The Baker family was foremost among the early settlers of Fairfield, John Baker being elected as the first supervisor after the organization of the Township. John Baker was born in Adams, Mass., Jan. 17, 1798, but in i8oo his father, Moses Baker, moved to Wayne County, New York, where he was a pioneer, and assisted in building the aqueduct for the Erie Canal, over the Genesee River at Rochester, and he also worked on the canal. Moses Baker took up a large tract of new land in Macedon, Wayne County, New York, and he afterward divided this land among his sons, John coming into possession of a part of it, where he lived until 1832. In the fall of 1831, Moses Baker and two of his sons, John and Orin, sold out and all came to Michigan, arriving in Detroit, June 1, 1832. Being well acquainted with Darius and Addison J. Comstock, in Wayne County, and John having a brother-in-law-Levi Shumway-already settled here, they naturally came to Lenawee County, where they finally settled as follows : Moses took the southeast quarter of the northeast fractional quarter of section 3; Orin took up the north half of the northeast fractional quarter of section 3 ; and John the northwest fractional quarter of section 2, all in Fairfield, the locality for years being known as "Baker's Corners," afterward the platted village of Fairfield. Moses Baker lived in Fairfield upon his original purchase until his death, which occurred Nov. 26, 1853. Orin Baker died on his old farm in Fairfield, Jan. 30, 1871, and John Baker died in Fairfield, on the farm he purchased from the government, May 7, 1873. The record of the first election in the Township of Fairfield has been lost or was not properly kept, hence it is impossible to give the names of all those who were first chosen as officials of the Township. However, it is known that the first Township meeting was held in the house of John H. Carpenter, in the spring of 1834, and that there were thirty-two electors present at the time. Andrew Millett was chosen chairman; votes were cast in a hat in lieu of a ballot box, and in the contest between John Baker and John H. Carpenter for the office of supervisor, the former was elected by one majority.
The Baker family was foremost among the early settlers of Fairfield, John Baker being elected as the first supervisor after the organization of the Township. John Baker was born in Adams, Mass., Jan. 17, 1798, but in i8oo his father, Moses Baker, moved to Wayne County, New York, where he was a pioneer, and assisted in building the aqueduct for the Erie Canal, over the Genesee River at Rochester, and he also worked on the canal. Moses Baker took up a large tract of new land in Macedon, Wayne County, New York, and he afterward divided this land among his sons, John coming into possession of a part of it, where he lived until 1832. In the fall of 1831, Moses Baker and two of his sons, John and Orin, sold out and all came to Michigan, arriving in Detroit, June 1, 1832. Being well acquainted with Darius and Addison J. Comstock, in Wayne County, and John having a brother-in-law-Levi Shumway-already settled here, they naturally came to Lenawee County, where they finally settled as follows : Moses took the southeast quarter of the northeast fractional quarter of section 3; Orin took up the north half of the northeast fractional quarter of section 3 ; and John the northwest fractional quarter of section 2, all in Fairfield, the locality for years being known as "Baker's Corners," afterward the platted village of Fairfield. Moses Baker lived in Fairfield upon his original purchase until his death, which occurred Nov. 26, 1853. Orin Baker died on his old farm in Fairfield, Jan. 30, 1871, and John Baker died in Fairfield, on the farm he purchased from the government, May 7, 1873. The record of the first election in the Township of Fairfield has been lost or was not properly kept, hence it is impossible to give the names of all those who were first chosen as officials of the Township. However, it is known that the first Township meeting was held in the house of John H. Carpenter, in the spring of 1834, and that there were thirty-two electors present at the time. Andrew Millett was chosen chairman; votes were cast in a hat in lieu of a ballot box, and in the contest between John Baker and John H. Carpenter for the office of supervisor, the former was elected by one majority.
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