married, except one son, and three of 
them are still living. This family all settled in Iowa County, WI, where 
they reared such large families that the place is known as "Baker 
Settlement." They were all successful and became leading and prominent 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Few families can show so many 
representatives who are in the enjoyment of health and who display so great 
bodily strength.

John U. BAKER and a brother, Edward, were the first to try their wings, 
settling sail form Plymouth, England, 24 Apr 1837, and landing in Quebec, 
Canada, after a voyage of seven weeks. From there they made their way, via 
the St. Lawrence River and Lake Champlain, to the U. S., locating in the 
Keystone State [PA] for the period of one year, when they were joined by 
another brother, and all three then journeyed to Iowa County, WI, where they 
were joined some years later by the other members of the family. Our subject 
was one of the pioneers of Iowa County, and settled on a piece of wild land. 
He was young and unencumbered with either wife or family, so was free to work 
and improve his farm. This land he obtained at a very low figure and he had 
the pleasure of seeing it advance in value as the country settled up and he 
improved his farm. On this farm he erected buildings and added to his 
possessions until at the time he left it he was the owner of 500 acres of as 
good land as could be found in the county. At the time of his removal to 
Madison, Dane County, WI, he subdivided it into several farms, which he 
still owns. John U. BAKER has had the honor of being one of the oldest [p 
484] citizens of this part of WI that is still living.

John U. BAKER came to the Territory of WI 10 years before it was admitted to 
the Union [WI granted statehood in 1848], and has seen all the different 
changes in the State where he has lived. There is no doubt but he greatly 
aided in the upbuilding of this portion of the State and in making it one of 
the best educational communities in the West. In 1876 he came to the capital 
city [Madison, Dane County] to give his children the advantage of the 
superior educational privileges offered there.

John U. BAKER was married in Racine County, WI, to Miss Elizabeth DALE, born 
in Cornwall County, England, not many miles from Land's End, England, in 
1825. She is the daughter of Edward and Peggy (HARRY) DALE. The entire 
family came to the U. S. in 1842, and settled on a farm in Racine County, WI, 
when the county was new and unbroken, and here the father and mother improved 
a fine farm, where they lived until their death, which occurred when both of 
them were very old. The family was noted for it strength and longevity, and 
every member of this family was a good and worthy citizen. Mrs. BAKER has a 
brother and sister still living and has lost three brothers and a sister, all 
of whom lived to be grown.

The children born to John U. and Elizabeth (DALE) BAKER are: (1) Edward 
Dale, a farmer of Dane County, WI, was educated at Platteville, [Grant 
County], WI, and married Lydia ELLSWORTH, of Iowa County, WI; (2) John 
Turner, of Merrill, [Lincoln County], WI, married Mary VANDERBEE; (3) 
Elizabeth, wife of John OSBORNE, a business man of Scranton City [Greene 
County], IA; (4) Anna, formerly a teacher, was educated at Platteville, WI, 
is the wife of Albert WATKINS, ex-Postmaster of Lincoln, [Lancaster County], 
NE, where he resides and is now an attorney of the city, having graduated 
from the WI State University; (5) Joseph Uglow, a farmer in Thayer County, 
NE, is married to Mary ROLLING, of WI; (6) Nicholas Dale, a commercial 
traveler, with headquarters at Omaha, NE, for an agricultural implement 
house, of Chicago, was educated in the law department of the WI State 
University; (7) Osmon C., a graduate of the WI State University, and now in 
a bank in Lincoln, [Lancaster County], NE, still single; (8) Alma, educated 
at the State University, wife of Rev. Samuel W. TROUSDALE, Ph. D., pastor of 
First Methodist Church of Eau Claire, [Eau Claire County], WI, is a graduate 
of WI State University; (9) Clara D., graduate of WI State University, 
formerly a school teacher, is now the wife of William FLETT, a resident of 
Merrill, [Lincoln County] WI, where he is an attorney, who is also a 
graduate of WI State University; (10) Carrie, an ancient classical graduate 
of the State University of WI, a teacher of the Madison High School; and (11) 
Lillian Dale, a graduate of the same course as Carrie, a former teacher at 
Lake Geneva [Walworth County], WI, and ex-ward principal of Madison City. 
Five of the children have graduated from the State University of WI.

Rev. John U. BAKER is a local preacher, a Trustee and Class Leader in the 
Methodist Church, which position he has held for years, both in Madison and 
Iowa County, WI. His wife and most of his children are active members and 
workers in the same church. He is a prominent Democrat, as are his sons, and 
he has held various local offices in Iowa County. In spite of his age, John 
U. BAKER is very active and engaged in church work to an extensive degree. 
Few men have done as much good as this gentleman has in a private way, [p 
485] and none are more worthy and deserving of praise that the Rev. John 
BAKER.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly