Arthur A. BAKER (1901) has been a resident of Osborne township for the past ten years and is one of that precinct's successful farmers and stock raisers. His finely improved farm of 320 acres comprises the southeast quarter of section 9 and the southwest quarter of section 8. He is a native of Holland, and in that country he was educated and spent the first eighteen years of his life. He is the son of a Dutch farmer and laborer, William BAKER, and of Artie (WESSHAUS) BAKER, and was born on December 23, 1852.

The BAKER family immigrated to America in 1870 and the first year resided in New Jersey. Marion county, Iowa, was the next home, and there Arthur commenced his agriculaural career. He worked out for ten years and then rented land in Nebraska, which he farmed eleven years. Then he farmed in Ringgold and Osceola counties, Iowa, coming from the last named county in 1901 to Pipestone county. He farmed rented land in Osborne township until 1907, when he came into possession of his present property. Mr. BAKER was a director of school district No. 44 four years. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator company of Edgerton. With his family he belongs to the Christian Reformed church.

Arthur A. Baker was married in Marion county, Iowa, December 23, 1875, to Elizabeth BEERMAN, also a native of Holland. She was born March 20, 1855, the daughter of Hessel and Lilly BEERMAN. The following seven children have been born to this union: Etta, born October 30, 1877; Hessel, born April 1, 1879; Lilly, born January 15, 1881; William, born May 3, 1883; John, born August 31, 1886; Anna, born October 14, 1888; and Henry, born October 6, 1891.

SOURCE: ROSE, Arthur P. An Illustrated History of the Counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota p. 759. Northern History Publ. Co.. Luverne, Minnesota. 1911.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2009