Samuel E. Baxter 1840-1897

Middle initial "E" is found on son Richard D. Baxter's marriage record.
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Ireland as Samuel's birth place is mentioned in Samuel's obituary, the 1885 & 1895 Wisconsin state census records, census records of children and a certified court document dated Aug. 12, 1952, where Gustav Baxter said his father Samuel was born in Ireland, British Isles, and his daughter Mary's death record. The 1870 & 1880 census records give birth place as Canada.
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Additional information is included in the caption area for the pictures.
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Samuel married "Levina Williams" on January 3, 1867 by Justice of the Peace F.G. Blakefield in Fish Creek, Door, Wisconsin.
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Samuel Baxter's obituaries indicated he had ten children and that eight (four sons and four daughters) were living at the time of his death. Samuel's son Gus Baxter also said he was one of ten siblings.

Children of Samuel and Lavinia:
-Robert Baxter - birth and death dates unknown (born and died between Bet. 1867–1872)
-Mary M. Baxter - b. 1873 m. Herman August Roggendorf on Dec. 20, 1899; listed as Mary Baxter, age 23 in Samuel's March 12, 1897 probate file. Mary is one of the 4 surviving daughters listed in father Samuel's obituary.
-Hattie (Etta or Ettie) - b. bef June 1875; living unmarried in Wonewoc, Juneau County, Wisconsin in Feb. 18, 1893. She is listed as living in Wonewoc, Wisconsin in Samuel's probate file dated March 12, 1897. Hattie is one of the 4 surviving daughters listed in father Samuel's obituary. She died sometime after Feb./Mar. 1897.
-Gustine Baxter - b. Apr 1876 m. Gertrude Helgason on May 7, 1907; listed as age 20 in Samuel's probate file dated March 12, 1897. Gus is one of the 4 surviving sons listed in father Samuel's obituary.
-Samuel Baxter - b. 1878 m. Delia Williams on Sept. 14, 1900; listed as age 19 in Samuel's probate file dated March 12, 1897. Sam is one of the 4 surviving sons listed in father Samuel's obituary.
-Jennie Evelyn Baxter - b. Oct. 1879 (age 7 months in early June 1880) m. Frank Mortimer Stevens on Aug. 30, 1902 (her obit & stone give two different birth years); She is listed as age 18 and living in Petoskey, Michigan in Samuel's probate file dated March 12, 1897. Jennie is one of the 4 surviving daughters listed in father Samuel's obituary.
-Richard Dee Baxter - b. Sept 1880 m. 1) Theresa Klaus Baxter; 2) Sophia (Glassburn) Allen Sheldon; listed as age 16, living in Fish Creek, WI and adopted "by a Wilson" in Samuel's probate file dated March 12, 1897. He died between 1945–1957. Richard is one of the 4 surviving sons listed in father Samuel's obituary.
-child Baxter - d. bef. February 24, 1897. May have been born between Richard and Delia or between Delia and Eben.
-Delia Maude E. Baxter - b. Sept. 1884/1885 adopted by Alex and Dora (Lechler) Wilson m. Charles F. Burns; listed as age 13 and living in Fish Creek, WI and adopted "by a Wilson" in Samuel's probate file dated March 12, 1897. Delia is one of the 4 surviving daughters listed in father Samuel's obituary.
-Benjamin Eben Gage - b. 1887 - adopted by Joseph B. and Sarah (Sanborn) Gage m. Louise Alice Constance Carey; listed as Eben, age 10, living in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin, adopted by S. S. Gage in Samuel's probate file dated March 12, 1897. Eben is one of the 4 surviving sons listed in father Samuel's obituary.
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Samuel's wife Lavinia, died April 10, 1887. After her death, some of the children were adopted or raised by other families. Several years later, Samuel married widow Katherine/Catherine (Lechler) Roggendorf on May 29, 1893 (maybe 1892).
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Samuel Baxter, one of the old settlers of this town, died on Wednesday morning after a short illness. He contracted a severe cold and being in delicate health could not shake it off, pneumonia setting in and taking him off. He was about 54 years of age and leaves a wife and ten children, the latter being mostly all grown. He came to this county in 1867, the great part of which time was spent here. The funeral will probably take place on Sunday, when a daughter in Cincinnati, O., and another in Petosky, Mich., will have arrived.
The Advocate: Saturday, Feb. 27, 1897; Pg 8, Col 2; Sturgeon Bay, Door, Wisconsin
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Samuel Baxter, of Fish Creek, aged 59 years, died Thursday of catarrh of the stomach. He leaves a wife and family of grown up children to mourn his demise. The funeral will be held today, Saturday. Deceased was one of the old time settlers of Door county, and was widely known, especially in the northern part of the county.
Door County Democrat: Saturday, Feb. 27, 1897; Pg 1, Col 4; Sturgeon Bay, Door, Wisconsin
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The funeral of Samuel Baxter, was held here on Sunday, it was one of the largest ever witnessed in the town. Mr. Baxter was a popular citizen, and everybody had a good word for him. The widow and children who survive the kind husband and father, have the sympathy of all our people.
The Advocate: Saturday, March 6, 1897; Pg 8, Col 2; Sturgeon Bay, Door, Wisconsin
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The Late Samuel Baxter.
Our old time friend and neighbor, Samuel Baxter, died at his home in Gibraltar on February 24,1897, from a severe attack of pneumonia, mention of which was made at the time.

Mr. Baxter was born in Antrim county, Ireland, in the year 1840. He came to this country in March 1863, making his way to Oshkosh, Wis., where he spent his first year and took the first step toward becoming a citizen of the United States. From Oshkosh he went to the west shore of Green Bay, where he found employment with John Williams in the fishing business, and made the acquaintance of Miss Levina Williams, which resulted in their marriage in 1868. He then found employment on Chambers Island, where he spent two years. He then came to Fish Creek, making agriculture a vocation, and here passed the remainder of his life.

His first serious trouble came upon the death of his wife in the spring of 1888. Ten children were born to them, eight of whom are still living, four sons and four daughters. Mr. Baxter proved his sterling qualities upon being left with the responsibility of caring for those little ones—a task which he did not shrink from, being proved by his patient and untiring attention to their wants. Being placed under adverse circumstances financially his burden was doubled. After a period of five years from the death of his first wife he was married to Mrs. Katherine Roggendorf of Fish Creek, May 29, 1892, thus relieving him of part of the care of the household, and proving a mutually fortunate and agreeable union.

Mr. Baxter had many friends and few enemies, ever ready to lend a helping hand in time of need. He had faults, but we think the community will agree with us in saying that his faults reflected more to his own detriment than to that of others. He leaves a wife and family to mourn the loss of a kind husband and loving father and they, with the many friends and neighbors, never fully appreciated his worth until he was gone.

The obsequies were held at the Town Hall February 28, 1897, Stephan Norton officiating, and where a large concourse of friends gathered to pay their last respects to the deceased.
HIS MANY FRIENDS.
The Advocate: Saturday, March 20, 1897; Pg 5, Col 4; Sturgeon Bay, Door, Wisconsin
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Samuel's cousin Thomas Bell also lived in Door County and is buried near the Baxter family. Samuel Baxter may also be related to Isaac Bell who is buried at Saint Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Egg Harbor.
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The Baxter family was from Derry - Per G/G/GS Terrence Bronson (Terry Schmelz #48209887) on 8/4/2021.
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