The Valley of Heart's Delight
ORLANDO L. BAKER
Pioneer Farmer- Santa Clara County
HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY 457
SURNAMES: McIntyre, Buck, Pruett, Cottle
Coming here in early manhood without means or influential
friends, Orlando L. Baker has worked his way unaided to a position of
independence. He was born in Hornellsville, now Hornell, Steuben
County, N. Y., Janurary 19, 1836, a son of James and Anna (McIntyre)
Baker. His father, James Baker, was a farmer, who removed to Michigan
when Orlando L. was one year old, and where he purchased timber land,
which he cleared and on which a home was built. Here the father passed
away, when Orlando was ten years old.
Mr. Baker secured his early education in the schools of the district,
working on his father's farm in summer, and after the death of his
father, he assumed a good share of the farm work. When he was fourteen,
his mother was married the second time to Andrew Kilberry and the
family removed from Sturgis, Mich., to Indiana, where Mr. Kilberry
owned a 130-acre farm. When ninteen Mr. Baker determined to start out
for himself, and engaged in farming for a time, renting a thiry-acre
farm in the Wabash Valley, near Peru, which he planted to corn. His
residence on the farm coverd a period of two years, after which he left
for the goal of his ambition, Pikes Peak, Colo., when gold was
discovered. They met so many discouraged men returning from Pikes Peak
that they decided to go on to California, crossing the plains in the
usual way, a wagon drawn by oxen. The trip was accomplished without
mishap, although accompanied by many hardships. They crossed the
Missouri River at Nebraska City, Fort Hall, then by Suiblette Cut-off
and on to Lassen County, Cal. Three years were spent in Plumas County
and went to work in a store. At the same time he farmed, his brother,
Simeon, carrying on the work. They raised grain, but traded the grain
for a fourteen-acre potato crop and disposed of the potatoes to his
employer for cash, thus making a double profit.
During the year of 1862 he removed to Santa Clara Valley and purchased
a ranch of eighty acres, a protion of the old Santa Teresa grant. This
he successfully farmed for six years, but was obliged to relinquish all
right to same on account of its being a part of a Spanish grant. He
then purchased a 120-acre tract on McLaughlin Avenue, on which he
raised grain; also having a number of cattle and horses. He also rented
additional grain land, which brought him fine return for his labor.
After spending seventeen years on his ranch, he sold out and obught a
thiry-seven-acre tract on the Senter Road, on which he built a house
and where he resided for twenty-three years. He still retains ten acres
of this land.
The first marriage of Mr. Baker occurred December 18, 1867, in San Jose
and united him with Miss Mary A. Pruett, a native of Missouri. Her
father died when she was a small girl, and her mother was married a
second time, to a Joseph Aubrey, a pioneer of Grass Valley, who came to
California in 1850, settling first in Grass Valley, two years later
coming to Santa Clara Valley, where he pruchased land and engaged in
farming. Mrs. Baker's schooling was obtained in the public schools of
San Jose. She passed away in San Francisco in 1894, the mother of one
daughter, Lillie A., now wife of Frank H. Buck, who resied on a ranch
of the Santa Teresa grant. Mr. and Mrs. Buck have onrdaughter.
Mary A. On July 26, 1897, Mr. Baker's second marriage united him
with Miss Paulina Cottle, a native daughter, born in Santa Clara
County, a daughter of O. B. Cottle, a pioneer of 1850.
Mr. Baker is a man of the type which has been largely responsible for
the latter-day development of the West. Politcally he adheres to
the principles of the Democratic platform. He has alwys done all in his
power for the advancement of his local community, and at his advanced
age, enjoys a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
Transcribed by Marie Clayton, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County,California, published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 457
SANTA CLARA COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES
SANTA CLARA COUNTY -The Valley of Heart's Delight