Ezra Howes Baker -- Judah Baker, of South Dennis, a descendent of Francis Baker, married March 6, 1798, Mercy Howes, of North Dennis, a descendent of Thomas Howes. Their third son was Ezra Howes Baker, named for his mother's brother, born on August 17, 1811. When ten years of age, he began his seafaring life with his father, and at the age of sixteen was put in charge of a schooner, and sent to the coast of Maine to buy a cargo of lumber.
On January 31, 1832, he married Esther May Hinckley, of Barnstable, making his home in South Dennis. He followed the sea, buying and selling his own cargoes, until 1838, when he moved to Boston and entered into partnership with Alpheus Hardy, of Chatham, under the firm name of Hardy & Baker. Charles J. Morrill, of Boston, became, in 1845, a member of the firm, which was then known as Hardy, Baker & Morrill. In 1848 Mr. Hardy withdrew from the concern, which was thereafter known as Baker & Morrill; Mr. Baker's son, Ezra H. Baker, Jr., becoming a partner in 1863, from which time the concern remained unchanged until Mr. Baker's death.
Under its several names this firm was actively engaged in many branches of foreign and domestic shipping trade, and was a considerable owner of ships. In the early days of its existence it did a very large corn business, and later, entered into trade with the East Indies, China, South America, San Francisco, and Mediterranean ports. As the shipping business gradually declined, the firm disposed of its vessels and became interested in several of the pioneer western railroads, notably the Union Pacific, of which Mr. Baker was always an earnest supporter, and of which he was a director at the time of his death. “Captain” Baker, as he was generally called, was distinguished as a businessman, for great energy and sagacity. He never wished to remain idle, and his business interests were always widely extended; but, if this active spirit sometimes led him to attempt more than would seem prudent to many people, his strong courage always carried him. through the most trying times in safety, though sometimes with loss.
His early education was acquired at the common schools, which he was able to attend in winter only, after having reached the age of ten years; but, being fond of reading, he, in later years, made up to a great extent for his lack of opportunities as a boy. He was kind, generous and unassuming, and his sense of right and wrong was developed to an unusual degree; as a consequence, his business transactions were conducted on a higher plane than is generally considered necessary in matters of dollars and cents. His religion was expressed in his daily life, and his uniformly manly, upright and genial bearing won the affection as well as the respect of his associates, to whom his sudden death was the cause of genuine grief.
He died at his home in South Boston, January 28, 1876, of pneumonia, after an illness of only a few days, and was buried in Forest Hills Cemetery. His wife died July 25, 1850. Their children who reached maturity, were: Ezra H., jr., Esther H., Helena M. (Kent), and Sarah C. (Barstow).
Biographical sketch from book History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890 (1890), edited by Simeon L. Deyo.
===========================
Info on his wife, Esther:
Died “In South Boston, 25th inst., of chronic diarrhea, Mrs. Esther M., wife of Ezra II. Baker, Esq., and daughter of Mr. Lot Hinckley, of this town, 38.” (Barnstable Patriot, Tuesday, July 30, 1850, page 3)
Death record states place of interment as "Dennis" but book Cemetery Inscriptions of Dennis, Massachusetts (1993) has no info on this Esther Baker.
On January 31, 1832, he married Esther May Hinckley, of Barnstable, making his home in South Dennis. He followed the sea, buying and selling his own cargoes, until 1838, when he moved to Boston and entered into partnership with Alpheus Hardy, of Chatham, under the firm name of Hardy & Baker. Charles J. Morrill, of Boston, became, in 1845, a member of the firm, which was then known as Hardy, Baker & Morrill. In 1848 Mr. Hardy withdrew from the concern, which was thereafter known as Baker & Morrill; Mr. Baker's son, Ezra H. Baker, Jr., becoming a partner in 1863, from which time the concern remained unchanged until Mr. Baker's death.
Under its several names this firm was actively engaged in many branches of foreign and domestic shipping trade, and was a considerable owner of ships. In the early days of its existence it did a very large corn business, and later, entered into trade with the East Indies, China, South America, San Francisco, and Mediterranean ports. As the shipping business gradually declined, the firm disposed of its vessels and became interested in several of the pioneer western railroads, notably the Union Pacific, of which Mr. Baker was always an earnest supporter, and of which he was a director at the time of his death. “Captain” Baker, as he was generally called, was distinguished as a businessman, for great energy and sagacity. He never wished to remain idle, and his business interests were always widely extended; but, if this active spirit sometimes led him to attempt more than would seem prudent to many people, his strong courage always carried him. through the most trying times in safety, though sometimes with loss.
His early education was acquired at the common schools, which he was able to attend in winter only, after having reached the age of ten years; but, being fond of reading, he, in later years, made up to a great extent for his lack of opportunities as a boy. He was kind, generous and unassuming, and his sense of right and wrong was developed to an unusual degree; as a consequence, his business transactions were conducted on a higher plane than is generally considered necessary in matters of dollars and cents. His religion was expressed in his daily life, and his uniformly manly, upright and genial bearing won the affection as well as the respect of his associates, to whom his sudden death was the cause of genuine grief.
He died at his home in South Boston, January 28, 1876, of pneumonia, after an illness of only a few days, and was buried in Forest Hills Cemetery. His wife died July 25, 1850. Their children who reached maturity, were: Ezra H., jr., Esther H., Helena M. (Kent), and Sarah C. (Barstow).
Biographical sketch from book History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890 (1890), edited by Simeon L. Deyo.
===========================
Info on his wife, Esther:
Died “In South Boston, 25th inst., of chronic diarrhea, Mrs. Esther M., wife of Ezra II. Baker, Esq., and daughter of Mr. Lot Hinckley, of this town, 38.” (Barnstable Patriot, Tuesday, July 30, 1850, page 3)
Death record states place of interment as "Dennis" but book Cemetery Inscriptions of Dennis, Massachusetts (1993) has no info on this Esther Baker.
Ezra Howes Baker -- Judah Baker, of South Dennis, a descendent of Francis Baker, married March 6, 1798, Mercy Howes, of North Dennis, a descendent of Thomas Howes. Their third son was Ezra Howes Baker, named for his mother's brother, born on August 17, 1811. When ten years of age, he began his seafaring life with his father, and at the age of sixteen was put in charge of a schooner, and sent to the coast of Maine to buy a cargo of lumber.
On January 31, 1832, he married Esther May Hinckley, of Barnstable, making his home in South Dennis. He followed the sea, buying and selling his own cargoes, until 1838, when he moved to Boston and entered into partnership with Alpheus Hardy, of Chatham, under the firm name of Hardy & Baker. Charles J. Morrill, of Boston, became, in 1845, a member of the firm, which was then known as Hardy, Baker & Morrill. In 1848 Mr. Hardy withdrew from the concern, which was thereafter known as Baker & Morrill; Mr. Baker's son, Ezra H. Baker, Jr., becoming a partner in 1863, from which time the concern remained unchanged until Mr. Baker's death.
Under its several names this firm was actively engaged in many branches of foreign and domestic shipping trade, and was a considerable owner of ships. In the early days of its existence it did a very large corn business, and later, entered into trade with the East Indies, China, South America, San Francisco, and Mediterranean ports. As the shipping business gradually declined, the firm disposed of its vessels and became interested in several of the pioneer western railroads, notably the Union Pacific, of which Mr. Baker was always an earnest supporter, and of which he was a director at the time of his death. “Captain” Baker, as he was generally called, was distinguished as a businessman, for great energy and sagacity. He never wished to remain idle, and his business interests were always widely extended; but, if this active spirit sometimes led him to attempt more than would seem prudent to many people, his strong courage always carried him. through the most trying times in safety, though sometimes with loss.
His early education was acquired at the common schools, which he was able to attend in winter only, after having reached the age of ten years; but, being fond of reading, he, in later years, made up to a great extent for his lack of opportunities as a boy. He was kind, generous and unassuming, and his sense of right and wrong was developed to an unusual degree; as a consequence, his business transactions were conducted on a higher plane than is generally considered necessary in matters of dollars and cents. His religion was expressed in his daily life, and his uniformly manly, upright and genial bearing won the affection as well as the respect of his associates, to whom his sudden death was the cause of genuine grief.
He died at his home in South Boston, January 28, 1876, of pneumonia, after an illness of only a few days, and was buried in Forest Hills Cemetery. His wife died July 25, 1850. Their children who reached maturity, were: Ezra H., jr., Esther H., Helena M. (Kent), and Sarah C. (Barstow).
Biographical sketch from book History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890 (1890), edited by Simeon L. Deyo.
===========================
Info on his wife, Esther:
Died “In South Boston, 25th inst., of chronic diarrhea, Mrs. Esther M., wife of Ezra II. Baker, Esq., and daughter of Mr. Lot Hinckley, of this town, 38.” (Barnstable Patriot, Tuesday, July 30, 1850, page 3)
Death record states place of interment as "Dennis" but book Cemetery Inscriptions of Dennis, Massachusetts (1993) has no info on this Esther Baker.
On January 31, 1832, he married Esther May Hinckley, of Barnstable, making his home in South Dennis. He followed the sea, buying and selling his own cargoes, until 1838, when he moved to Boston and entered into partnership with Alpheus Hardy, of Chatham, under the firm name of Hardy & Baker. Charles J. Morrill, of Boston, became, in 1845, a member of the firm, which was then known as Hardy, Baker & Morrill. In 1848 Mr. Hardy withdrew from the concern, which was thereafter known as Baker & Morrill; Mr. Baker's son, Ezra H. Baker, Jr., becoming a partner in 1863, from which time the concern remained unchanged until Mr. Baker's death.
Under its several names this firm was actively engaged in many branches of foreign and domestic shipping trade, and was a considerable owner of ships. In the early days of its existence it did a very large corn business, and later, entered into trade with the East Indies, China, South America, San Francisco, and Mediterranean ports. As the shipping business gradually declined, the firm disposed of its vessels and became interested in several of the pioneer western railroads, notably the Union Pacific, of which Mr. Baker was always an earnest supporter, and of which he was a director at the time of his death. “Captain” Baker, as he was generally called, was distinguished as a businessman, for great energy and sagacity. He never wished to remain idle, and his business interests were always widely extended; but, if this active spirit sometimes led him to attempt more than would seem prudent to many people, his strong courage always carried him. through the most trying times in safety, though sometimes with loss.
His early education was acquired at the common schools, which he was able to attend in winter only, after having reached the age of ten years; but, being fond of reading, he, in later years, made up to a great extent for his lack of opportunities as a boy. He was kind, generous and unassuming, and his sense of right and wrong was developed to an unusual degree; as a consequence, his business transactions were conducted on a higher plane than is generally considered necessary in matters of dollars and cents. His religion was expressed in his daily life, and his uniformly manly, upright and genial bearing won the affection as well as the respect of his associates, to whom his sudden death was the cause of genuine grief.
He died at his home in South Boston, January 28, 1876, of pneumonia, after an illness of only a few days, and was buried in Forest Hills Cemetery. His wife died July 25, 1850. Their children who reached maturity, were: Ezra H., jr., Esther H., Helena M. (Kent), and Sarah C. (Barstow).
Biographical sketch from book History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890 (1890), edited by Simeon L. Deyo.
===========================
Info on his wife, Esther:
Died “In South Boston, 25th inst., of chronic diarrhea, Mrs. Esther M., wife of Ezra II. Baker, Esq., and daughter of Mr. Lot Hinckley, of this town, 38.” (Barnstable Patriot, Tuesday, July 30, 1850, page 3)
Death record states place of interment as "Dennis" but book Cemetery Inscriptions of Dennis, Massachusetts (1993) has no info on this Esther Baker.
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