END COMES TO PROMINENT CITIZEN
C. E. Baker Was County Attorney Here For 20 Years
C. E. Baker, County Attorney of Comanche County for many years, and who
during the past 12 1/2 years had been employed by the U. S. Treasury
Department passed away at the home of his sister, Mrs. Alice White, in
this city at 2:23 a.m. on Friday of last week. He had not been in good
health for several years and had been seriously ill since last December.
Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. last Sunday afternoon in the
Methodist church in this city and were in charge of the pastor, Rev. Major
W. Parker. Mr. and Mrs. Gurney W. Hadley sang, "We Are Going Down The
Valley," "The Old Rugged Cross," and "Lead Thou Me On." There was a
profusion of flowers from the many friends of Mr. Baker.
The pallbearers were six nephews of Mr. Baker, through blood relationship
or marriage, Raymond Broadie of Ashland, Roy, King, Dwight Copple and
Orville Craig of Meade, and Bowman Hewett and Arthur White of Coldwater.
Burial was in Crown Hill Cemetery.
Obituary.
Charles Edgar Baker, son of Martha and Andrew Harrison Baker, was born in
Lawrence County, Missouri, December 29, 1873, and departed this life June
18, 1943, at the age of 69 years 5 months and 19 days. Death was caused by
a heart ailment which had incapacitated him since last December.
When he was nearly five years of age, he with his parents and four
sisters, left Lawrence County, Missouri, in a covered wagon for Kansas and
after a stormy trip, they spent the winter on a farm several miles from
where Burden, Kansas is now located.
In the spring of 1879 the family moved to a farm in eastern Cowley County,
where they made their home until April, 1885, when the Baker family,
composed of the parents, six daughters and two sons, started with three
other families for western Kansas to look for government claims. They
arrived in Comanche County April 20, 1885, and camped just west of
Coldwater on Cavalry Creek.
Two days later a bitter county seat election was held, in which Coldwater
won over Nescatunga. A week later, or on April 28, the Bakers settled on a
claim south of Protection, in Collier Flats, where a large sod house was
built.
As Mr. Baker grew to manhood, he sought further education and attended the
Emporia State Normal and the Wichita Business College. He then taught
several terms of terms of school in his home county.
During two terms of the State Legislature, from 1898 to 1902, Mr. Baker
served as a secretary of the Kansas law making body. For eight years, from
1902 to 1910, he was court stenographer for the 7th Judicial District of
Kansas, during that time making his home in Dodge City. He was admitted to
the Kansas bar in 1910 and began the practice of law in Coldwater. In 1912
he was elected County Attorney of Comanche County and served in that
capacity ten consecutive terms.
During his 20 years in office in this county, Mr. Baker was true to every
trust imposed in him. He was a faithful and efficient official, always a
stalwart supporter of the Right, and none there was who did not respect
him. The continued confidence of his fellowmen and the high esteem in
which he was held, was evidenced by his re-election to office over a long
period.
Mr. Baker came from sturdy pioneer stock, and he incorporated in his life
the consideration of others, the generosity and kindness of heart and the
sterling character which mark a true Christian gentleman.
On December 8, 1930, Mr. Baker accepted a Civil Service appointment with
the Treasury Department of the United States government in Kansas City,
Mo., and remained in this service until his death.
On January 31, 1901, in Topeka, Kansas, he was united in marriage with
Miss Lula Boyd of Burden, Kansas. To this union three children; Elsie,
Irene and Charles Jr., were born. In August, 1933, his wife, Lula
Boyd-Baker, passed away. On July 25, 1937, Mr. Baker was united in
marriage with Nancy Smith Thornton at Independence, Mo.
Mr. Baker was a faithful member of the Methodist church in Coldwater,
uniting with the church in November, 1911. He organized and was teacher of
the Loyal Legion Sunday school class, one of the strong classes of the
Sunday school today. He was a member of Comanche Lodge, No., 295, A. F. &
A. M., for over 27 years.
No man was ever more faithful to his home county and its institutions.
During the years Mr. Baker's work took him away from Coldwater he
continued to vote here and to maintain his membership and an active
interest in his home church and lodge. Comanche County was his home most
of his life.
Deceased is survived by his wife, Mrs. Nancy Baker; his children, Mrs.
Clarence Whelpley and Mrs. George Thompson of Coldwater, Kansas, and
Charles Baker Jr. of Beardstown, Illinois; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Fagan
Stinnett of Kansas City, Missouri; six sisters; Mrs. Ella King and Mrs.
Emma Craig of Meade, Kans., Mrs. Alice White and Mrs. Grace Copple of
Coldwater, Kans., Mrs. Jessie Cook of Cherokee, Okla., and Mrs. Essie
Keltner of Protection; two brothers, Frank Baker of Patosi, Mo., and Fred
Baker of Selman, Okla.; eight grandchildren, Bob and Donald Whelpley,
Victor, Norene and Elvin Thompson, Eddie and Kay Ann Baker and Edgar Allen
Stinnett, also by many nephews, nieces and a host of friends.
Mr. Baker was preceded in death by his wife, Lula, his parents, two
sisters; Mrs. Fannie McDaniel of Waynoka, Okla., and Mrs. Hallie Broadie
of Ashland, Kans, and an infant grandson, Glenn Arthur Whelpley. |