Mrs. Alice Baker of Lockney; 63rd anniversary of the Baker Mercantile Company in April, 1957; wares sold include dry goods, furniture, hardware, and appliances; two daughters help run the store, Mrs. Dimple McCavock and Mrs. Lee Seaman; ten other children
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Sarah Alice Ratliff, better known as Alice; born in Van Zandt, Texas; taught school until marrying James Artemas (J.A.) Baker at eighteen; J.A. grew cotton, but poor cotton-growing conditions led him to switch to freight and trading; "During the year 1894 ... J. A. and Alice [Baker] ... took over the operation of a small combination mercantile store and post office, and acquired a quarter-section of land on which they established the present town of Lockney. Farming took second place to Baker as he assumed the multiple duties of creating and promoting the town along with expanding his freighting business.... Alice ran the store and post office, ordered supplies, kept the home, and raised the children.... Through the years in which she operated the store, Mrs. Baker gained the reputation of a capable business woman. However, and more importantly, her empathy for the clientele which her store served earned her the reputation of a wise and caring person.... In the early 1900s ... Mrs. Baker began making semiannual trips to wholesale dry goods markets...." Alice Baker designed house in Lockney which was completed in 1909; J.A. died of accidental blood poisoning in 1917; two years later Alice married C. W. Smith, one of the founders of Lockney Christian College, causing family conflict; "By the time of James Baker's death, two of his sons, Robin and Artemus or 'Artie,' had been brought into the store. The two sons assumed control of the store, and during the time of Alice Baker's marriage, filed a paper declaring Baker Mercantile Company to be a trust. By April of 1920 Alice Baker Smith had returned to her family, while C. W. remained on his farm. Eventually, Alice dropped the 'Smith' from her name and assumed control of the dry goods store.... As the debt problems which the store faced in the 1930s continued to mount, both Robin and Artie became involved in other businesses--Robin in butane and Artie in irrigation--and moved away from Lockney in the mid-1940s. Mrs. Alice Baker died at the age of ninety-nine, three months before her 100th birthday. She worked in the store until 1963 when she was ninety-six years of age."
Mrs. Alice Baker of Lockney; 63rd anniversary of the Baker Mercantile Company in April, 1957; wares sold include dry goods, furniture, hardware, and appliances; two daughters help run the store, Mrs. Dimple McCavock and Mrs. Lee Seaman; ten other children
Sarah Alice (Baker) Smith; born August 26, 1867; daughter of Steven J. Ratliff and Nancy Virginia Schmidt; resident of Lockney, Texas, for 73 years; died in Lockney on June 2, 1967; occupation: retired dry goods merchant
Sarah Alice (Baker) Smith; born August 26, 1867; daughter of Steven J. Ratliff and Nancy Virginia Schmidt; resident of Lockney, Texas, for 73 years; died in Lockney on June 2, 1967; occupation: retired dry goods merchant
Sarah Alice (better known as Alice) Ratliff Baker managed the Baker Mercantile Comapny store in Lockney, Texas, for nearly seven decades. She was born in Van Zandt, Texas, in 1867; after finishing her education she taught school, then at eighteen married James Artemas Baker, the postmaster of Ohio, Texas. They grew cotton but poor growing conditions soon led J. A. to switch to the freight and trading business. In April of 1864, J. A. and Alice took over a small general store and post office near where Lockney Christian College was in the process of being established; they acquired a quarter-section of land on which they founded the current town of Lockney. J. A. continued to run freight and carried on the business of developing and promoting the town, while Alice managed the store and post office and raised their twelve children; in the early 1900s, she began making semiannual buying trips to wholesale dry goods markets. She gained a reputation as a capable businesswoman, but more importantly, a reputation for empathetic dealings with the economically-struggling people of west Texas.
Alice Baker designed an imposing house in Lockney which was completed in 1909. In 1917, J. A. died unexpectedly. Two years later, Alice married C. W. Smith, one of the founders of Lockney Christian College, to the unhappiness of her children. J. A. had brought two sons, Robin and Artie Baker, into the family business, and during the time of their mother's second marriage they legally established the store as a trust. However, after only a year, Alice left C. W. Smith and returned to Lockney, eventually dropping the 'Smith' from her name and resuming control of the store. During the 1930s, Baker Mercantile began suffering ongoing debt problems, though it managed to stay in operation until 1972; Robin and Artie severed their connection with the business in the 1940s. Alice continued working in the store, along with her daughters Dimple Baker McCavock and Lee Baker Seaman, until 1963 when she was 96 years old.
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Baker, Sarah Alice Ratliff
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Sarah Alice Ratliff, better known as Alice; born in Van Zandt, Texas; taught school until marrying James Artemas (J.A.) Baker at eighteen; J.A. grew cotton, but poor cotton-growing conditions led him to switch to freight and trading; "During the year 1894 ... J. A. and Alice [Baker] ... took over the operation of a small combination mercantile store and post office, and acquired a quarter-section of land on which they established the present town of Lockney. Farming took second place to Baker as he assumed the multiple duties of creating and promoting the town along with expanding his freighting business.... Alice ran the store and post office, ordered supplies, kept the home, and raised the children.... Through the years in which she operated the store, Mrs. Baker gained the reputation of a capable business woman. However, and more importantly, her empathy for the clientele which her store served earned her the reputation of a wise and caring person.... In the early 1900s ... Mrs. Baker began making semiannual trips to wholesale dry goods markets...." Alice Baker designed house in Lockney which was completed in 1909; J.A. died of accidental blood poisoning in 1917; two years later Alice married C. W. Smith, one of the founders of Lockney Christian College, causing family conflict; "By the time of James Baker's death, two of his sons, Robin and Artemus or 'Artie,' had been brought into the store. The two sons assumed control of the store, and during the time of Alice Baker's marriage, filed a paper declaring Baker Mercantile Company to be a trust. By April of 1920 Alice Baker Smith had returned to her family, while C. W. remained on his farm. Eventually, Alice dropped the 'Smith' from her name and assumed control of the dry goods store.... As the debt problems which the store faced in the 1930s continued to mount, both Robin and Artie became involved in other businesses--Robin in butane and Artie in irrigation--and moved away from Lockney in the mid-1940s. Mrs. Alice Baker died at the age of ninety-nine, three months before her 100th birthday. She worked in the store until 1963 when she was ninety-six years of age."
Source Citation
Mrs. Alice Baker of Lockney; 63rd anniversary of the Baker Mercantile Company in April, 1957; wares sold include dry goods, furniture, hardware, and appliances; two daughters help run the store, Mrs. Dimple McCavock and Mrs. Lee Seaman; ten other children
Sarah Alice Ratliff, better known as Alice; born in Van Zandt, Texas; taught school until marrying James Artemas (J.A.) Baker at eighteen; J.A. grew cotton, but poor cotton-growing conditions led him to switch to freight and trading; "During the year 1894 ... J. A. and Alice [Baker] ... took over the operation of a small combination mercantile store and post office, and acquired a quarter-section of land on which they established the present town of Lockney. Farming took second place to Baker as he assumed the multiple duties of creating and promoting the town along with expanding his freighting business.... Alice ran the store and post office, ordered supplies, kept the home, and raised the children.... Through the years in which she operated the store, Mrs. Baker gained the reputation of a capable business woman. However, and more importantly, her empathy for the clientele which her store served earned her the reputation of a wise and caring person.... In the early 1900s ... Mrs. Baker began making semiannual trips to wholesale dry goods markets...." Alice Baker designed house in Lockney which was completed in 1909; J.A. died of accidental blood poisoning in 1917; two years later Alice married C. W. Smith, one of the founders of Lockney Christian College, causing family conflict; "By the time of James Baker's death, two of his sons, Robin and Artemus or 'Artie,' had been brought into the store. The two sons assumed control of the store, and during the time of Alice Baker's marriage, filed a paper declaring Baker Mercantile Company to be a trust. By April of 1920 Alice Baker Smith had returned to her family, while C. W. remained on his farm. Eventually, Alice dropped the 'Smith' from her name and assumed control of the dry goods store.... As the debt problems which the store faced in the 1930s continued to mount, both Robin and Artie became involved in other businesses--Robin in butane and Artie in irrigation--and moved away from Lockney in the mid-1940s. Mrs. Alice Baker died at the age of ninety-nine, three months before her 100th birthday. She worked in the store until 1963 when she was ninety-six years of age."
Sarah Alice Ratliff, better known as Alice; born in Van Zandt, Texas; taught school until marrying James Artemas (J.A.) Baker at eighteen; J.A. grew cotton, but poor cotton-growing conditions led him to switch to freight and trading; "During the year 1894 ... J. A. and Alice [Baker] ... took over the operation of a small combination mercantile store and post office, and acquired a quarter-section of land on which they established the present town of Lockney. Farming took second place to Baker as he assumed the multiple duties of creating and promoting the town along with expanding his freighting business.... Alice ran the store and post office, ordered supplies, kept the home, and raised the children.... Through the years in which she operated the store, Mrs. Baker gained the reputation of a capable business woman. However, and more importantly, her empathy for the clientele which her store served earned her the reputation of a wise and caring person.... In the early 1900s ... Mrs. Baker began making semiannual trips to wholesale dry goods markets...." Alice Baker designed house in Lockney which was completed in 1909; J.A. died of accidental blood poisoning in 1917; two years later Alice married C. W. Smith, one of the founders of Lockney Christian College, causing family conflict; "By the time of James Baker's death, two of his sons, Robin and Artemus or 'Artie,' had been brought into the store. The two sons assumed control of the store, and during the time of Alice Baker's marriage, filed a paper declaring Baker Mercantile Company to be a trust. By April of 1920 Alice Baker Smith had returned to her family, while C. W. remained on his farm. Eventually, Alice dropped the 'Smith' from her name and assumed control of the dry goods store.... As the debt problems which the store faced in the 1930s continued to mount, both Robin and Artie became involved in other businesses--Robin in butane and Artie in irrigation--and moved away from Lockney in the mid-1940s. Mrs. Alice Baker died at the age of ninety-nine, three months before her 100th birthday. She worked in the store until 1963 when she was ninety-six years of age."
Source Citation
Mrs. Alice Baker of Lockney; 63rd anniversary of the Baker Mercantile Company in April, 1957; wares sold include dry goods, furniture, hardware, and appliances; two daughters help run the store, Mrs. Dimple McCavock and Mrs. Lee Seaman; ten other children
Sarah Alice Ratliff, better known as Alice; born in Van Zandt, Texas; taught school until marrying James Artemas (J.A.) Baker at eighteen; J.A. grew cotton, but poor cotton-growing conditions led him to switch to freight and trading; "During the year 1894 ... J. A. and Alice [Baker] ... took over the operation of a small combination mercantile store and post office, and acquired a quarter-section of land on which they established the present town of Lockney. Farming took second place to Baker as he assumed the multiple duties of creating and promoting the town along with expanding his freighting business.... Alice ran the store and post office, ordered supplies, kept the home, and raised the children.... Through the years in which she operated the store, Mrs. Baker gained the reputation of a capable business woman. However, and more importantly, her empathy for the clientele which her store served earned her the reputation of a wise and caring person.... In the early 1900s ... Mrs. Baker began making semiannual trips to wholesale dry goods markets...." Alice Baker designed house in Lockney which was completed in 1909; J.A. died of accidental blood poisoning in 1917; two years later Alice married C. W. Smith, one of the founders of Lockney Christian College, causing family conflict; "By the time of James Baker's death, two of his sons, Robin and Artemus or 'Artie,' had been brought into the store. The two sons assumed control of the store, and during the time of Alice Baker's marriage, filed a paper declaring Baker Mercantile Company to be a trust. By April of 1920 Alice Baker Smith had returned to her family, while C. W. remained on his farm. Eventually, Alice dropped the 'Smith' from her name and assumed control of the dry goods store.... As the debt problems which the store faced in the 1930s continued to mount, both Robin and Artie became involved in other businesses--Robin in butane and Artie in irrigation--and moved away from Lockney in the mid-1940s. Mrs. Alice Baker died at the age of ninety-nine, three months before her 100th birthday. She worked in the store until 1963 when she was ninety-six years of age."
Sarah Alice Ratliff, better known as Alice; born in Van Zandt, Texas; taught school until marrying James Artemas (J.A.) Baker at eighteen; J.A. grew cotton, but poor cotton-growing conditions led him to switch to freight and trading; "During the year 1894 ... J. A. and Alice [Baker] ... took over the operation of a small combination mercantile store and post office, and acquired a quarter-section of land on which they established the present town of Lockney. Farming took second place to Baker as he assumed the multiple duties of creating and promoting the town along with expanding his freighting business.... Alice ran the store and post office, ordered supplies, kept the home, and raised the children.... Through the years in which she operated the store, Mrs. Baker gained the reputation of a capable business woman. However, and more importantly, her empathy for the clientele which her store served earned her the reputation of a wise and caring person.... In the early 1900s ... Mrs. Baker began making semiannual trips to wholesale dry goods markets...." Alice Baker designed house in Lockney which was completed in 1909; J.A. died of accidental blood poisoning in 1917; two years later Alice married C. W. Smith, one of the founders of Lockney Christian College, causing family conflict; "By the time of James Baker's death, two of his sons, Robin and Artemus or 'Artie,' had been brought into the store. The two sons assumed control of the store, and during the time of Alice Baker's marriage, filed a paper declaring Baker Mercantile Company to be a trust. By April of 1920 Alice Baker Smith had returned to her family, while C. W. remained on his farm. Eventually, Alice dropped the 'Smith' from her name and assumed control of the dry goods store.... As the debt problems which the store faced in the 1930s continued to mount, both Robin and Artie became involved in other businesses--Robin in butane and Artie in irrigation--and moved away from Lockney in the mid-1940s. Mrs. Alice Baker died at the age of ninety-nine, three months before her 100th birthday. She worked in the store until 1963 when she was ninety-six years of age."
Source Citation
Mrs. Alice Baker of Lockney; 63rd anniversary of the Baker Mercantile Company in April, 1957; wares sold include dry goods, furniture, hardware, and appliances; two daughters help run the store, Mrs. Dimple McCavock and Mrs. Lee Seaman; ten other children
Resided in Lockney, Texas, from 1894 until her death in 1967.
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Sarah Alice (Baker) Smith; born August 26, 1867; daughter of Steven J. Ratliff and Nancy Virginia Schmidt; resident of Lockney, Texas, for 73 years; died in Lockney on June 2, 1967; occupation: retired dry goods merchant
Source Citation
Sarah Alice Ratliff, better known as Alice; born in Van Zandt, Texas; taught school until marrying James Artemas (J.A.) Baker at eighteen; J.A. grew cotton, but poor cotton-growing conditions led him to switch to freight and trading; "During the year 1894 ... J. A. and Alice [Baker] ... took over the operation of a small combination mercantile store and post office, and acquired a quarter-section of land on which they established the present town of Lockney. Farming took second place to Baker as he assumed the multiple duties of creating and promoting the town along with expanding his freighting business.... Alice ran the store and post office, ordered supplies, kept the home, and raised the children.... Through the years in which she operated the store, Mrs. Baker gained the reputation of a capable business woman. However, and more importantly, her empathy for the clientele which her store served earned her the reputation of a wise and caring person.... In the early 1900s ... Mrs. Baker began making semiannual trips to wholesale dry goods markets...." Alice Baker designed house in Lockney which was completed in 1909; J.A. died of accidental blood poisoning in 1917; two years later Alice married C. W. Smith, one of the founders of Lockney Christian College, causing family conflict; "By the time of James Baker's death, two of his sons, Robin and Artemus or 'Artie,' had been brought into the store. The two sons assumed control of the store, and during the time of Alice Baker's marriage, filed a paper declaring Baker Mercantile Company to be a trust. By April of 1920 Alice Baker Smith had returned to her family, while C. W. remained on his farm. Eventually, Alice dropped the 'Smith' from her name and assumed control of the dry goods store.... As the debt problems which the store faced in the 1930s continued to mount, both Robin and Artie became involved in other businesses--Robin in butane and Artie in irrigation--and moved away from Lockney in the mid-1940s. Mrs. Alice Baker died at the age of ninety-nine, three months before her 100th birthday. She worked in the store until 1963 when she was ninety-six years of age."
Managed the Baker Mercantile Company in Lockney from 1894 to 1963.
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Place
Source Citation
Mrs. Alice Baker of Lockney; 63rd anniversary of the Baker Mercantile Company in April, 1957; wares sold include dry goods, furniture, hardware, and appliances; two daughters help run the store, Mrs. Dimple McCavock and Mrs. Lee Seaman; ten other children
Source Citation
Sarah Alice Ratliff, better known as Alice; born in Van Zandt, Texas; taught school until marrying James Artemas (J.A.) Baker at eighteen; J.A. grew cotton, but poor cotton-growing conditions led him to switch to freight and trading; "During the year 1894 ... J. A. and Alice [Baker] ... took over the operation of a small combination mercantile store and post office, and acquired a quarter-section of land on which they established the present town of Lockney. Farming took second place to Baker as he assumed the multiple duties of creating and promoting the town along with expanding his freighting business.... Alice ran the store and post office, ordered supplies, kept the home, and raised the children.... Through the years in which she operated the store, Mrs. Baker gained the reputation of a capable business woman. However, and more importantly, her empathy for the clientele which her store served earned her the reputation of a wise and caring person.... In the early 1900s ... Mrs. Baker began making semiannual trips to wholesale dry goods markets...." Alice Baker designed house in Lockney which was completed in 1909; J.A. died of accidental blood poisoning in 1917; two years later Alice married C. W. Smith, one of the founders of Lockney Christian College, causing family conflict; "By the time of James Baker's death, two of his sons, Robin and Artemus or 'Artie,' had been brought into the store. The two sons assumed control of the store, and during the time of Alice Baker's marriage, filed a paper declaring Baker Mercantile Company to be a trust. By April of 1920 Alice Baker Smith had returned to her family, while C. W. remained on his farm. Eventually, Alice dropped the 'Smith' from her name and assumed control of the dry goods store.... As the debt problems which the store faced in the 1930s continued to mount, both Robin and Artie became involved in other businesses--Robin in butane and Artie in irrigation--and moved away from Lockney in the mid-1940s. Mrs. Alice Baker died at the age of ninety-nine, three months before her 100th birthday. She worked in the store until 1963 when she was ninety-six years of age."