Businessman, Politician, Sheriff, Union Army Officer

Born in Round Bottom, Marshall County WV. His Parents where John Baker and Elizabeth Roberts. He was the youngest of their five children.

He was a prominent citizen and held several public offices in Marshall County. He had been sheriff, deputy sheriff, commissary of the West Virginia penitentiary, and clerk of the circuit court.

Info from wvgw.net

From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY," Vol. I, pages 669-671. Brant & Fuller, 1890.

CAPTAIN ARTHUR O. BAKER

Capt. Arthur O. Baker, circuit clerk, an aged and highly respected citizen of Moundsville, was born in Marshall county, W.Va., June 11, 1828. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Roberts) Baker, the father, a native of Marshall county, W.Va., the mother of Allegheny county, Md. The latter came with her parents to West Virginia about the year 1800, the family settling on Robert's Ridge in this county. Mrs. Baker lived in the county nearly all her life. She died August 1, 1848, aged fifty-four years. She was a devout woman and died in the Christian faith, being a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Baker, her husband, was the eldest son of Henry and Mary (Parr) Baker. They were married in 1787, on the what is now J. B. Hix farm (Parr's Run and Parr's Point are named for this respected old pioneer settler.) The Parrs lived there at the time of said marriage. This flat surrounded by hills was known as the Flats of Grave creek. Henry Baker was an old Indian hunter, also a farmer. He died in 1847, aged about one hundred years. His wife died in Round Bottom at the age of sixty-one years. John Baker was born at a small fort which stood on the north end of what is now known as Mt. Rose cemetery, on March 17, 1789. He was a farmer and was in the war of 1812 until the close. He died in this county, July, 1831, at the age of forty-four years. These parents had five children, viz.: Rebecca, who married Jacob Jefferson, she died in 1853, aged thirty- seven years. Steven married Elizabeth Stewart, he died in 1843, aged twenty-seven. Henry married Mary Elder, he died in 1856, aged thirty-four years. Jonathan E. married Sarah Stewart, he died in 1884, aged sixty-two years. Arthur, the youngest, our subject, is the only one of the family now living. His father died when he was three years of age. He then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, to live with his uncle, Britton Roberts, where he remained and attended school until 1847, at the same time learning the lumber business. The following two years he lived in Davies county, Ky., still in the lumber business as superintendent of the saw-mill and lumber yard. The cholera breaking out he returned to Moundsville and has been a resident of this village ever since. On returning he entered into partnership merchandising with his brother Henry, which continued until 1855, at which time he was appointed deputy sheriff. He went into the clerk's office in 1857, and in 1858 was again appointed deputy sheriff, and continued in that position until 1862, when he was elected sheriff of the county. At the expiration of the term of office, the war having broken out, he was appointed provost marshal, with the rank of captain. He resigned that position in 1864, and raised as the first company, Company A, of the Seventeenth battalion and was commissioned captain by Gov. Boreman, and served until the close of the war, after which he was appointed commissary of the West Virginia penitentiary and served there until 1871. He was then elected to the legislature. After the expiration of his term he was elected clerk of the circuit court, which he is holding at the present time. The last time he was elected without opposition, getting more than 3,800 votes out of the 4,000 in the county. It will be seen that Capt. Baker has acted in one official position for about thirty-seven years, when his present term will expire. It will thus be seen that in his official career he has not only held the confidence of his constituency, but by his efficiecy, integrity and square dealings, has shown himself a splendid officer in all his various appointments, giving a very high degree of satisfaction in services efficiently rendered to all concerned. He was married in January, 1851, to Miss Elizabeth Koontz, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Koontz, formerly of Washington, Penn. Our subject's home has been made happy in the birth of five children, viz.: Flora, wife of Orlando Stevenson, only son of ex-Gov. Wm. E. Stevenson, of West Virginia; she has two children, Sadie E. and Carrie. Frank, married to Mary Daily, of this county, living in Wheeling. Charles, died in his fourth year in 1867. Clara, a music teacher of good qualifications. Ella died at the age of nineteen years, in 1888. She was a natural artist. At the time of her death she was a pupil of Miss Paren, of Wheeling. Capt. Baker and wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The mother has been an active worker in the church all her life, always taking an active interest in all things which promise for the best interests of the church. Capt. Baker is an I.O.O.F. and a charter member in re-instating the lodge in this place. Also is a member of the K. of H. and reporter of the lodge here for many years. Politically, the captain is an ardent republican. The captain was school commissioner in the independent district of Moundsville, and drew the first contract to build the first free school house ever built in West Virginia