Baker

Richard & Emma Smith Neal Baker

Richard homesteaded the 80 acres west of Freestone and north of Edwin Sawyer (Number 23 on the 1958 Highland map). His 16.5 x 24 adobe home of two rooms was built and he moved in on January 2, 1877 and continued to live there in February, 1883. In the spring of 1879 the grasshoppers ate all the crops as they came out of the ground so he moved to Salt Lake for employment for six months. His witnesses were Jesse Savill who lived in Salt Lake, formerly in American Fork and Nephi Preece who lived half mile from Baker.

Richard Baker Homesteader Certificate

Richard and Emma Baker home (Number 23 on the 1958 Highland map - 6260 W 10835 N)

In June, 1884, as a witness to Albert Preece's homestead proof, Richard identified himself as a "Builder, PO address Salt Lake City, working there, residence Utah Co. Utah." The 1880, 1900 and 1910 censuses all listed him as a brickmason, builder and contractor, living in Salt Lake City. Thus identified, but not with 100 percent certainty, Richard was born January 15, 1846, in England, married Emma in 1869 and migrated to America in 1870. His parents are unknown. He and his wife had at least nine children: Emma J., Sarah A., Phoebe H., Clara E., Richard E., John C., Lilly B., Ethel K., and Bertha. His wife was born October 10, 1847, in Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, England to Job and Harriet Robina Smith Neal.

In 1879 he was listed as living on the SW corner of West Temple and North Temple in Salt Lake City. Richard died December 14, 1917, and Emma died November 24, 1932. They are buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Source: HIGHLAND HISTORY: A compilation by Charles T Greenland II for the Highland Historical Society

Previous: Ashby
Next: Barkdull
Index

Baker

Richard & Emma Smith Neal Baker

Menu:

Contact Us

Hours

Site Links