Josephus Oliver Baker (1837 - 1908)

Born 3 Feb 1837 in Boles, Scott, Arkansas, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died Oct 1908 at age 71 in Valley Springs, Calaveras, California, United States

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Biography

Military Service: deserter in Civil War.

Note: #NI0534.

Notes

Note NI0534Josephus (Joe) Baker was married and had two children when the Civil War had started. He was drafted in the Southern Army. He did not believe in slavery, so he deserted and made his way to Calif. He almost lost his life while crossing the desert of Death Valley, CA. He hid in the hills and panned gold for a living. He wrote his wife but could never get an answer from her. After 33 years his brothers heard of him through a cousin, Bill Ferrel, and went and brought him back to Texas. In Texas, he visited with his brother Solomon, and lived with his brother Henry and did blacksmith work. He visited also with his brother Walter in Tacoma, WA. Joe had sent pictures of himself in letters to his wife. When he visited his children, he discovered his wife was now dead, but the pictures were there. His children said she had told them it was someone else. His wife had remarried a man named Tom Huit, and had two more daughters, Daisy and Pearl. Joe could tell many hair raising stories of the adventures he had. His brother Henry tried to bribe him to write his life story, but he wouldn't. Joe finally went back to CA to the gold. They say he had gold buried away. He always wore a belt with gold in it. In Oct 1908 he was found dead on his place near Valley Springs, CA. It was believed he was murdered for his gold. His brother Andrew made his funeral arrangements, and his brothers helped pay for it. A rock taken from the river became his headstone.

Texas State Archives Civil War record: Name and Rank: Baker, Josephus, Pvt.Comm. Officer: Moody, Thomas O. Capt; Mansfield Mtd Rifle Guards, Tarrant Co., 20th Brigade, Enlistment: June 1861 Remarks: R&F 73, 2 muster rolls, 1 dated July 8, 1861 the other undated.

Sources

• Andrew Baker & His Descendants by Frieda Simms Nelson

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFJ6-573 : 15 July 2017), James C Baker in household of Thomas B Huitt, Precinct 8, Tarrant, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 99, sheet 232B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,328.

• "Find a Grave," database with images, (Find A Grave: Memorial #117553359 : accessed 13 September 2022), Memorial page for Josephus Oliver Baker (3 Feb 1837-1908), citing Double Springs Cemetery, Valley Springs, Calaveras County, California, USA; Maintained by GardenGreenGirl (contributor 47937273).