J. Willard Baker, son of Charles H. Baker, and his first wife, Angella A. (Amsbury) Baker, was born at Central Falls, R. I., June 12, 1868, and was educated in the public schools of Providence and Pawtucket. He entered business life in 1883 and has steadily advanced in position and is now secretary of the Jenckes Spinning Company, said to be the largest tire fabric mill in the United States, incorporated under the laws of the State of Rhode Island, with an authorized capital of $3,400,000, located in Pawtucket. This company is an outgrowth of an industry started in 1854 by Nathan Hicks, who in following his trade as a ring-spinner invented an improvement in ring travellers, and began to manufacture them, hardening the first ones over his kitchen fire. It is an interesting fact that the first shop in which these travellers were manufactured was the Old Slater Mill, the birthplace of the cotton industry in America. Nathan Hicks continued his industrial ventures in a small way until about 1870, when Edwin and Joseph Jenckes came to Pawtucket, from Bellingham, Mass., and with Mr. Hicks formed a company. They moved into larger buildings on East avenue, and became known as general mill furnishers throughout the United States and Canada. In 1883 there was a division of partners, Edwin Jenckes & Son continuing the work under the name of E. Jenckes Manufacturing Company, and in 1887 a new mill was built. The Slater Stocking Company became the property eventually of the E. Jenckes Manufacturing Company and the knitting end of the concern soon led to an interest in the knitting machines. After due consideration of trade demands the company began knitting machines which have been installed in many of the largest knitting-mills in this country, Canada, South America, and European countries. The Jenckes Knitting Machine Company was incorporated in January, 1903. The Tamarack Company was chartered in 1908 and has an authorized capital of $2,000,000. This concern manufactures cotton yarns and fabrics.

Mr. Baker is a Republican in politics, and in Masonry is a member and past master of Barney Merry Lodge, No. 29, Free and Accepted Masons; a member of Pawtucket Chapter, No. 4, Royal Arch Masons; past thrice illustrious master of Pawtucket Council, No. 2, Royal and select Masters; past grand master of Grand Council, Royal and Select Masters, of Rhode Island; past commander of Holy Sepulchre Commandery, No. 8, Knights Templar; and is a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite bodies of the Valley of Providence; and also a member of Palestine Shrine, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He has also been actively connected with the Royal Arcanum, being a past regent and past grand regent of the Grand Council of Rhode Island, and was supreme representative for two years.

Mr. Baker married, October 24, 1888, Lillie Caroline Cranston, daughter of William R. and Phoebe Lovina (Stone) Cranston. Mrs. Baker is a descendant of a governor of Rhode Island in 1678, a physician and surgeon, a major-general, and one of the most prominent public men of his day. Governor John Cranston was a great-grandson of Lord William Cranston, of Scotland, knighted by his sovereign, James the sixth of Scotland, November 19, 1609. The line of descent from Governor Cranston to Mrs. Lillie C. (Cranston) Baker is through the governor's son, Governor Samuel Cranston, his son, John Cranston, his son, Caleb Cranston, his son Jeremiah Cranston, a soldier of the Revolution, his son, William Shaw Cranston, his son, William R. Cranston, of Pawtucket, born February 26, 1826, died August 30, 1890. He married Phoebe Lovina Stone and they are the parents of Lillie Caroline, wife of J. Willard Baker.

Through the maternal line Mrs. Baker traces descent from Hugh Stone, born in England in 1638, died in Rhode Island, 1732, a blacksmith by trade. This line is traced through the founder's son, Peter Stone, his son , Peter (2) Stone, his son, Peter (3) Stone, his son, Amos Stone, his son, Charles Stone, all of Cranston, R. I., their daughter, Phoebe Lovina Stone, born April 5, 1830, married William R. Cranston, their daughter, Lillie C. Cranston, a member of Pawtucket Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, married J. Willard Baker. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are the parents of a daughter, Louise Baker.

Mr. Baker has for many years been actively identified with the interests of the Baptist denomination in Rhode Island, having served as clerk of the first Baptist Church for ten years, clerk of the Providence Baptist Association for seven years, and is now (1918) vice-president of the Rhode Island Baptist State Convention and a deacon of the First Baptist Church of Pawtucket, with which he united in 1886. He is also engaged in other denominational work and is a well-known layman in Rhode Island.