Kern County Biographies

J. T. Baker

Submitted by Sally Kaleta, February, 2007

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	J. T. Baker, the pioneer druggist of Hanford, Tulare County, 
California, is a native of Muscatine County, Iowa, born in 1848. His father, a 
native of Ohio, became one of the early settlers of Iowa, and was there engaged 
in agricultural pursuits. After securing a common-school education, young Baker 
started out in life at the age of seventeen years; went to Moscow, same county, 
and in the employ of his cousin, M. Baker, a practicing physician of Visalia, 
and to take charge of his drug store and business. In 1873, he bought an 
interest in the store, but sold it in 1875, and accepted the position of 
prescription clerk in the drug store of Mr. Bishop, at a salary of $125 per 
month. Here he faithfully performed his duties, often working eighteen hours a 
day. Wishing to start business for himself, he attended the auction sale of town 
lots at Hanford, in February, 1877, and purchased lots on Sixth Street. He 
immediately built a small store for the drug business, and his was the first 
building completed and the first store to open its doors in the present 
prosperous town of Hanford. On March 26, 1879, fire devastated Hanford, and Mr. 
Baker's stock was entirely swept away, he sustaining a loss of $6,000. He then 
rebuilt in brick with increased facilities and enlarged his stock, and 
prosperity attended his business enterprises. July 11, 1887, the town was again 
visited by fire, and Mr. Baker sustained a still greater loss, this time about 
$18,000. With renewed energy he set about rebuilding, and erected his present 
fine brick building, 50 x 70 feet and two stories high. The upper story is 
divided into offices, and has a hall 38 x 40 feet, which is occupied by 
different secret orders at stated intervals. Mr. Baker has an outside cellar, 21 
x 40 feet, brick-lined and cemented and made fire-proof, which he uses for the 
storage of miscellaneous drugs, and his fine storeroom contains one of the 
largest and most complete stocks of medicine. Mr. Baker was married at Visalia 
in July, 1875, to Miss Mary Lindsey, a native of Indiana, and to their union has 
been added two children, George R. and Lella A. He is a member of Hanford Lodge, 
No. 189, A. O. U. W., and has been Receiver of the lodge for eight years. On 
Seventh Street Mr. Baker owns a lot 100 x 150 feet, where he located his 
attractive and comfortable home.
 
Source: "The Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Fresno, 
Tulare, and Kern, California," Lewis Publ. Co., 1892, p. 395.