F. W. Baker

F. W. Baker is one of the representative business men of the city of Ventura. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, May 7, 1853, the son of F. W. and Mary L. (Eaton) Baker, the former a native of Vermont, of Scotch descent, and the latter of Cambridge, Massachusetts, of English ancestry. Mr. Baker was the oldest of four children. He attended the Winchester High School and also the Massachusetts Agricultural College. His first work for himself was in the dry-goods business with Jordan, Marsh & Co., of Boston. Not being suited with that position, he obtained a place in the wholesale hardware store of Hogan, Clark & Sleeper, and remained with them two years, when the great Boston fire occurred and they were burned out. He then accepted an offer to travel for Baker & Hamilton, a San Francisco hardware house, remaining in their employ four years. At the expiration of that time he engaged in business for himself in Napa, under the firm name of Stone & Baker, doing a tin and hardware business. Two years later he sold out to his partner, returned to San Francisco, and again entered the employ of Baker & Hamilton, working for them two years longer.

    Mr. Baker then came to Ventura and purchased the store of E. A. Edward, who had been the pioneer hardware man of the place. This purchase was made in April, 1879, and, with the exception of one year, Mr. Baker has conducted the business and has been very successful. From time to time, as necessity demanded, he has increased his facilities for doing business. The little building that once served for a store room has given place to a fine two-story brick, 30 x 75 feet, and the first building, moved to the rear, is used for a warehouse. The store occupies both the lower and upper story of the new building.  Mr. Baker has the only elevator in the city. He owns a factory, 30 x 50 feet, in which he manufactures tinware, honey and fruit cans in large quantities. He employs five men all the time and in the busy season seven or eight. His business extends all over the county, and some of his manufactures are shipped all over the State. In one season he made 12,000 sixty-pound honey cans, and many thousand smaller ones. They adopted a plan that every person who purchased $1 worth of goods should have a guess on how many cans they were making. The one who guessed the nearest was paid $50, the next $25, and the third $10. This store is No. 216 Main street, between Oak and Palm.

    Mr. Baker was united in marriage to Miss Annie M. Sheriden in 1880. She was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, the daughter of S. N. Sheriden, of Ventura. They have three interesting children, two sons and a daughter, all born in Ventura, viz.: George L., Frederick N., and Annie M.

    Mr. Baker is Senior Warden of the Masonic Lodge, F. & A. M.; is also K. of P., and District Deputy of the order to the Grand Lodge. Politically he is a Republican. Mr. Baker is a stockholder in the Ventura Gas Company, and does his full share in all public enterprises. He is the owner of a good home, where he resides with his family, and also owns other valuable real estate.

    Mrs. Baker is a member of the Congregational Church.

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