Frye Line · research Portrait

William Henry Baker

Research Status: In Progress · Last Updated: OCT 2026

b. 27 Mar 1829, IN · m. 3 Nov 1856, IN · d. 23 May 1890, WA

Biography

William Henry Baker was born on March 27th, 1829, in Silver Creek, Indiana, to Jesse Baker & Sarah Robertson Baker. William was the 3rd of 9 children. When William was born, his father was operating a grist mill and a farm. While it’s not known whether the family was considered prominent, they are recorded in local county histories as among the first to settle in what would become Clark County.

William took after his father and became a farmer. He bought land in Clark County and was married to Sarah Louisa Denny in 1856. He also served in the Civil War according to enlistment records. In 1866, he, along with his wife’s family, sold all of their assets in New Providence and began their journey West. More information can be found about their journey here ________.

After arriving in Washington, William and his family homesteaded in Sumner, Washington. On May 23rd, 1890, while working on his land, he was thrown from his team of horses and killed.

Based on the probate records, it seems as though William and the family were successful in their farming and investments. This also means that William had a stake in helping build the community that would later become Sumner. Although William is not mentioned in many of the histories of the areas, he owned large parts of downtown at the time of his death. It is said that William was approached by a publisher who was doing histories of pioneers of the area and refused, as he would’ve had to have paid. This could be part of the reason why the names of Ezra Meeker, Kincaid, Ryan, etc., are seen so much more frequently.

Timeline

27 Mar 1829

Birth | Silver Creek, Clark, Indiana

11 Oct 1850

Residing in Utica Township, Clark, Indiana

26 Sep 1856

Marriage to Sarah Louisa Denny

1866

Arrival in Oregon

Nov 1869

Arrival in WA Territory [Tacoma]

23 May 1890

Death

Still Open

What we still want to know

Records on File

  • US Federal Censuses (1850-1880)
  • Indiana, U.S., Marriage Certificates, 1960-2012
  • U.S., Civil War Draft Registration Records, 1863-1865
  • U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
  • Washington, U.S., Wills & Probate Records, 1851-1970
  • Washington, U.S., State & Territorial Censuses, 1857-1892
  • The News Tribune
  • The Tacoma Daily Ledger
  • Family Photos

Relationships

Parents:

Jesse Baker

Sarah Robertson

Siblings:

James A Baker

Nancy Baker

Reuben Marion Baker

Margaret Elizabeth Baker

Allen Barrett Baker

Charles W Baker

Daniel/David Baker

Jesse Lafayette Baker

Spouse(s):

Sarah Louisa Denny

Children:

Elma Adelyn Baker Spinning

Laura Alice Baker Murray Lowe

Horace Albert Baker

Lucy A Baker Bonney

Lena Tacoma Baker Johnston

  • The Other Way West: The Baker-Denny Party, 1866