William Whitely Baker Sr. (born 1867)
William Whitely Baker Sr was born on Oct 27 1867. His father was Charles E Baker (b1845) , and his mother was Mary Elizabeth (Whitely) Baker ( Dec 8 1847 - Oct 26 1880) ( https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120979342/mary-elizabeth-baker ) .
His mother Mary Elizabeth Whitely Baker passing in 1880,
Father of William Whiteley Baker Jr. (b1894)
Dad re-married Harriet Stone "Hattie" Whitely baker (born oct 11 1860, died Mar 14 1928) (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120978176/harriet-stone-baker)
An uncle of William Whitely Baker Sr. (and brother of Charles E. Baker (b 1845) ) was Bernard Nadal Baker (b 1854) (See relationship at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/124676153/bernard-nadal-baker ).
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Background
The American Agricultural Chemical Company (or AACC) was led for many years by William Whitely Baker Sr., who passed in 1918 . His legend was called out here in the American Fertilizer 1918 issue.
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In 1843, WILLIAM BAKER bought the "Baltimore Window-Glass Works" - the oldest glass works in the United States with an outstanding reputation for superior quality.
1845, HENRY J. and CHARLES J. BAKER, sons of WILLIAM BAKER, became connected with these works and in 1850 were enlisted by their father to obtain sources for glass produced in Europe. Henry J. Baker obtained sourcing for the glass trade but could not return to import glass via the port of Baltimore in competition with his family's firm."
November 23 1918 issue of "The American Fertilizer" (For PDF with all 1918 issues, see [HP0018][hGDrive] ).
WILLIAM W BAKER We have referred in previous issues to the death of William W Baker, and to the action taken by the fertilizer trade of Baltimore We have since received further particulars of his life which we believe should be recorded in this publication.
William Whiteley Baker was born October 27 1867 in Baltimore. His grandfather and his father had been identified with the business interests of that city for years in the glass business and in the manufacture and sale of fertilizers.
He received his education mainly at a boarding school at Ellicott City Maryland. He started to work at the age of 17 with the Chemical Company of Canton the fertilizer plant owned by his family and which was afterwards acquired by the American Agricultural Chemical Company.
Mr Baker was married December 14 1893 to Miss Lizzie Whiteley who with two children survive him.
When the Chemical Company of Canton was absorbed by the American Agricultural Chemical Company Mr Baker straightway went to work under the new administration. He started as a salesman evincing such industry and enthusiasm that the next year he was transferred to another branch works as local manager.
On September 5 1906 he was elected a director of the American Agricultural Chemical Co and appointed superintendent of manufacture on August 8 1907. He became local manager at Baltimore on January 6 1909 a vice president of the company on September 15 1910 and a member of its executive committee on September 21 1915. These promotions came as a reward of his energy and faithful co operation with his associates.
Some estimation of the esteem in which he was held can be obtained by the following action of his associates in review of his life and labor with them:
"At a meeting of the associates of the late William W Baker, called this 23d day of September, 1918, in the office of the company, to give expression of our esteem for him as an executive ; to testify to his ability and fellowship as a co-worker and to his kindliness and fidelity as a friend.
"We esteem it a privilege to make the following statement:
"As an executive over the large interests confided to him, he was not only faithful, but indefatigable in furthering the interests of the company, even at the cost of comfort, convenience and health ; with wonderful abnegation of self, his whole energy and strength were given in fulfilling his ambition to further the interests of the company ; thus winning advancement by loyalty and faithful service. His authority was always exercised with moderation and respect for others.
"As a co-worker he was always frank, courteous and considerate of his associates, ever willing to take and consider suggestions.
"Desiring to convey the esteem in which we held our late friend and co-worker, it is ordered that an engrossed copy of above be sent to his family with the personal signatures of his late associates.
1917 (June) - Son's Draft Registration
William Whiteley Baker Jr. was 22 years of age when he registered on June 5, 1917.
The employer and job is hard to read, but we can see at that time it looks like "A[??????? ?????????] of Sub-Committee on on [?????], Sub-Committee on Fertilizer [????????????] Council of National Defense", located in Washington D.C. .
His address looks to be "Tanglewood Road, Catonsville, MD". As of 2019, there doesn't appear to be any homes on this small suburban road build before 1941, so the home may have removed? Hard to tell, without a street address number.
In Catonsville, his uncle Bernard Nadal Baker (born 1854) had his full-time residence: A 49-room mansion on 300 acres known as 🌐Ingleside , .Google shows this location to be about 2 miles from the states address above.
"In 1877 Baker married Elizabeth Elton Livzey. In 1889 Baker incorporated the 🌐Atlantic Transport Line in London, and chose to start construction of the Ingleside Mansion.
The mansion was built on 300 acres (120 ha) of property that Baker inherited and an adjoining parcel he purchased. The building was based on an English home, with 49 rooms. The outside was clad in fieldstone. The roof was red tile. Fireplace mantles were hand carved. Several tenant houses and a formal garden were built on the property.[2] A world traveler, Baker described Ingleside as his only true home."
In April 1918, the Bakers turned the mansion over to Company C of the food production committee of the women's section of the Maryland defense council to support the war efforts. Women farmers would tend crops for $1.20 a day, compared to the going rate of $2.00 a day for male labor. There was some resistance in the community to using women laborers. Governor Emerson Harrington gave a speech at the mansion porch in support of the efforts in July 1918. Troops were also able to live at the house and commute to war-effort jobs. Most of Baker's ships were lost in the war. He died later that year in California.
Ingleside burned down in 1953.
Nearby Ingleside Avenue is named for the mansion. Baker Avenue is named after its original builder, Benard M. Baker.
2 Miles distance ..