Baker, Edward
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MILITARY SERVICE Age: 18, credited to Newbury, VT Unit(s): 17th VT INF Service: enl 3/29/64, m/i 4/12/64, Pvt, Co. G, 17th VT INF, wdd, Wilderness, 5/6/64, m/o 7/14/65 See Legend for expansion of abbreviations VITALSBirth: 05/13/1847, Manchester, NH Death: 08/10/1935 Burial: Green Mount Cemetery, Montpelier, VT Marker/Plot: Lot 171 Gravestone photographer: Monica White Findagrave Memorial #: 76986709 MORE INFORMATION Alias?: None noted Pension?: Yes, 8/22/1868 Portrait?: Unknown College?: Not Found Veterans Home?: Not Found (If there are state digraphs above, this soldier spent some time in a state or national soldiers' home in that state after the war) Remarks: None DESCENDANTS (Are you a descendant, but not listed? Register today) |
BURIAL: Copyright notice   Green Mount Cemetery, Montpelier, VT Check the cemetery for location/directions and other veterans who may be buried there. |
Obituary
Capt. Edward Baker Dies; Compiled War Record of Soldiers
MONTPELIER, Aug. 11. - Capt. Edward Baker, one of the three survivors of the Civil War in Montpelier, a past commander of the State department of the G. A. R., and a recipient of the Purple Heart award for long and meritorious service in the adjutant general's department, died at his home on Summer street Saturday at the age of 88. He had been confined to his bed for three years with a broken hip, but death came suddenly and unexpectedly from heart failure.
The funeral services, which will be private, will be held at the residence Tuesday afternoon.
Captain Baker is survived by three children, Mrs. Ellen A. Warren of Montpelier, with whom he lived, Winfred E. Baker of Leominster, Mass., and Mrs. Eunice Stillbrook of Framingham, Mass., a grandchild, Mrs. Genesta Dooley of Fitchburg, Mass., and five great-grandchildren.
He was married in 18783 to Alma F. Evans of Orford, N. H., who died in 1888. Three of their six children are deceased, Jessie, Edward and Homer Baker. He was married in 1890 to Alice C. Gould of Calais. Their one child, Charles E. Baker, is deceased.
Captain Baker was born May 13, 1847, in Manchester, N. H., the family moving when he was young to White River Junction and later to Royalton, where he received his education. He is believed to have been one of the youngest Vermonters to serve in the Union army in the Civil War, enlisting at the age of 15,March 29, 1864, and serving with Co. G of the 17th Vermont Infantry. He was credited to the quota of Newbury.
He was wounded three times at the battle of the Wilderness and was invalided home, returning to his regiment to take part in the final assault on Petersburg and being assigned to guard Confederate prisoners after Lee's surrender. He took part in the parade of the Grand Army in Washington at the close of the war.
Returning to Royalton, he completed his interrupted education and moved with the family to Montpelier in1869, learning the wheelwright's trade and also working as a painter and a carpenter. In 18878 he took up bookkeeping and worked in various Montpelier stores, for a long time in the fruit store of Herbert Bowman. On April 1, 1903, he was made storekeeper at the State arsenal and in1910 was appointed by Adjutant General Lee S. Tillotson as assistant adjutant general, with the rank of captain, being re-appointed by adjutant General H. T. Johnson and serving until he resigned October 31, 1929 after a service in the adjutant general's office for 26 years. He had compiled the records of Vermont soldiers in all the wars the country has fought and his careful and accurate work in this line, with his long period of service, equaled by only two men in the history of the State, was the reason for the award of the Purple Heart on February 13, 1933. This medal is one which was instituted by General George Washington for meritorious service in the Continental army, lapsed during the early years of the Republic and has recently been revived by the war department.
Captain Baker joined the Brooks Post of the G. A. R. In Montpelier when it was organized and served the Post as commander several times, also holding other offices in it. He was department commander in 1914 and 1915. He was a member of the Odd Fellows, serving as secretary of the Montpelier Lodge from 1893 to 1911, was chief patriarch of the Thomas Wiley Encampment in 1897 and served as scribe from 1901 to 1913.
Source: Burlington Free Press, August 12, 1935.
Courtesy of Tom Boudreau.