WABASHA COUNTY, MINNESOTA ***************************************************************************** Biography transcribed & donated to Wabasha County, MN Bios by Barbara Koska Timm. For more information, please check out her site "Biographies and Historical Sketches of Wabasha County, Minnesota" at . ***************************************************************************** HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHICAL MATTER, STATISTICS, ETC. GATHERED FROM MATTER FURNISHED BY INTERVIEWS WITH OLD SETTLERS, COUNTY, TOWNSHIP AND OTHER RECORDS, AND EXTRACTS FROM FILES OF PAPERS, PAMPHLETS, AND SUCH OTHER SOURCES AS HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE. ALSO A HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY CHICAGO: H. H. HILL & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS. 1884 Baker, Benjamin Franklin, veterinary surgeon, Elgin, was born in Kirkland, Oneida county, New York, November 5, 1842. His parents - James and Anna Baker- were natives of England, County Kent, and emigrated to America in 1820. For many years the elder Baker engaged in mercantile business in Philadelphia, and during the War of the Rebellion was occupied in supplying horses to the government for cavalry and artillery purposes. In 1859 he settled in Walworth, Wisconsin, and in Elgin in 1869. The subject of this sketch was educated in an academy at Whitesborough, Oneida county. In August, 1861, he entered Company F, First Wisconsin Cavalry, and served one year. He re-enlisted as a veteran in 1862, in Company C, Twenty-eighth Wisconsin Volunteers. His service was in the western department of the Union army, and he was an actor in the battles of Helena, Arkansas, Columbus, Kentucky, Vicksburg, Mobile Bay, Capture of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Little Rock, Red River Expedition and battle at Shreveport, Fort Donelson, Pensacola, Forts Morgan and Gaines, besides numerous smaller engagements. He was mustered out at Brownsville, Texas, in October, 1865. For three years he served under detail as veterinary surgeon, and has since made that profession his chief occupation. He settled at Elgin in 1869, and has since permanently dwelt here. February 22, 1871, he was united in marriage with Miss Jeannette Featherstone, who was born in Walworth, Wis., and is nine years her husband's junior. Two children have been given to this couple, born and christened as follows: July 29, 1872, Nora; May 20, 1876, Merton. In religious views Mr. Baker is quite liberal. He is a thorough Republican in political opinion. In the spring of 1884 he was elected assessor over the caucus nominee. He is now doing a lucrative and successful business in the practice of his profession and is among the progressive citizens of the tornado-scourged town.