"The first undertaker in De Soto was S.M. (Mack) Baker, father of Mrs. Muriel Morse, and Mrs. Minnie Wyland, E.E. Baker, undertaker & editor here for many years, "Billie" postmaster for years. He became the undertaker, rather by accident. He was a farmer, living southwest of town, and had joined the Masonic Lodge in 1881. A few years later, two members died, and he was assigned to conduct the funerals. He did so well, that friends urged him to go into the Undertaking business.
In 1890, he rented a room in the office of the Lumber Yard and ordered supplies from Kansas City. When a resident died, the proprietor of the yard would send a boy to Mr. Baker at his farm, which he would leave and attend to his new business. In those days a $60 funeral was considered an expensive one.
The business began to take more and more of his time, until in 1909 he left the farm and moved to De Soto. George Wyland, his son-in-law, was in business with him for many years, and he finally turned the business over to his son Everett, who also added a furniture store......"
----Excerpt from "De Soto is 100 Years Old" by Dot Ashlock-Longstreth 1957
In 1890, he rented a room in the office of the Lumber Yard and ordered supplies from Kansas City. When a resident died, the proprietor of the yard would send a boy to Mr. Baker at his farm, which he would leave and attend to his new business. In those days a $60 funeral was considered an expensive one.
The business began to take more and more of his time, until in 1909 he left the farm and moved to De Soto. George Wyland, his son-in-law, was in business with him for many years, and he finally turned the business over to his son Everett, who also added a furniture store......"
----Excerpt from "De Soto is 100 Years Old" by Dot Ashlock-Longstreth 1957
"The first undertaker in De Soto was S.M. (Mack) Baker, father of Mrs. Muriel Morse, and Mrs. Minnie Wyland, E.E. Baker, undertaker & editor here for many years, "Billie" postmaster for years. He became the undertaker, rather by accident. He was a farmer, living southwest of town, and had joined the Masonic Lodge in 1881. A few years later, two members died, and he was assigned to conduct the funerals. He did so well, that friends urged him to go into the Undertaking business.
In 1890, he rented a room in the office of the Lumber Yard and ordered supplies from Kansas City. When a resident died, the proprietor of the yard would send a boy to Mr. Baker at his farm, which he would leave and attend to his new business. In those days a $60 funeral was considered an expensive one.
The business began to take more and more of his time, until in 1909 he left the farm and moved to De Soto. George Wyland, his son-in-law, was in business with him for many years, and he finally turned the business over to his son Everett, who also added a furniture store......"
----Excerpt from "De Soto is 100 Years Old" by Dot Ashlock-Longstreth 1957
In 1890, he rented a room in the office of the Lumber Yard and ordered supplies from Kansas City. When a resident died, the proprietor of the yard would send a boy to Mr. Baker at his farm, which he would leave and attend to his new business. In those days a $60 funeral was considered an expensive one.
The business began to take more and more of his time, until in 1909 he left the farm and moved to De Soto. George Wyland, his son-in-law, was in business with him for many years, and he finally turned the business over to his son Everett, who also added a furniture store......"
----Excerpt from "De Soto is 100 Years Old" by Dot Ashlock-Longstreth 1957
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
