My history on these Bakers began with a booklet compiled in 1912 by Callie Baker Weisiger. Callie's version was preserved and formalized by her granddaughter Carolyn Weisiger Engel. I added quite a bit to it from my own research and the following is as it stands to date.

Callie began her paper thus: "Let this be copied out and keep it safe for our remembrance - After careful research I have gotten together these facts concerning the Baker Family of Tennessee, and hope it will be prized by my children and many of the family connections."

Isaac Baker "When the star of the Empire took it's course westward, the advance guard blazed the way in blood. When tidings of safety and flowing accounts of rich lands and fine forests, in short, a land flowing with milk and honey, had been discovered in Tennessee, then our ancestor, Isaac Baker, became imbued with the spirit of the times, left Baltimore City for the West in the year of 1785, being then quite a youth." An account by Mrs. Callie Weisiger states that he helped to drive out the Indians, whose savagery made life unsafe and civilization impossible. He was a Captain under General Carroll in the Nicajack campaign against the Cherokee and Creek Indians. There is no evidence that Isaac preceded his father to Tennessee and no record of his service in the Indian Wars.

Mrs. Weisiger also states that Isaac located a Revolutionary War grant. This was likely confused with the grant awarded to his wife in 1793 for her father's service. Isaac was too young to have served in the Revolution. His father Charles did serve, but his land grant was purchased and not awarded for his service. To continue, Isaac's land was reputed to have "cain growing 10 to 20 feet high and be covered with its original forest." At his death, the place (which had been granted to his wife) went to his youngest son, John Blakemore Baker. It was about 4 miles north of Gallatin, near Salem Church, on the Douglass Turnpike, in Sumner County. It is unknown at this time what became of the land deeded to him by his father.

Isaac Baker was born 8 July 1771 in Baltimore, Maryland, and died 5 June 1854 in Sumner County (son of Charles Baker III and Elizabeth Wheeler). He and his wife were both buried in the family cemetery on their land. The cemetery is still intact though many of the stones are badly weathered. (The farm is now owned by descendants and the old cemetery is being cared for.) On October 12, 1797, Isaac married Molly Blakemore, daughter of John Blakemore, Jr. and his wife Elizabeth Payne, daughter of Matthew and Mary Payne. There is a discrepancy here. Mrs. Weisiger's account says Elizabeth Payne was the daughter of Josiah Payne and Elizabeth Fleming, that she was born 1769 in Goochland County, Virginia, and that her sister Annie Payne was later the mother of General Gideon Pillow. The will of Matthew Payne names a daughter Elizabeth Bradford. Elizabeth Payne Blakemore is believed to have married Henry Bradford after the death of her husband. The Elizabeth born 1769 would have been 12 years of age when Molly was born, possible but not likely. Matthew Payne's granddaughter, Anne, daughter of his son Josiah, married Gideon Pillow. I think it is Matthew Payne's daughter Elizabeth who was the mother of Molly Blakemore Baker but have not yet proven it to my satisfaction. Molly Blakemore was born 20 Apr. 1781, probably in Washington Co., Virginia, died 6 Aug. 1853 in Sumner County, Tennessee.

From Walter T. Durham's book OLD SUMNER - A HISTORY OF SUMNER COUNTY TENNESSEE from 1805 to 1861, it is evident that Isaac Baker was a prominent citizen in the county. In 1828 the Methodist Episcopal Church began to organize neighborhood Sunday Schools. James Douglass was president of the organization, Alex Rascoe, vice- president, and Isaac Baker was one of the "managers". In 1830 Isaac Baker, Esq. was a member of a committee of citizens of Gallatin who met to inquire into charges against Eliza Allen Houston to see if her good character had been impaired. Saturday, 16 Nov. 1844, Isaac Baker was chairman of a large meeting held at the Gallatin courthouse to celebrate Polk's election victory. Among the 100 citizens serving on a committee to plan the celebration for the return home of the Tennessee Volunteers from the Seminole Wars, were: Isaac Baker, Esq., W. Walton (Isaac's son-in-law), several Douglass' and H. Odom (father of Isaac's future daughter-in- law, Rhoda Odom). Isaac and Molly Baker were honored and respected in their community. They were industrious, frugal and thrifty and were able to leave their children in comfortable circumstances. Isaac and Molly Baker had 12 children:

1. Eliza N.Baker b. 24 Apr. 1799 d. 17 Nov. 1850 buried in the old Baker Cemetery m. 1 June 1820 Isaac C. Douglass b. 20 July 1797 d. 17 Jan. 1851. Isaac is also buried in the old Baker Cemetery

2. Matilda Baker b. 13 Nov. 1800 d. 8 Sept. 1863 m. 12 Feb. 1818 William Walton b. 6 Aug. 1796 d. 18 Nov. 1852 - both are buried in the old Baker Cemetery

3. Elizabeth (Betsy) Baker b. 5 July 1803 d. 8 Jan. 1864 m. 1821 Daniel Saffarrons who died in 1858

4. Zacharia W. Baker b. 14 Mar. 1805 d. Feb. 1861 m. 27 May 1840 Mary Ann Newsom b. 1825 d. 30 Jan. 1884

5. Melvina Baker b. 30 Apr. 1807 d. 12 Aug. 1829 m.1. 26 Sept. 1825 John Gardner m.2. 13 May 1829 David Saffarrons

6. Amanda Baker b. 17 May 1809 d. 23 Sept. 1840 buried next to her parents m. 18 Dec. 1831 James K. McGoodwin d. 26 Jan. 1875

7. Ann C. Baker b. 10 Sept. 1811 d. 7 Oct. 1834 buried old Baker Cemetery m. 24 Sept. 1829 James A. House

8. Mary Margaret Baker b. 29 Dec. 1813 d. 28 Mar. 1887 Aberdeen, Miss. m. 19 June 1834 Benjamin R. Howard b. 15 Nov. 1810 d. 19 July 1886

9. Larkin F. Baker b. 23 Feb. 1816 d. 30 Oct. 1873 m. 20 Nov. 1840 Mary Elizabeth Lucas b. 1821/22 d. 30 June 1884

10. Isaac Walton Baker b. 23 July 1819 d. 11 Aug. 1890 m. 24 Dec. 1839 Warren Co., KY, Mary C. Hines b. 30 Jan. 1822 KY d. 22 Jan. 1913 Sumner Co., TN

11. Leonidas Baker b. 8 Mar. 1821 d. 14 July 1886 m. 19 Nov. 1846 Rhoda Gibson Odom b. 26 Sept. 1829 d. 10 Mar. 1895

12. John Blakemore Baker b. 4 Aug. 1823 d. 19 July 1896 m. 3 Mar. 1853 Olivia Elizabeth Mathes b. 1836 d. 24 Aug. 1890

All were born in Sumner County, Tennessee. The dates of birth, death and marriage are from the Baker Family Bible, in possession of Carolyn Weisiger Engel. Where the dates disagreed with the Histories of the Bakers, I took the Bible date. The dates for Isaac Baker and Mary Hines agree with witnessed affidavits from the National Archives.

1. Eliza Baker married Isaac C. Douglass, 1 June 1820. Isaac Douglass was the son of James Douglass, youngest son of Col. Edward Douglass and his wife Sarah George, see DOUGLASS, Associated Families.
   Children of Eliza and Isaac Douglass:
   1. Celia Douglass m. Dr. Josh Franklin. Their children: 1) Mrs. Yeatman 2) Ela 3) Howard 4) Isaac 5) Mrs. Pierce 6) Will 7) Lizzie 8) Mrs. Stamps
   2. Callie Douglass m. Mr. Cook. Their children: 1) Mrs. Plunkett 2) Mrs. Bullock (Waco, Texas)
   3. Alice Douglass m. Mr. Herring. Their children: Alice Herring and others (Waco, Texas). In the Baker Cemetery were found two more:
   4. Matilda Malvina Douglass b. 8 July 1828 d. 28 Aug. 1834
   5. Rebecca L. Douglass b. 22 Dec. 1828 d. 25 Dec. 1838 (year of birth may be incorrect, stones were difficult to read)

2. Matilda Baker married William Walton, 12 Feb. 1818. William Walton was a man of fine traits of character, loved and respected by all who knew him. He was the son of Isaac Walton and Catherine Perry. Additional information on this family comes from Connie Walton Moretti of Redondo Beach, CA.
   Children of Matilda and William Walton:
   1. Mary Catherine (Kate) Walton b. about 1820 m. 17 Feb. 1742 John W. Cooke.
      Their Children:
      1. Jiles Cooke - never married
      2. Amanda Melvina (Mollie) Cooke m. Charles M. Dye - no issue
      3. Walton Cooke - never married
      4. Anna Cooke m. Jennette (?) Hassell - no issue
      5. Emma Cooke m. Jennette (?) Hassell - no issue
      6. Isaac Baker Cooke m. Caroline Combs. Their children: a) Charles Combs Cooke d. May 1910 b) Katie Dee Cooke m. 12 Aug. 1913 Sam T. Speakes, c) Will James Cooke d) Ann Louise Cooke e) Samuel Combes Cooke
   2. James E. Walton b. 2 Oct. 1822 d. 25 Nov. 1824 buried Baker Cemetery
   3. Amanda Melvina Walton b. 1824 d. after 1880 m. 29 Aug. 1849 Chatham Co. TN, Robert H. Moody b. 1819 TN
   4. Isaac Walton, M.D. b. 2 Dec. 1826 Sumner Co. d. after 1880 Chatham Co. TN m. 26 May 1849 TN, Maria Louisa Cage b. 1833. Dr. Isaac Walton was a good physician and a very pious man. He was a Captain in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Children of Isaac and Louise Walton:
      1. William A. Walton b. 1858 m. ? one son - Julian Baker Walton
      2. James R. Walton b. 1864 m. ? - no issue
      3. Lizzie Walton m. George Pickering children: a) Louise m. Roy Jerrett b) Emma Cooke c) Virginia d) Charles Robert
      4. Charles Walton - never married Connie Moretti adds another child, P.M. Walton b. 1869
      Isaac married 2. Lucy Hyde and they had one child. d. after 1880
   5. Charles M. Walton b. 11 Oct. 1828 d. 21 Apr. 1845 buried Baker Cemetery.
   6. Matilda (Tid) Walton b. 1830 d. 4 Jan. 1861 Gallatin m. 31 Oct. 1855 Sumner Co., William F. Summers. Their children: a) Alva W. Summers b. abt. 1857, b) Emma M. Summers b. abt. 1859
   7. William A. Walton b. 24 Nov. 1832 d. 28 Sept. 1833 buried Baker Cemetery
   8. Larkin Walton (Connie Moretti does not show this child.)

3. Betsy Baker married Daniel Safarons in 1821 In 1813, Larkin A. Bradford, son of Henry and Elizabeth Bradford wrote a will before leaving to fight against the Creek Indians. He left all his property to Elizabeth Baker, daughter of Isaac Baker, and state that Isaac Baker was to take care of his business should be not return. If Elizabeth Bradford was indeed the widow of John Blakemore, Jr., Betsy Baker would have been Larkin's niece.
   Children of Betsy and Daniel Safarons:
   1. John L. Safarons b. 11 Feb. 1823 d. 4 June 1879 m. Louise Odom b. 18 Jan. 1826 d. 21 Sept. 1891 - sister of Rhoda Odom
   2. Daniel Safarons b. 11 Oct. 1842 m. 1864 Ada Meade, granddaughter of Gov. Meade of Mississippi who had Aaron Burr arrested.
      Their children:
      1. Ada Meade Safarons
      2. Coles Meade Safarons
      3. Malvina Elizabeth Safarons (Mississippi)
   3. Isaac Safarons b. 11 Nov. 1825 m. Jennie Pickett, a grand-niece of James K. Polk. Isaac Safarons was a very cultured and handsome man of fine address and aristocratic bearing.
      Their children:
      1. Marion Safarons (Waco, Texas)
      2. Malvina Safarons
   4. Malvina Safarons b. 4 Oct. 1829 m. William Gould (Hastous-on-the-Hudson, New York) Melvina was a very beautiful woman, and shone like a diamond in the ring of society in the 40's. They had several children.

4. Zackius M. Baker m. Mary Newsom, May, 1840 Mary Newsom was a busy, beautiful and attractive woman. Zack Baker was a tinsmith in Gallatin in 1850.
   Children of Zack and Mary Baker:
   1. Walter Baker m. Mary Hampton (kin to G.M. Coombs) One daughter - Hyde Baker
   2. George Baker - never married
   3. Elizabeth (Bettie) Baker b. 1846 d. 8 Sept. 1910 m. Dr. Henry Augustus Schell b. 26 Nov. 1831 PA d. 25 Sept. 1885. Dr. Schell was a very prominent physician and skillful surgeon.
      Children of Bettie and Henry Schell:
      1. Alex Schell b. 1863 m. Lila Cantrell (Fort Worth, Texas). Their children: 1. Ann 2. Sara 3. Alex 4. Billie
      2. Zack Baker Schell b. 8 Jan. 1868 d. 19 Feb. 1929 m. Mates Cantrell b. 25 June 1870 d. 4 Feb. 1939. Their children: 1. Gus 2. Zack Baker, Jr. 1896-1967 3. Mary Anne 4. Josephine
      3. Henry Schell b. 1865 m. Lizzie Neeley. Their children: 1. Allen 2. Elizabeth 3. Margaret
      4. Bessie Schell b. 12 Sept. 1870 d. 13 June 1920 m. Walter S. Rainy. Their children: 1. Elizabeth 2. Walter 3. Suzie. Bessie Schell was a very superior woman, possessing a most charming and unassuming manner. (Gallatin, Tenn.)
   4. Jennie Baker b. 10 Nov. 1849 d. 8 Feb. 1925 m. Thomas Stokely Vinson b. 1 Sept. 1843 d. 10 Dec. 1930. Jennie was a very capable and industrious woman.
      Children of Jennie and Thomas Vinson:
      1. Jennie Vinson m. Harry Fidler. Their children: 1. Carolyn 2. Dorothy. Afterward, Jennie married Albert Riley and lived in Thomasville, GA. - one son
      2. Annie Vinson m. Matt Stratton
      3. Lorena Vinson b. Sept. 1878 d. Mar. 1885
   5. Annie Baker b. 1860 m. C.M. Moore
   6. Mary Zack (Zackie) Baker b. 21 Mar. 1861 d. 28 July 1924 m. Andrew Miller Blue b. 12 Oct. 1853 d. 27 Oct. 1933. Their children: (Zackie's children were all very bright and talented.)
      1. Dr. Julian Baker Blue b. 21 Nov. 1884 d. 25 Jan. 1949 m. Mary Green
      2. Dr. Will Blue
      3. Elizabeth Blue

5. Malvina Baker m. first 26 Sept. 1825 John Gardner. Afterwards married 13 May 1829 David Safarons. No issue. She died young.

6. Amanda Baker m. James K. McGoodwin, 18 Dec. 1831 James McGoodwin was a soldier in the War of 1812, was in the Battle of the Thames, saw Tecumseh, the Indian Chief, after he was killed. His father was a Colonel in the Revolutionary War. His sword is in the possession of his son, Henry McGoodwin.
   Children of Amanda and James McGoodwin:
   1. Elizabeth McGoodwin m. Charles McLain 1858.
      Their children:
      1. Robert McLain (Dead)
      2. Colletta Eugenia McLain m. Joe Harriman (New York City)
   2. Henry McGoodwin (Louisville, Ky.) m. Cornelia Loving, daughter of Judge Loving of Bowling Green, Ky. They had 6 children.
   3. Isaac McGoodwin (Bowling Green, Ky.) m. Miss Wooten. They had several children.

7. Ann C. Baker m. James House, 24 Sept. 1829 James House, son of Baliss House, was a man of fine principles, upright and honest to a degree, leading a very exemplary life.
   Children of Ann and James House:
   1. James House, Jr. b. 28 Mar. 1832 d. 12 Mar. 1911, married Eunice R. Allen b. 19 Mar. 1839 d. 1 July 1887, daughter of Rev. Luke P. Allen.
      Children of James and Eunice House:
      1. Emma House m. Robert Connell. Their children: 1. Annie May 2. Carl 3. Eunice
      2. Will Henry House b. 6 Mar. 1865 d. 27 Feb. 1909
      3. Allen House m. Grace Franklin
      4. Ernest Bayliss House b. 1868 d. 3 Mar. 1952 m. Lucy Prince. They had several children.
      5. Rufus House m. Margaret Goslin
      6. Annie House b. 6 Jan. 1868 d. 3 Mar. 1939 m.1. Harry D. Williamson m.2. Rev. Robert M. DuBose
   2. Ann House m. James Gardner s/o Cullen Bryant Gardner and Sarah Lauderdale Franklin.
      Children of James and Ann House Gardner:
      1. Sallie Gardner m. Mr. Cartwright. They had several children.
      2. Ann Gardner m. Billie Green. They had several children (Louisiana).
      3. James Gardner, Jr.
   3. William House

Go to Baker Family - Part One

Go to Baker Family - Part Three

Return to Sumner County, TN Family Album