Baker, Obadiah Ethelbert, 1838-1923.

Obadiah Ethelbert Baker, Union soldier. Native of Eden, N.Y., he moved with his family to Iowa in 1856. In 1859-1861, he taught a district school in Strawberry Point, Iowa. In 1860, he married Melissa Dalton, a student of his, who later taught school in the same district. In Sept. 1861, Baker enlisted in the 2nd Iowa Cavalry Volunteers. He fought in Mississippi, Missouri, Louisiana, and Tennessee, and took part in the battles of Corinth and Booneville. Baker spent several months in various army hospitals in Tennessee and Missouri, and was honorably discharged in Apr. 1865. After the war, he resumed teaching in Mississippi and Iowa. In 1874 the Bakers moved to California, where they resided in Shasta and Modoc Counties.

Obadiah and Melissa Baker had four children: a son who died in infancy, daughters Grace Amelia (1870-1876) and Caroline Melissa (1866-1896), and son Milo Samuel (1868-1961), a renowned botanist. In 1881-1887 Caroline and Milo attended San Jose Normal School.