The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 962 
A portrait of Mr. and Mrs. William L. Baker appears in this publication.
A photograph of the residence of William L. Baker appears in this publication.

WILLIAM L. BAKER.

William L. Baker is now the owner of excellent orchards, but the land that came
into his possession was a wild tract covered with sagebrush. His labors are thus
manifest in the results which have been achieved. The record of his life is the
story of earnest endeavor and should serve to inspire and encourage others,
showing what can be accomplished through individual effort.

Mr. Baker was born in Cocke county, Tennessee, on the 15th of April, 1862, a son
of John and Margaret (Netherton) Baker, who after residing for a considerable
period in the south removed to the northwest in 1876, taking up their abode in
Douglas county, Oregon, where the father engaged in farming for about eight
years. In 1884 he removed to Lewis county, Washington, where he secured a tract
of government land and began the development of a farm. Thereon he spent his
remaining days, his death occurring in 1897, while his wife passed away the
previous year.

William L. Baker acquired a public school education and followed farming in
connection with his father from the time when he put aside his textbooks until
he had reached the age of thirty-seven years save that in the meantime he took
up a homestead in Lewis county, which both farmed. In August, 1898, William L.
Baker came to Yakima and for a time was associated with the Yakima Hardware
Company in the plumbing and roofing department, working in that connection for
twelve years or until 1910. That he was an efficient workman, thoroughly capable
and reliable, is indicated in the fact that he was so long retained in the
position. At length, however, he determined to engage in business on his own
account and resigned his position, after which he purchased forty acres of
sagebrush land on Selah Heights. At a subsequent period he sold twenty acres of
that tract. He now has fifteen acres planted to apples and pears, with a few
peaches, and his orchards are in excellent bearing condition, bringing forth
fine varieties of fruit, for he was most careful in the selection of his nursery
stock. He has built a nice home and has added other modern improvements to his
place and his is today one of the pleasing ranch properties of the section in
which he lives.

On September 4, 1896, Mr. Baker was united in marriage to Mrs. Martha Jones, a
native of Kansas and a daughter of Walter and Elizabeth Crabtree. Her mother was
born in Georgia and her father in Missouri. In his political views Mr. Baker is
a democrat and is conversant with the leading questions and issues of the day
but has never been an office seeker. His attention has always been fully
occupied by his business affairs and his life has been one of industry and
determination, resulting in the attainment of a substantial competence.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.