As one of the Argonauts who were led to California by the tales of her gold mines, Abram Baker made the long, perilous journey around Cape Horn on a sailing vessel, landing at San Francisco in 1849, when thousands of gold seekers were on the way to reach the mines, there to endure untold hardships in their search for gold. Mr. Baker followed mining here for a period of five years, and during this time he traveled the whole length of the State, and that at a time when journeying was not the pastime that it is today.
Of English descent, Abram Baker was born in New York City on December 26, 1825. He was the son of James Baker, also a native of that city, and for years prominent there in merchandise circles as a wholesale cloth merchant. His mother was Mary Greene, a descendant of General Greene of Revolutionary fame. Abram received a thorough education in the excellent schools of the Eastern metropolis, a training which stood him in good stead in the mature years of his life. After his five years in the land of gold and sunshine, Mr. Baker returned to his native state, and soon afterwards he met the lady who later became his wife, Miss Mary Jane Blauvelt, with whom he was united in marriage on December 6, 1855. She was also born in New York City on August 13, 1831, a daughter of Richard and Mary (De La Montaigne) Blauvelt of old Knickerbocker and French Huguenot stock. Mrs. Baker was reared in an environment of culture and refinement. It is an interesting fact that in her girlhood when, as was the custom, she was playfully teased about sweethearts, she always replied that hers was in California, and, strange to say, she married a returned gold seeker and forty-niner.
Abram Baker was for some years engaged as a coal merchant in New York City, but being desirous of having the freedom and enjoyment of country life, he sold his business and purchased a farm at Bound Brook, N.J., where he applied himself scientifically to his chosen life of husbandry and made a pronounced success, finally retiring and removing to Asbury Park, N.J. After nineteen years of residence at that famous resort he determined to come to California. His son, Dr. Vincent Baker, preceded him, and selected the La Verne district, where he purchased a fifty-eight-acre ranch on the Base Line Road, fifty acres of which was already set out to citrus trees. Abram Baker, with his family, arrived at La Verne in September, 1901. He improved the remainder and was deeply interested in his son's care of the Navel and Valencia oranges and lemons which comprised the grove. He built a beautiful large residence and named his ranch "Thistlecroft" on account of his admiration for the Scotch. However, he was not long permitted to enjoy his California home, being called by death November 13, 1905. Mr. Baker was a Methodist and an active and loyal supporter of that church. He was always intensely interested in California and enjoyed recalling those early days of gold seeking, although their hardships were to a great extent erased by the mellowing hand of Time, and only the daring and prowess of those early pioneers remained vivid. He was happy to spend his last days in this sunny land and ever delighted to see the wonderful progress the years had brought.
Mr. and Mrs. Baker were the parents of four children: Mary Estelle, now Mrs. Gaston, resides on the Base Line Road; Harriet is Mrs. Joseph C. Pierson of La Verne; S. Louise, who gracefully assists her mother in presiding over the home, and Vincent Washington, who was graduated as a D.D.S. in New York City, and now lives in Claremont, devoting his time to citrus culture. Mrs. Baker is a woman of charming personality, well read and well informed and an ardent Christian Scientist; and at the age of eighty-eight years is hale and hearty and in full enjoyment of all her faculties. She continues to reside at the old family home, "Thistlecroft," and here with her daughter, Louise, she still dispenses a gracious personality.
History of Pomona Valley, California, with Biographical Sketches
of The Leading Men and Women of the Valley Who Have Been
Identified With Its Growth and Development from the Early Days
to the Present
Published in Los Angeles, Cal., by the Historic Record Company
1920
Transcribed by Linda Jackson 9/13/08, Pages 371-372
Los Angeles County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
Copyright © 1996-2009; This Web page is sponsored by Supporters on behalf of the California portion of The USGenWeb Project by The Administrative Team of the CAGW. Although believed to be correct as presented, if you note any corrections, changes, additions, or find that any links provided on this page are not functioning properly please contact the Archive Coordinator for prompt attention to the matter.