J.S. BAKER, M. D

(From the History of Callaway County Missouri, 1884, page 617-618.)
Transcribed by Kris Breid, 24 November 2004

J. S. BAKER, M. D, proprietor of the Palace Hotel, Fulton. Dr. Baker, one of the most popular hotel keepers in this section of the State, and a physician of thorough education and long experience, is a native Callawegian, born on his father’s farm, near Fulton, on the 18th of May, 1837.

His general education was acquired at Westminster College in which he took a complete course, graduating with honor in 1861. In the meantime he had resolved to devote himself to the medical profession, and had made considerable progress in the preparatory course of study in that direction. Continuing his medical studies, in due time he entered the Medical College of the University of Louisville, Kentucky, in which he continued as a student until his graduation from that institution in 1864. Thus equipped with a thorough general and medical education, immediately after his graduation at Louisville, he went to Millersburg, Kentucky, where he located and practiced his profession for two years.

Dr. Baker then returned to Callaway county, located at Stephen’s store, where he resumed the practice, and followed it four years. In 1870 he engaged in farming, and three years afterwards located at New Bloomfield, this county, where he practiced several years. He then removed to Bowling Green, Missouri, where he was in the active practice for six years. But in 1882, averse longer to undergo the exposures and hardships, incident to the general practice of medicine, he returned to Callaway county, and took charge of the Palace Hotel, at Fulton, which he has since conducted.

The Doctor keeps a good house, neat and comfortable, and his table enjoys an excellent reputation. He is peculiarly a man to make a popular landlord, careful to keep everything about his house in order, he is at the same time exceptionally good natured and withal genial and accommodating. Of course the Doctor is married. A man of his generous impulses could not remain long in the state of the maledict. On the 5th of June, 1866, he was married to Miss Adela Purnell, of Bourbon county, Kentucky, born January 12, 1839, and a most excellent and refined lady. She was a daughter of William T. and Jennie (Baker) Purnell, her father originally from Maryland, but her mother born and reared in Kentucky.

The Doctor’s parents were Martin and Mary (Nesbit) Baker, both natives of the Blue Grass State. They settled in Callaway county in 1823. His mother died here in 1851; his father in 1873. They had a family of six children. Doctor and Mrs. Baker have a family of six children: Jennie P., Robert N., Warden M., Anna R., Laws and Purnell. The Doctor is a member of the Presbyterian church; his wife is a Methodist. He is also prominent in the Odd Fellows order and the Masonic fraternity, being an encampment member of the former, and a commandery member of the latter. Dr. Baker has many friends in Fulton and elsewhere, and is highly respected wherever known.

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