Eber Baker
Encyclopedia
Eber BakerEber Baker (b. April 27, 1780 - d. October 6, 1864, Marion, Ohio
is credited as being the founder of Marion, Ohio. Baker was born in either Litchfield
or Bowdoin, Maine
.
Baker and his first wife, Lydia Smith Baker, came to the vicinity of what is now Marion, buying land from Alexander Holmes, about 1821 and constructed a log home. The location of the home was approximately three-quarters of a mile north of Jacobs Well, a natural spring well that had been dug during the War of 1812
by Jacob Foos, a surveyor for General William Henry Harrison
. Baker platted a town, which was named Marion after the newly formed county of the same name; Marion was then chosen as the county seat of government, beating out nearby Claridon, Ohio to the east. A local middle school was named after him.
Baker would go onto serve in the Ohio House of Representatives
. He also constructed and operated the Mansion House, in downtown Marion.
Marion, Ohio
Marion is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Marion County. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio, approximately north of Columbus....
is credited as being the founder of Marion, Ohio. Baker was born in either Litchfield
Litchfield, Maine
Litchfield is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,110 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
or Bowdoin, Maine
Bowdoin, Maine
Bowdoin is a town in Sagadahoc County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,727 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area.-History:...
.
Baker and his first wife, Lydia Smith Baker, came to the vicinity of what is now Marion, buying land from Alexander Holmes, about 1821 and constructed a log home. The location of the home was approximately three-quarters of a mile north of Jacobs Well, a natural spring well that had been dug during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
by Jacob Foos, a surveyor for General William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
. Baker platted a town, which was named Marion after the newly formed county of the same name; Marion was then chosen as the county seat of government, beating out nearby Claridon, Ohio to the east. A local middle school was named after him.
Baker would go onto serve in the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
. He also constructed and operated the Mansion House, in downtown Marion.