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Caption: Illio - 1896
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QYlemortanu @ffreb QBucftfanb QBafte LFKKD BUCKLANI) HAKKK was born in London, England, December25, 182(5; he died in bis apartments in University Hall, F e b r u a r y 16,1896, of apoplexy. The first premonition of the disease came eight weeks previously in the sudden failure of the power of connected thought and of speech. He never afterward was well enough to leave his rooms. Death came at length by a gradual decline. H e came to America when a child and until 1858 lived in Oneida County, N\ Y.; after this time he resided in or near Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, and in Chicago, until 187:$, when he removed to Champaign. During the holiday vacation, December, 1875, he became chief janitor of the University buildings and retained this position until J u n e , 1306, when, relinquishing the heavier b u r d e n s of the office, he devoted himself to the care of the public rooms and to visitors whom he conducted through them. Mr. Baker was from the first earnestly devoted to his work and to the general welfare of the University. His endeavors to advance t h e best interests of the University, and especially the comfort and happiness of the students, were by no means confined by the limitations suggested by the title of his position. During all the earlier years of his service personal acquaintance with almost every student was a pleasure both to him and to the young men and women who felt at home in his home. His face and voice were familiar in their social and literary gatherings. Mr. and Mrs. Baker's sweet duets, excellently rendered, often helped to enliven and enrich these meetings and they served also as p r e l u d e s to and prophecies of the notable eminence in song attained by their daughter " K i t t i e , " now Mrs. Katherine Wadsworth, of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Mr. Baker excelled in native artistic ability and in warm appreciation of art in exhibition. His taste and skill in the decoration of rooms on public occasions were very often shown and highly commended. He made much of the art gallery. He loved to work in the room and delighted visitors by his knowledge of t h e pictures and pieces of sculpture and by his instructive critiques upon them. He was almost as much at home in the museums, whose collections he studied that he might give intelligent rather than routine accounts of them. As one has truly said, " Fidelity is a heaven-born grace." I n this respect Mr. Baker was worthy of the best that can be said of him. His faithfulness in his work, his devotion to the University, and his love for those connected therewith, w ^ L ^ T Tu * " • ° ***** * warmest affection of those with whom he was associated, B 0T ffice a n d for w th « ***** ™ P e c t and 108
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