(Click on images to enlarge)
We've encountered the seller, William H. Wood, before — most notably when he caught a rather silly young man who robbed the store — but the buyer, William E. Baker, has mostly eluded my attention thus far.
I think he was the son of George and Harriet Baker, who farmed just over the Porter County line on the Joliet road, and were part of Deep River's social life. If so, then William was born in 1884, the same year the Bakers came to this country from England. At the age of 28 he had married an 18-year-old woman named Sadie (maiden name unknown). By the time they became store-owners, they had two young children, Wilma and Everett.
I came across a notice in December 1919 where our William Baker appears to be selling off his farming stock in expectation of his career change:
Per the 1891 Plat Book, the Levi Diddie farm was a 24-acre parcel in northern Winfield Township.
Sources:
♦ 1900 Census.
♦ 1930 Census.
♦ "Deepriver Store Sold." Hobart Gazette 2 Jan. 1920.
♦ "Public Sale." Hobart News 4 Dec. 1919.
2 comments:
Was curious as to whether or not you had any more information about the general store in Deep River. In the early 1960's, I lived in the house that was right next door (just to the east) to the old store. Even though I wasn't even two years old, I have a few memories of the lady who owned the store at that time. My mom had said that her name was Annie Anders, but since I haven't read of her in any of your passages, I'm not certain of her surname. Her last name may have been Anderson.
I don't know anything about the store in the early 1960s, but I will ask around and if I find out anything I will post it in the blog.
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