Eliza Ann Baker Huffaker was a daughter of Joshua Wells Baker and Agnes Miller Inghram. Joshua Baker was a blacksmith for the Sac and Fox in Iowa. Eliza’s brother, W.W. Baker, married Isabel Frances “Fanny” Hackney” on March 4 1849 in Wapello County, Iowa. Isabel was a daughter of William Hackney and Sarah Shannon. Though Isabel is not direct line, instead a sister of direct line, I find it often useful with family history to get a better picture when we know not only what was going on with family but with their relations. Thus I include Eliza’s obituary here.
Source: Terry Family Ancestors and relatives
Eliza Baker Huffaker Obituary Council Grove, Republican July 9, 1920
ELIZA ANN HUFFAKER Another Pioneer has passed into the valley of the shadow that ends in the golden morning of the life everlasting. A builder of the great blessed of God empire of the American West has gone to the reward that none other but the God of Love and mercy could justly judge and fully appreciate and apportion. Her life ended in the full harvest. Her historian must say that she fulfilled to the uttermost the obligations and accepted with grace and courage the great privileges of womanhood and motherhood in the finest, noblest sweetest sense. Facing the privations of pioneer life, she fulfilled the grandest duties a wife could do. A large family came to her and grew up under her watchful and prayerful care, to repay her love and bless her memory. Her life and influence and labor of love is interwoven in a remarkable way with a great commonwealth that was built in her time. A century has near spent itself since her birth in Carthage, Ill. , April 22, 1836. Her parents were Virginians and in the fall of 1835 started on the long tedious journey from their native state to pioneer their way in the new state of Iowa. Overtaken by a bitter winter at Carthage, Ill. They waited there for spring and during the temporary residence there, Eliza Ann was born. She came to Council Grove with a sister and brother in law in 1849, when she and the civilization were young. The following year Thomas Sears Huffaker, a young teacher sent by the Missionary Society of the M. E. Church South, to teach the Indian, came to Council Grove. The two young pioneers were united in marriage, May 5th, 1852. Thus was a new home established and thus began united labors of a good man and woman that have grown into harvest of blessing that no man can enumerate. The commonwealth of Kansas is great today for having had as its builders many of their kind. They were among the founders of the First M. E. Church South in Council Grove and active in church affairs. Their lives and influence were closely interwoven with the development and progress of the new community and reached out to the Commonwealth. For half a century this husband and wife labored together for their family and community. The husband passed from this life July 10th 1910, the widowed mother passed from this life July 5th in the room where almost three and a half score years ago she was wed. To this union ten children were born, of whom, six survive. They are Mrs. J. H. Simcock of East St. Louis, Mrs. L. A. Wismeyer of Fairfax, Okla., and Mrs. Anna Carpenter of Council Grove, Kansas, and Thomas Homer, George M., and Carl Ingram all of Fairfax, Okla. Sister Huffaker united with the M. E. Church, South, early in life and when the two branches of the Methodist church in Council Grove united, she came to membership in the M. E. Church. She was a Christian whose faith has been steadfast through all life’s journey. Her life was a blessing to those who came within her circle. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. Funeral services were held at the home of her daughter Mrs. Anna Carpenter, Wednesday afternoon at 3:30, Rev. Rucker officiating, burial in Greenwood Cemetery. A large number of old friends and neighbors were present and the floral offering was a most impressive tribute of deep affection of friendships that extend back many of them far beyond the half century mark. Info: Jeanne Turley, 10965 Bailey School Rd.,Festus, Mo. 63028 (1981) Jeanne says Agnes went to Kansas after Joshua died. Also dau., Eliza. Info: Jeanne Turley, 10965 Bailey School Rd.,Festus, Mo. 63028 (1981) Jeanne says Agnes went to Kansas after Joshua died. Also dau., Eliza.
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