Early settler and farmer of Acton township, Meeker County, Minnesota. His name became permanently etched into Minnesota's history one fateful day, yet little is known about him.
He was the son of Ann (Baker) Jones by a previous marriage and a stepson of Robinson Jones. In 1857, he settled about a half mile northeast of the Robinson homestead in Acton township. With him were his wife and two children. The Lower Sioux Agency was about 35 miles northeast of Acton.
During the winter of 1861-1862, the situation of Dakota Indians living on the nearby reservation had become a fight for survival. The entire treaty system had become corrupt and US federal policy toward Indians was abusive and a failure.
In the summer of 1862, the government annuities due in June at the Agency once again did not arrive. Two months later, they still had not arrived. Congress had been late in appropriating the funds. Oblivious to the situation of the Dakota, the Treasury Department then took an entire month to debate about whether to pay the Indians in paper money or in scarce gold.
The problem became much greater when Indian Agent Thomas J. Galbraith and local traders refused to let the Indians buy food and supplies on credit, though the warehouses at the Indian agencies were full.
Worst of all, according to Chief Big Eagle in his later years, the Indians were constantly being treated as if they were inferior to white men, when they knew this was not true. In his book "The Dakota War of 1862", author Kenneth Carley summed up these and other factors:
"The Indian frontier had become extremely combustible, and four braves would soon light the match."
On Sunday, Aug. 17, 1862, Howard Baker was up at dawn to begin routine chores on the farm. The day seemed like any other. At about 11 a.m., four Dakota men came to his house with Robinson Jones. They were Sungigidan ("Brown Wing"), Ka-om-de-i-ye-ye-dan ("Breaking Up"), Nagi-we-cak-te ("Killing Ghost"), and Pa-zo-i-yo-pa ("Runs Against Something When Crawling"). Nothing about this was unusual, as Jones operated a frontier public house and kept groceries, which he used to trade with the Indians for furs. Jones seemed to know the Dakota men and they appeared to be friendly.
Also staying at the Baker farm was Viranus Webster and his wife, who had come from New Hampshire to look for land. When the Indians arrived with Jones, Webster was in the house. His wife was outside, resting in their covered wagon. After the Indians had stayed about 15 minutes, they challenged the three men to a game of target-shooting. Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Baker, who was holding her infant child, stood by the doorway to watch.
The men competed with one another for sport, firing at a mark on a tree. Afterward, the Indians reloaded their guns. The settlers did not. Baker traded guns with one of the Indians, who gave him $3 as the difference in the value of the guns.
At an inquest, Mrs. Baker later testified as to what happened next:
"About 12 o'clock two more Indians came and got some water; our guns were not reloaded; the Indians loaded their guns in the dooryard; I went back into the house, did not suspect anything at the time; supposed they were going away; next I knew I heard the report of a gun and saw Webster fall; he stood and fell near the door; another Indian came to the door and aimed at Howard Baker and shot; did not kill him at that time; he shot the other barrel of his gun at Howard and he fell.
"My mother [in-law] walked to the door and another Indian shot her; she turned to run and fell into the buttery; they shot at her twice as she fell.
I tried to get out of the window, but fell down the cellar; saw Mrs. Webster pulling her husband into the house, don't know where she was prior to this. Indians immediately left the house; while I was in the cellar, I heard firing out of doors…"
Robinson Jones had also been shot during the attack; some accounts state he was the first one killed.
Mrs. Baker remained in the cellar until after the Indians were gone. She then made her way to the nearest settlement to give the alarm. The following day, a group of men from Forest City went to the Baker farm to bury the bodies of those who had been killed. They didn't know it yet, but it was only the beginning of the darkest time in Minnesota's history.
The braves returned to their camp to tell others about what they had done. That night, leaders of the tribes in the Sioux nation debated intensely about what action they should take. Some of the young warriors and a few leaders wanted to go to war. Most leaders opposed the war and debated strongly against it. Ultimately, Chief Little Crow agreed to lead the group of warriors who wanted to fight. Their people had suffered enough. Their way of life and their survival was being threatened. The government was not keeping its treaties. Their people were dying from disease and lack of food. It was time to take back their land and clear it of non-Indians. It was time to return to their way of life before the settlers came. Chief Little Crow's band of hostile warriors declared war.
In 1909, Howard Baker's name was inscribed on the Acton State Monument, erected to mark the spot "where the first blood was shed in the Sioux Indian Outbreak, Aug. 17, 1862."
He was the son of Ann (Baker) Jones by a previous marriage and a stepson of Robinson Jones. In 1857, he settled about a half mile northeast of the Robinson homestead in Acton township. With him were his wife and two children. The Lower Sioux Agency was about 35 miles northeast of Acton.
During the winter of 1861-1862, the situation of Dakota Indians living on the nearby reservation had become a fight for survival. The entire treaty system had become corrupt and US federal policy toward Indians was abusive and a failure.
In the summer of 1862, the government annuities due in June at the Agency once again did not arrive. Two months later, they still had not arrived. Congress had been late in appropriating the funds. Oblivious to the situation of the Dakota, the Treasury Department then took an entire month to debate about whether to pay the Indians in paper money or in scarce gold.
The problem became much greater when Indian Agent Thomas J. Galbraith and local traders refused to let the Indians buy food and supplies on credit, though the warehouses at the Indian agencies were full.
Worst of all, according to Chief Big Eagle in his later years, the Indians were constantly being treated as if they were inferior to white men, when they knew this was not true. In his book "The Dakota War of 1862", author Kenneth Carley summed up these and other factors:
"The Indian frontier had become extremely combustible, and four braves would soon light the match."
On Sunday, Aug. 17, 1862, Howard Baker was up at dawn to begin routine chores on the farm. The day seemed like any other. At about 11 a.m., four Dakota men came to his house with Robinson Jones. They were Sungigidan ("Brown Wing"), Ka-om-de-i-ye-ye-dan ("Breaking Up"), Nagi-we-cak-te ("Killing Ghost"), and Pa-zo-i-yo-pa ("Runs Against Something When Crawling"). Nothing about this was unusual, as Jones operated a frontier public house and kept groceries, which he used to trade with the Indians for furs. Jones seemed to know the Dakota men and they appeared to be friendly.
Also staying at the Baker farm was Viranus Webster and his wife, who had come from New Hampshire to look for land. When the Indians arrived with Jones, Webster was in the house. His wife was outside, resting in their covered wagon. After the Indians had stayed about 15 minutes, they challenged the three men to a game of target-shooting. Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Baker, who was holding her infant child, stood by the doorway to watch.
The men competed with one another for sport, firing at a mark on a tree. Afterward, the Indians reloaded their guns. The settlers did not. Baker traded guns with one of the Indians, who gave him $3 as the difference in the value of the guns.
At an inquest, Mrs. Baker later testified as to what happened next:
"About 12 o'clock two more Indians came and got some water; our guns were not reloaded; the Indians loaded their guns in the dooryard; I went back into the house, did not suspect anything at the time; supposed they were going away; next I knew I heard the report of a gun and saw Webster fall; he stood and fell near the door; another Indian came to the door and aimed at Howard Baker and shot; did not kill him at that time; he shot the other barrel of his gun at Howard and he fell.
"My mother [in-law] walked to the door and another Indian shot her; she turned to run and fell into the buttery; they shot at her twice as she fell.
I tried to get out of the window, but fell down the cellar; saw Mrs. Webster pulling her husband into the house, don't know where she was prior to this. Indians immediately left the house; while I was in the cellar, I heard firing out of doors…"
Robinson Jones had also been shot during the attack; some accounts state he was the first one killed.
Mrs. Baker remained in the cellar until after the Indians were gone. She then made her way to the nearest settlement to give the alarm. The following day, a group of men from Forest City went to the Baker farm to bury the bodies of those who had been killed. They didn't know it yet, but it was only the beginning of the darkest time in Minnesota's history.
The braves returned to their camp to tell others about what they had done. That night, leaders of the tribes in the Sioux nation debated intensely about what action they should take. Some of the young warriors and a few leaders wanted to go to war. Most leaders opposed the war and debated strongly against it. Ultimately, Chief Little Crow agreed to lead the group of warriors who wanted to fight. Their people had suffered enough. Their way of life and their survival was being threatened. The government was not keeping its treaties. Their people were dying from disease and lack of food. It was time to take back their land and clear it of non-Indians. It was time to return to their way of life before the settlers came. Chief Little Crow's band of hostile warriors declared war.
In 1909, Howard Baker's name was inscribed on the Acton State Monument, erected to mark the spot "where the first blood was shed in the Sioux Indian Outbreak, Aug. 17, 1862."
Early settler and farmer of Acton township, Meeker County, Minnesota. His name became permanently etched into Minnesota's history one fateful day, yet little is known about him.
He was the son of Ann (Baker) Jones by a previous marriage and a stepson of Robinson Jones. In 1857, he settled about a half mile northeast of the Robinson homestead in Acton township. With him were his wife and two children. The Lower Sioux Agency was about 35 miles northeast of Acton.
During the winter of 1861-1862, the situation of Dakota Indians living on the nearby reservation had become a fight for survival. The entire treaty system had become corrupt and US federal policy toward Indians was abusive and a failure.
In the summer of 1862, the government annuities due in June at the Agency once again did not arrive. Two months later, they still had not arrived. Congress had been late in appropriating the funds. Oblivious to the situation of the Dakota, the Treasury Department then took an entire month to debate about whether to pay the Indians in paper money or in scarce gold.
The problem became much greater when Indian Agent Thomas J. Galbraith and local traders refused to let the Indians buy food and supplies on credit, though the warehouses at the Indian agencies were full.
Worst of all, according to Chief Big Eagle in his later years, the Indians were constantly being treated as if they were inferior to white men, when they knew this was not true. In his book "The Dakota War of 1862", author Kenneth Carley summed up these and other factors:
"The Indian frontier had become extremely combustible, and four braves would soon light the match."
On Sunday, Aug. 17, 1862, Howard Baker was up at dawn to begin routine chores on the farm. The day seemed like any other. At about 11 a.m., four Dakota men came to his house with Robinson Jones. They were Sungigidan ("Brown Wing"), Ka-om-de-i-ye-ye-dan ("Breaking Up"), Nagi-we-cak-te ("Killing Ghost"), and Pa-zo-i-yo-pa ("Runs Against Something When Crawling"). Nothing about this was unusual, as Jones operated a frontier public house and kept groceries, which he used to trade with the Indians for furs. Jones seemed to know the Dakota men and they appeared to be friendly.
Also staying at the Baker farm was Viranus Webster and his wife, who had come from New Hampshire to look for land. When the Indians arrived with Jones, Webster was in the house. His wife was outside, resting in their covered wagon. After the Indians had stayed about 15 minutes, they challenged the three men to a game of target-shooting. Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Baker, who was holding her infant child, stood by the doorway to watch.
The men competed with one another for sport, firing at a mark on a tree. Afterward, the Indians reloaded their guns. The settlers did not. Baker traded guns with one of the Indians, who gave him $3 as the difference in the value of the guns.
At an inquest, Mrs. Baker later testified as to what happened next:
"About 12 o'clock two more Indians came and got some water; our guns were not reloaded; the Indians loaded their guns in the dooryard; I went back into the house, did not suspect anything at the time; supposed they were going away; next I knew I heard the report of a gun and saw Webster fall; he stood and fell near the door; another Indian came to the door and aimed at Howard Baker and shot; did not kill him at that time; he shot the other barrel of his gun at Howard and he fell.
"My mother [in-law] walked to the door and another Indian shot her; she turned to run and fell into the buttery; they shot at her twice as she fell.
I tried to get out of the window, but fell down the cellar; saw Mrs. Webster pulling her husband into the house, don't know where she was prior to this. Indians immediately left the house; while I was in the cellar, I heard firing out of doors…"
Robinson Jones had also been shot during the attack; some accounts state he was the first one killed.
Mrs. Baker remained in the cellar until after the Indians were gone. She then made her way to the nearest settlement to give the alarm. The following day, a group of men from Forest City went to the Baker farm to bury the bodies of those who had been killed. They didn't know it yet, but it was only the beginning of the darkest time in Minnesota's history.
The braves returned to their camp to tell others about what they had done. That night, leaders of the tribes in the Sioux nation debated intensely about what action they should take. Some of the young warriors and a few leaders wanted to go to war. Most leaders opposed the war and debated strongly against it. Ultimately, Chief Little Crow agreed to lead the group of warriors who wanted to fight. Their people had suffered enough. Their way of life and their survival was being threatened. The government was not keeping its treaties. Their people were dying from disease and lack of food. It was time to take back their land and clear it of non-Indians. It was time to return to their way of life before the settlers came. Chief Little Crow's band of hostile warriors declared war.
In 1909, Howard Baker's name was inscribed on the Acton State Monument, erected to mark the spot "where the first blood was shed in the Sioux Indian Outbreak, Aug. 17, 1862."
He was the son of Ann (Baker) Jones by a previous marriage and a stepson of Robinson Jones. In 1857, he settled about a half mile northeast of the Robinson homestead in Acton township. With him were his wife and two children. The Lower Sioux Agency was about 35 miles northeast of Acton.
During the winter of 1861-1862, the situation of Dakota Indians living on the nearby reservation had become a fight for survival. The entire treaty system had become corrupt and US federal policy toward Indians was abusive and a failure.
In the summer of 1862, the government annuities due in June at the Agency once again did not arrive. Two months later, they still had not arrived. Congress had been late in appropriating the funds. Oblivious to the situation of the Dakota, the Treasury Department then took an entire month to debate about whether to pay the Indians in paper money or in scarce gold.
The problem became much greater when Indian Agent Thomas J. Galbraith and local traders refused to let the Indians buy food and supplies on credit, though the warehouses at the Indian agencies were full.
Worst of all, according to Chief Big Eagle in his later years, the Indians were constantly being treated as if they were inferior to white men, when they knew this was not true. In his book "The Dakota War of 1862", author Kenneth Carley summed up these and other factors:
"The Indian frontier had become extremely combustible, and four braves would soon light the match."
On Sunday, Aug. 17, 1862, Howard Baker was up at dawn to begin routine chores on the farm. The day seemed like any other. At about 11 a.m., four Dakota men came to his house with Robinson Jones. They were Sungigidan ("Brown Wing"), Ka-om-de-i-ye-ye-dan ("Breaking Up"), Nagi-we-cak-te ("Killing Ghost"), and Pa-zo-i-yo-pa ("Runs Against Something When Crawling"). Nothing about this was unusual, as Jones operated a frontier public house and kept groceries, which he used to trade with the Indians for furs. Jones seemed to know the Dakota men and they appeared to be friendly.
Also staying at the Baker farm was Viranus Webster and his wife, who had come from New Hampshire to look for land. When the Indians arrived with Jones, Webster was in the house. His wife was outside, resting in their covered wagon. After the Indians had stayed about 15 minutes, they challenged the three men to a game of target-shooting. Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Baker, who was holding her infant child, stood by the doorway to watch.
The men competed with one another for sport, firing at a mark on a tree. Afterward, the Indians reloaded their guns. The settlers did not. Baker traded guns with one of the Indians, who gave him $3 as the difference in the value of the guns.
At an inquest, Mrs. Baker later testified as to what happened next:
"About 12 o'clock two more Indians came and got some water; our guns were not reloaded; the Indians loaded their guns in the dooryard; I went back into the house, did not suspect anything at the time; supposed they were going away; next I knew I heard the report of a gun and saw Webster fall; he stood and fell near the door; another Indian came to the door and aimed at Howard Baker and shot; did not kill him at that time; he shot the other barrel of his gun at Howard and he fell.
"My mother [in-law] walked to the door and another Indian shot her; she turned to run and fell into the buttery; they shot at her twice as she fell.
I tried to get out of the window, but fell down the cellar; saw Mrs. Webster pulling her husband into the house, don't know where she was prior to this. Indians immediately left the house; while I was in the cellar, I heard firing out of doors…"
Robinson Jones had also been shot during the attack; some accounts state he was the first one killed.
Mrs. Baker remained in the cellar until after the Indians were gone. She then made her way to the nearest settlement to give the alarm. The following day, a group of men from Forest City went to the Baker farm to bury the bodies of those who had been killed. They didn't know it yet, but it was only the beginning of the darkest time in Minnesota's history.
The braves returned to their camp to tell others about what they had done. That night, leaders of the tribes in the Sioux nation debated intensely about what action they should take. Some of the young warriors and a few leaders wanted to go to war. Most leaders opposed the war and debated strongly against it. Ultimately, Chief Little Crow agreed to lead the group of warriors who wanted to fight. Their people had suffered enough. Their way of life and their survival was being threatened. The government was not keeping its treaties. Their people were dying from disease and lack of food. It was time to take back their land and clear it of non-Indians. It was time to return to their way of life before the settlers came. Chief Little Crow's band of hostile warriors declared war.
In 1909, Howard Baker's name was inscribed on the Acton State Monument, erected to mark the spot "where the first blood was shed in the Sioux Indian Outbreak, Aug. 17, 1862."
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