IA-IRISH-L Archives

From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: Bio of Patrick Baker
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 14:26:33 -0500

Portrait and Biographical Album, Henry County, Iowa; Acme Publishing Company,
Chicago, 1888, pp 290-291

PATRICK BAKER, Station Agent at Rome, was born in County Clare, Ireland,
March 17, 1827, and is a son of Michael and Mary (O'Grady) Baker, both of whom
were natives of Ireland, and were reared, married, and died in County Clare. His
father was eighty-two years old at his death, and his mother seventy-five. They
were both members of the Catholic Church, and reared a family of nine children,
all of whom grew to man and womanhood. They were named: Thomas, who died in
Ireland; Mary, wife of Patrick Byron, also a native of Ireland; Bridget, wife of
James Clune, of the same country; Ellen, wife of John Sullivan; Ann, wife of
James Daloughty; Daniel, also a resident of his native country; Michael, who
died there; John, who died in Rome, Iowa, in 1874, and Patrick.
Our subject was the second one of the family to emigrate to America. He
crossed the water in 1849, settling in New York, where for seven years he was
engaged as section foreman on the New York & Erie Railroad. In 1855 he came to
Bur­lington, and engaged as track foreman for the B. & M., now the C., B. & Q.
R. R., and in 1858 came to Rome. Here Mr. Baker was engaged as foreman,
continuing in this employment until 1878, when he was made Station Agent, which
position he has held ever since.
Mr. Baker was united in marriage, in 1855, to Johanna Ambrose, a native of
County Limerick, Ireland, and a daughter of William Ambrose. By this union seven
children have been born: Michael A., now a resident of Keokuk, is chief
dispatcher of the C., B. & Q. R. R.; John C. is operator at Rome; Katie is a
teacher in the same village; Maggie is also a teacher; Peter B. and James D. are
now engaged in farming, and Johanna is the youngest. Mr. and Mrs. Baker with
their children are members of the Catholic Church. He was poor in this world's
goods when he came to this county, but by close attention to business, and good
management, has gained a competence. He now owns 200 acres of fine land, all
improved, adjoining Rome. Politically, he is a Democrat, and has been President
of the Board of Education for ten years. He takes great interest in educational
and public affairs, and of the citizens of Tippecanoe Township, none deserve
more respect than does our subject.

Cathy Joynt Labath
Irish in Iowa
http://www.celticcousins.net/irishiniowa/index.htm
Henry Co, IA USGenWeb Project
http://www.rootsweb.com/~iahenry/index.htm

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• Bio of Patrick Baker by "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>