He was born in 1841, in Virginia. [sources: date: 11; 4 (22 in 1863), 5 (22 in 1863), 6 (22 in 1863), 7 (22 in 1863), 12 (8 in 1850), 13 (27 in 1870). place: 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13]
In 1850, he may be the John Baker who was living in ward 3, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was living with William and Thomas Baker, and with John Cavanagh and others. He had attended school within the year. [source: 12]
When he enlisted, he was a laborer. [sources: 4, 5, 6, 7]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 5-1/2 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, grey eyes, and dark hair. [sources: 4, 5, 6, 7]
He was drafted. He enlisted and was mustered into service on 17 July 1863 in the 62nd Pennsylvania Infantry. He enlisted for three years. His service was credited to the 23rd congressional district. [sources: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15]
He was transferred to the 91st from company M of the 62nd Pennsylvania on 20 July 1864. On 21 July 1864, he, and the other members of companies L and M, were assigned to company G. On 22 July 1864, they were transferred to company K, following brigade orders to assign them to the smallest company. He was then absent, as a private. He was a private in company K. [sources: 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 15]
He mustered out with his company on 10 July 1865. He was a private, in company K. [sources: 1, 15]
In 1870, he was living in Toby Township, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Elsie. He was a coal miner. [source: 13]
On 22 August 1883, he applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension. [sources: 8, 10]
In 1890, he was living in ward 1, Dubois, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. [source: 9]
He died on 6 January 1891. [source: 10]
On 22 January [?] 1891, his widow, Elsie Baker, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension. [sources: 8, 10]
In 1900, his widow, Elsie Baker, may have been living in Brady's Bend Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. She was living with her brother in law John Hagerty and his family. She was a dress maker, but had been out of work ten months in the previous year. [source: 14]
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster)
2 special order 65, HQ 91st PA, 21 July 1864 (John Baker)
3 special order 66, HQ 91st PA, 22 July 1864 (John Baker)
4 company K, descriptive roll (John Baker)
5 company K, second descriptive roll (John Baker)
6 company K, third descriptive roll (John Baker)
7 company K, fourth descriptive roll (John Baker)
8 pension index, by name (John Baker)
9 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Clearfield County, Dubois, ward 1, supervisor's district 6, enumeration district 88, page 1 (John Baker)
10 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company K (John Baker)
11 Page 156. Floyd G Hoenstine. Military services and genealogical records of soldiers of Blair County, Pennsylvania. Harrisburg, PA: Telegraph Press, 1940. (John Baker)
12 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, ward 3, microfilm series M432, film 745, page 187 verso = 574 handwritten (John Baker)
13 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Clarion County, Toby Township, post office Curttsville, microfilm series M593, film 1326, page 668 verso = 14 handwritten (John Baker)
14 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Armstrong County, Brady's Bend Township, supervisor's district 16, enumeration district 6, microfilm series T623, film 1373, page 81 = 3 B handwritten (Elsie Baker)
15 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John Baker)
| line | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| Dwellings visited | [1067] | ||
| Families visited | [1335] | ||
| Name | John Baker | William " | Thomas " |
| Age | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| Sex | M | M | M |
| Color | |||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | |||
| Real estate owned | |||
| Birthplace | Va | " [sc. Va] | Ohio |
| Married within year | |||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | |
| Over 20 & can't read/write | |||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 35 | 36 |
| Dwelling-house number | 107 | |
| Family number | 107 | |
| Name | Baker John | Elsie |
| Age | 27 | 22 |
| Sex | m | f |
| Color | w | w |
| Occupation | " " [sc. coal miner] | |
| Real estate value | ||
| Personal estate value | ||
| Birthplace | Virginia | Penna |
| Father foreign born | ||
| Mother foreign born | ||
| Birth month if born within year | ||
| Marriage month if married within year | ||
| Attended school past year | ||
| Can't read | 1 | |
| Can't write | 1 | |
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | ||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old | 1 | |
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 |
| street | ||||
| house number | ||||
| dwelling number | 65 | |||
| family number | 65 | |||
| name | Hagerty John [illegible initial] | Sarah | John A | Baker Elsie |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Son | Sister in law |
| color | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M | F |
| birth date | Dec 1831 | Sept 1840 | Nov 1879 | Apr 1843 |
| age | 68 | 59 | 20 | 57 |
| married? | M | M | S | W |
| # years married | 40 | 40 | ||
| mother of how many children? | 9 | |||
| # of children living | 7 | |||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Ireland | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| immigration year | ||||
| # years in USA | ||||
| naturalized citizen? | ||||
| occupation | Civil Engineer | At School | Dress Maker | |
| # months not employed | 0 | 10 | ||
| # months in school | 9 | |||
| can read | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| can write | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| speaks English | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| owned/rented | R | |||
| free or mortgaged | ||||
| farm/house | H | |||
| # of farm schedule |