Rev. H.K. HINES, D.D. "An Illustrated History of the State of Washington." 1893. Charles H. BAKER Charles H. BAKER, of Seattle, was born in Chicago, Illinois, November 30, 1864. His father William T. BAKER, is a native of Winfield, New York, and was educated in the schools of the county, and received his first business training while clerk in a country store. He located in Chicago about 1860 as clerk in a grain commission house, subsequently becoming a partner of the firm of KNIGHT, BAKER & Co., and later W.T. BAKER & Co. The firms are widely known for their extensive operations in grain, and for developing the possiblity of shipping grain direct from Chicago to Liverpool, they being the first to load vessels at Chicago, and, via the St. Lawrence river, to reach the sea without reloading. Mr. BAKER retired from business in 1891 to accept the position of President of the World's Columbian Exposition Association, to which office he was re-elected in April 1892, but resigned in October following, owing to ill health. Charles H. received his preparatory education in the schools of Chicago, and graduated as a civil engineer from Cornell University in 1886. He then went to Dakota and was employed with a surveying party on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad up to January 1887, when he came to Seattle and engaged as draughtsman in the office of the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railroad. In 1888 he was appointed Division Engineer in charge of maintenance of way and so continued up to May 1889, when he resigned and engaged in general engineering and contract work. In September 1889, he organized the firm of BAKER, BALCH & Co., and followed surverying and electric engineering for one year, then withdrew and continued business as Charles H. BAKER & Co., contracting engineers. In 1892 he secured the contract for the Spokane & Montrose Electric Railway, three miles in extent, which he built and equipped, and the same year laid ten miles of track (including switches) for the Rainer Power & Railway Company, the line extending from Yesler avenue to Ravenna park.He also constructed the power house and turned over the road in running order, fully equipped. Mr. BAKER was married at Rome, New York, in June 1888, to Miss Gladys G. FRANCE, a native of Illinois. Two children have blessed the union: William T., Jr., and Leslie B.T. The family resides at Brighton Beach, on Lake Washington, where Mr. BAKER has improved a beautiful home called Enfield, which embraces nine acres, highly improved in garden lawns etc., with a water front of 700 feet. Submitted by: Holly Vonderohe, (Pollywogh@aol.com)