A Tribute to Elder Walter Baker
1814-1892

Elder Walter Baker was born in the State of Virginia, in August 1814, and emigrated with Dr. Stark, to Pike County, Mo., when a small boy, and lived with him until he was nineteen years old. He then left the doctor and went into the lead mine regions of Dubuque, Iowa and Jo Daviess County, Illinois. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Grimes in 1841. His sickness was of short duration. He departed this life the 11th day of January, 1892, in the triumph of faith. Brother Baker obtained a hope in Christ in the year 1844, and joined the Methodist Church, but soon after became dissatisfied and united with the Regular Predestinarian Baptists and was baptized by the late Elder Robert Jeffers. I was acquainted with him for over forty years and know, if I am any judge, he has been a sound and consistent preacher of the gospel, and truly a peace maker, and has contended for nothing but gospel order in his church. He was a member of New Hope Church and also assistant pastor of the writer. He leaves a dear old companion, the church and a large number of friends to mourn his loss. But we mourn not as those who have no hope, but believe that his spirit is at rest with God. The writer attended his funeral and tried to preach a discourse from Rev. xiv. 18, - "Write, blessed are the dead that die in the Lord" - to a large number of brethren and friends, who followed him to his last resting place, to wait the trumpet of God. May God through his infinite mercy sustain his dear old companion, through all of her trials and troubles, and at last save her with all the redeemed family of God, is the prayer of the writer. - Elder Benjamin Sallee.



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