He  continued  to  be  identified  with  agri-
cultural pursuits  until  he  attained  the
age  of  thirty-two  years,  when,  in  1884,  he
located  in  Atlanta  and  opened  d  small
grocery,  eventually  building  up  a  pros-
perous business  and  continuing  identified
with  this  enterprise  until  1892,  when  he  disposed  of  the  business,
on  account  of  impaired  health.  Thereafter  he  was  unable  to  enter
any  active  vocation  for  several  years.  In  1898  he  assumed  the
position  of  which  he  is  now  incumbent,  the  concern  with  which  he
is  identified  being  one  of  the  representative  lumber  companies  of
the  capital  city.  Mr.  Baker  is  a  man  of  sterling  character  and
holds  the  confidence  and  regard  of  all  who  know  him.  He  is  a
Royal  Arch  Mason,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  zealous  members
of  the  Walker  street  Methodist  Episcopal  church  South,  in  which
he  has  served  as  steward  for  many  years.  In  1882  Mr.  Baker  was
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lucy  A.  Williams,  daughter  of  Benja-
min Williams,  of  Atlanta.  Their  children  are  Maud  E.,  wife  of
Eugene  D.  Thomas,  Clifford  A.,  and  Pauline  H.
116  CYCLOPEDIA  OF  GEORGIA

Baker,  John,  an  active  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  was
a  man  of  undaunted  courage  and  high  character,  but  he  seemed
to  have  been  shadowed  by  some  fatality  that  prevented  his  suc-
cess. His  defeat  in  the  attempt  against  Wright's  Fort  (q,  v.)  was
an  instance  of  what  is  generally  termed  "hard  liick."  He  partici-
pated in  several  engagements  during  the  war  and  after  the  inde-
pendence of  the  United  States  was  established  passed  the  re-
mainder of  his  life  at  Sunbury.  Baker  county  was  named  for  him
and  one  of  his  grandsons  served  in  the  Georgia  legislature.
