"Portrait & Biographical Record of Portland & Vinc. Oregon." Chapman 
Publishing Company, 1903.

Alfred BAKER. 

	The fine rural property owned and occupied by Alfred BAKER in Mulnomah 
county is not his by inheritance,nor is tis possession due to any fortunate 
circumstance which smoothed his way and made success easy of attainment. This 
large farmer was born in Appanoose county, Iowa, July 22, 1858,and the Civil 
war, which found a valient soldier in his father, left the son fatherless 
because a hero gave up his life to the cause of the Union. Owing to the fact 
that there were several mouths to feed, and because of rather stringent 
circumstances in which the mother found herself, young Alfred relieved the 
tension somewhat by going to live with his uncle in Nebraska. At the 
expiration of five years he started out on his own hook and found employment 
with the surrounding farmers, and was thus occupied until ambition and good 
reports directed his steps to Colorado in 1874.
	In his new location Mr. BAKER drove the stage at Pueblo, and during 
the two years of this kind of life witnessed much of the seamy, and not 
altogether desirable, side of western experience. In 1876 he came to Portland, 
and his first occupation proved to be of a nature which confronts many who 
come here, that of grubbing stumps ere aught of importance can be 
accomplished. His work lay in the ground where the Portland cemetery now rears 
its fine monuments and from stump grubbing he returned to his former 
occupation of working on farm. After three years, during which he succeeded in 
saving some money,he rented land for three years, and this venture proving 
successful he was enabled to pay something down on a one hundred and forty 
acre farm on the Columbia river, although he had to run in debt for the 
balance. Three years later he puchased the SCOTT farm adjoining, and which 
consisted of one hundred and seventy-six acres, upon which he lived for a 
year. He then removed to his former farm, and in 1891 moved to the farm which 
is now his home. Two years later he went to Portland and lived there until 
1900, and then settled down on the original river farm, in 1902 locating on 
his present place. The forty-two acres comprising the home property is devoted 
to general farming, but the river farm of two hundred and seventy-six acres is 
utilized for a dairy.
	Through his marriage in 1879 with Oceana A. HOLTGREIVE, Mr. BAKER has 
become the father of three children, of whom Nellie is the wife of W.G. SMITH; 
while Emery and Oswald are living at home. Mr. BAKER is a stanch defender of 
Republican institutions, but has never sought or accepted offical recognition. 
Fraternally he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

Submitted by: Holly Vonderhoe, (Pollywogh@aol.com)