The History of the Early Settlement of Norton County, Kansas

Page 206

back

next

table of contents

 
received his education in the common and graded schools of Tama county, Iowa.  He is a graduate, also a post graduate of the Tama County Normal Institue. (sic)  As a member of the junior class in the normal and literary department of Western College, Iowa, he ranked high.  He has had fifteen years' experience in common, graded and institue (sic) work - eight in Iowa and seven in Kansas.

To the above might be added the following: Mr. Baker and his father, Rev. W. H. Baker, settled on the Kennedy homestead, near the old town site of Leota, in the spring of 1886.  Soon after locating the elder Baker entered the ministerial work of the Methodist Episcopal church, continuing until the fall of 1890, when thinking to better his condition and health, removed to Redlands, California, where he died November 11, 1891.  As an exhorter, the Rev. Baker possessed unusual ability.  He established a number of stations in the western part of this county.  As a citizen he was in favor of all local improvements that tended to build up the county or community in which he lived.

baker_fh.JPG (36127 bytes) Frank, as he is generally called by old and young, has been closely identified with the educational work of Norton county.  Since the fall of 1886, he has taught in the following places: Nos. 4 and 59; Norton, Almena and Oronoque.  In all his work as teacher he has given the best of satisfaction.  As an institute conductor and instructor he has met with decided success.  In 1892 he was chosen to the position of county superintendent of schools for Norton county on the republican ticket.  In politics he has always been a staunch republican.  As county superintendent he has the confidence of his teachers and the interest of the common schools at heart.  The schools are in a flourishing condition and the institute work is in splendid shape.  The coming session of the institute will continue ten weeks and bids fair to be well attended by teachers from home and abroad.  Since January 1, 1892 he has made over 300 talks on the subject of education in Norton county.  As a whole his work has been so well done that his nomination by acclamation and his election for a second term are assured facts.  During the time Mr. Baker has been a resident of Norton county he has achieved no little success as a public speaker and lecturer.  His favorite topics in public addresses are education, temperance, camp-fires and public days.  As an extempore speaker he is probably one of the best in northwestern Kansas.

His church and Sunday school work is well known throughout the county.  At present he is connected with the Methodist Episcopal church at Norton, where he holds the position of Sunday school superintendent.  However, his work is not confined to any creed or sect, but broad enough to work with all Christian organizations.

Few young men have a brighter

Page 206

back

next

table of contents

 


USGenWeb Home Page


KSGenWeb Home Page



Home Page for Kansas



Search  KSGenWeb Project

KSGenWeb logo were designed and are copyrighted by Tom & Carolyn Ward for the limited use of the KSGenWeb Project.  Permission is granted for use only on an official KSGenWeb page. 

web design ©2003 by Ardie Grimes,
Norton County, Kansas GenWeb coordinator
Text and photos from this 1894 book are within the public domain