W.A. Baker, Etna Pioneer, Dies At Salt Lake City
William Alonzo Baker, 79, pioneer and early settler of Star Valley, died Friday July 18, at the LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City of acute colitis. He had been taken to Salt Lake two weeks earlier in a critical condition.
Funeral services were held Monday in the Etna Ward Chapel, under the direction of the Afton Third Ward Bishopric, with Bp. Neal Kennington conducting. Burial was in the Etna Cemetery, with the Schwab Mortuary in charge.
"Lonnie" as he was known by his friends and associates, was born Dec 24, 1878 at Richmond, Utah, the son of Alonzo Baker and Anna Eliza Telford Baker. He came to Star Valley with his parents when nine years of age, and lived the rest of his life here, except for short periods of employment outside the valley.
When he was still a boy, his father contracted the building of a railroad in Montana and Lonnie acted as mail carrier and water boy on the job.
He fulfilled a mission for the LDS Church in the Northern States Mission, representing the Etna Ward, in 1908-09. Shortly after his return he was married in the Salt Lake Temple to Blance Mayberry Barley, April 7, 1910.
With a 480-acre farm at Etna and the largest herd of dairy cows (100 head) in Star Valley, he operated a dairy and claims to have manufactured the first cheese made in the valley. The Bakers brought the formula here and later sold it to other manufacturers who later built up the dairy industry as the most important in the valley. While in Etna he helped build several major canals, including the Baker Canal and the East Side Canal.
In 1913 he became lineman, secretary and boss of the Etna Telephone Co., a job he held for several years.
The Baker family had its share of bad luck and misfortune. He lost all his land and livestock holdings during the depression, and in 1926 the family home in Etna burned down, a complete loss.
In the twenties he operated a store and was postmaster in Etna for about ten years.
His father died at age 95 and his mother died of childbirth when he was about 20, and he took care of his younger brother Eather, for several years.
In about 1934 he sold his store and post office and moved to Afton with his family where he went into the business of buying and selling furs, livestock and fruit. He has lived in Afton ever since leaving the valley for short periods of employment outside. He worked in a Pocatello store for a couple of years but maintained his home here.
One of his greatest attributes was his honesty and dependability. He was an ardent checker player and liked nothing better than to sit down with one of his friends for a checker game. He was considered one of the best players in the valley. He also enjoyed working in his garden and raising flowers.
Survivors include the following sons and daughters; Lloyd B. Baker Mountain View Calif.; Carl B. Baker, Pacific Grove Calif.; Dennis A. Baker Pacific Grove, Calif.; Margie B. Combs Pocatello, Idaho; Wayne B. Baker, Price, Utah; Rex B. Baker Great Falls, Montana; Lester D. Baker, Pueblo Colo.; Elcie B. Walker, Afton, Wyo. He is also survived by the following brothers and sisters; Eather C. Baker, Etna; John Low Baker Placerville, Calif.; Elsie Talbott, Ogden, Utah; Winnie Anderson Las Vegas Nev.; and Annie Anderson Carmel, Calif.
Out of town persons attending the funeral services were:
Elcie Talbot, Ogden, Utah; Vinnie Anderson, Las Vegas, Nev.; Mr and Mrs John Low Baker, Placerville, Calif.; Lloyd B. Baker, Mountain View Calif.; Carl B. Baker and Dennis A Baker, Pacific Grove, Calif.; Mr and Mrs c D Combs and family Mrs June Frazier and Mr and Mrs Mahlon Rupp and son Pocatello, Idaho; Mr and Mrs Wayne Baker and family Price, Utah; Mr and Mrs Rex Baker and family, Great Falls Mont.; Mr and Mrs Lester D. Baker and family, Pueblo, Colo.; and Ashton Roberts Blackfoot Idaho.

Baker, William Alonzo (18 Jul 1958)Star Valley Independent

William Alonzo BAKER is the son of Alonzo BAKER and Anna Eliza TELFORD
William Alonzo BAKER married Blanche Mayberry BRALEY 7 Apr 1910 in Salt Lake Temple, S. L. C