ZACHARIAH BAKER is descended from a Quaker family, whose characteristic spirit of honor and morality is still manifested in the lives of the present generation of that name. Nathan Baker was a resident of New Jersey, and lived near Philadelphia for several years, finally removing with his family to Chester county, Penn. Afterward he purchased a farm of 150 acres in Washington county, near Fredericktown, where he managed a mill, drove stock and carried on the work of the farm. His first wife was Elizabeth Baker, of New Jersey, and their children were Aaron, Nehemiah, David, Joseph, Nathan, Enoch, Mrs. Lydia Townsend and Mrs. Mary Linton After the death of the mother of this family, Mr. Baker married a widow, Mrs. Jordan, who bore him the following children: William, Israel, Mahlon and Mrs. Hannah Rejester. Soon after Mr. Baker came to Washington county he went to Baltimore, Md., with stock, and while there was taken sick and died; this occurred in 1803, and he was buried beside his first wife. Joseph Baker, son of Nathan, was born July 9, 1786, in the State of New Jersey, and passed his early youth at home, attending the rate schools, and assisting in the farm duties. When seventeen years of age, his father died, and he then learned the carpenter's trade of Spencer McKay, which he followed many years. He first purchased the Miller farm, comprising thirty acres, and in 1830 bought the place which is now the property of his son Zachariah, and here passed the remainder of his life. On January 1, 1818, he was united in marriage with May Corwin, of Amwell township, who was born November 1, 1797, and the results of this union were the following children: Eunice, born November 15, 1818; Alpheus, born May 27, 1821; Stephen, born June 8, 1824; Sophia, born September 29, 1826 (deceased August 9, 1840); Asenath, born August 22, 1829; Enoch, born April 5, 1832; Zachariah, born December 19, 1835; Ruth, born November 11, 1837, and David, born August 20, 1842. Mr. Baker was a successful business man, and his property represented the result of his own integrity, economy and perseverance. Politically be was formerly an Old-line Whig, afterward becoming a Republican. He and his wife were members of the Baptist Church at Mount Vernon. He died July 22, 1863, after a long and useful life. Zachariah Baker, son of Joseph, was born on the farm in Amwell township, where his entire life has been passed. In his boyhood days he attended the district schools, but at the age of twenty-one he began working by the month, continuing in that way several years. On August 22, 1862, he enlisted at Amity in the One Hundred and Fortieth P. V. I., remaining in the service until July 6, 1865. He participated in the battles of Gettysburg, Auburn Heights and Spottsylvania Courthouse, in which latter engagement he was wounded. On December 21, 1865, he was united in marriage with Rosa A. Voorhes, who was born March 6, 1839, near Amity, in Amwell township, a daughter of A. W. and Mary Voorhes; the other children in his father's family were Nelson, born February 27, 1829; Samuel, born June 12, 1830; Jane, born March 24, 1832; Albert, born December 26, 1833; Margaret, born October 16, 1835; Nancy, born May 11, 1837; Rose A. born March 6, 1839; Julia (Mrs. Swiggler) born February 4, 1841; Elizabeth, born August 24, 1842; Mary, born March 24, 1844, Andrew, born March 28, 1845; and Peter, born February 28, 1847. The record of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Zachariah Baker is as follows: Sophia Jane, born October 19, 1866, is the wife of Joseph Tucker, of Amity; Victoren, born July 25, 1868, died September 14, 1869; Elizabeth Ann was born January 11, 1874; William Horner, born December 22, 1879, died November 16, 1880. Mr. Baker has been a successful business man, and is a highly esteemed citizen. He is a zealous worker in the Republican party, and he and his family are all members of the Methodist Church at Amity.

Text taken from page 1195 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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