Tag Archives: Earl W Baker

Earl W Baker – Biography

28 Friday Apr 2017

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Earl Wheaton Baker was born in Salt Point, NY on 6 November 1893, the only child of jeweler Charles Vassar Baker and Anna Reid. In 1900 they lived at 460 Main St. in Poughkeepsie and Earl’s paternal grandmother Mary F Vassar was in the house with them. Earl married Ruth S Baldwin (born 25 May 1894) on 29 May 1919 and they had one child: James Gordon Baker born 31 Jul 1926. Gordon later removed to the midwest and was living in Minnesota in 1973 when his father died.

In 1920 Earl lived on Lexington St in Poughkeepsie with his new wife and widowed father. Earl was a bookkeeper with a “Gas Company” (Central Hudson-proper didn’t come along until 1925).

When he died 13 Apr 1973 at Vassar Hospital, Earl was a member of Poughkeepsie Friends Meeting. He had retired from Central Hudson, where he was a tax and insurance manager, in 1960. He had been with the company 46 years. He and Ruth are both buried at the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery. Ruth passed c. 2012 and shortly after I was given their genealogical files to find a home for them. I’m still looking.

Log of Earl W Baker 1/20/1917

03 Friday Mar 2017

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This post is the first in a series of transcriptions of the Log book of Earl W Baker of Poughkeepsie from 1917. I don’t know much about him other than his ancestors dumped a huge box of genealogy records and I was left to pick it up. This log book full of the thoughts of a man from Dutchess County (albeit not so Northern) from 100 years ago seemed interesting. I should have remembered that I was working on this and posted them on the corresponding dates, but hey. I’m doing it now (thanks, Emily). Like many efforts to keep a journal (*cough*or a local history blog*cough*), Mr. Baker does well out the gate but then by March is not posting but once in a while. Here’s the first entry and the quote that he transcribed on a page before that entry. My notes are in parenthesis.

There is no wealth but life.
Life, including all its powers – of love, of joy – of admiration.
-Ruskin

(Published in 1860, John Ruskin “Unto This Last” an essay/book about economy that changed Gandhi’s life when he read it)

Log of Earl W Baker 1917

Jan 20, 1917

This Diary shall be the record of my daily struggle for Self-Mastery. In it, I shall set forth Plans, Ideas, and Ideals, the lessons of Experience, gleanings from print, impressions of the passing Day.

To the End that I may have, in daily contact with my Life, an incentive, inspiration and goal: a reminder of past failures with the causes thereof. And a Viewpoint toward Life which shall be in Harmony with my real Ambitions and Purposes, and not in compliance with minor and incidental gratification.

‘Humanum est errare.’ (To err is human) I will analyze my failures; sound my blunders. And where I meet with Success, I will credit myself only with that part due to foresight and not with the success due to whim of chance or outside aid.

Now for my Ideals. Simply Honor & Personality. To Live each day as if it were Doomsday, wisely, thoughtfully, unselfishly – To Live each day to the very full – at the very Top of Perfection – my self at its Utmost Best – Alert – Responsive – Volatile. – To embody Energy, Courage, Enthusiasm and Hopefullness (sic)

– To be Gracious, Interested, Tactful, and Kind.

For this Year – This Slogan To Give my Best to Each Passing Moment.

‘Deo Juvante’ (with God’s help)

1917 Baker Log, page 1

1917 Baker Log, page 1