Biography

A prominent merchant and then farmer from Jamestown. Mentioned in BJS letter from 1838:
"The other representing that a meeting
had been held in Jamestown at which 
disclosures had been were made of frauds
and deceptions & perjuries in connex-
ion with the affairs of the Bank – when 
it was resolved that a more extensive 
meeting should be by a comtee
– H. Baker  – S. A. Brown  –White  &c &c
to be held this evening. Whatever transpires
you shall know."

And from the History of Chautauqua County:
"Henry Baker, a soldier of the war of 1812, came early 
and built a small shop near the lake, and when not 
engaged in cutting logs made shoes. Later he opened 
a shoemaker's shop in Jamestown, and later kept the 
Ballard tavern for two years, then was a partner with 
Alvah Plumb in a milling enterprise. In 1827 he- 
bought an interest in the store of Barrett & Budlong 
and was engaged in other mercantile enterprises, but 
devoted his last years to farming, adding farm after 
farm to his holdings until his estate comprised 1800 
acres of cultivated land in the town of Ellicott."

The citation for Henry's death information (History of Ellicott) also contains a detailed biography.