17: The Baker Children

Grave of Susan M. Baker (source)

Susan M. Baker, whose grave is pictured here, was the last and oldest of four children that Daniel and Rosanna Baker buried in the cemetery. The others were Emeline Baker (1860-1869), William Baker (1864-1869), and Salena A. Baker (1865-1868). Yet Daniel and Rosanna aren't buried in the cemetery.

Daniel was the son of William, a farmer, and Esther Baker, and his siblings included Catherine, Amy, and Sylvester.

1850 US Federal Census

When first looking at the 1870 census, I was confused by the fact that Emeline Baker, whose death date is given as January 29, 1869, is still alive. Then I looked at it again. This Emeline Baker was three months old in 1870; the Emeline Baker who died in 1869 was nine years old. It seems that the Bakers had named their infant daughter after their daughter who had just died. 

1870 US Federal Census

At this point the Bakers had already seen three children into the grave, and Susan would die within a year. At the same time, Rosanna had just recently given birth to Emeline, and Sylvester the year before.

Rosanna, who was born in Ireland, would face one more tragedy in the next decade - the death of her husband. In 1880, she lived with her two surviving children, Sylvester and Emeline. At the age of 12, Sylvester worked in a drug store and attended school.

1880 US Federal Census

By 1900, Rosanna lived with her one surviving child, Emma (Emeline) Baker Bedient, Emma's husband George, and their son George Jr. in Danbury, CT. Sylvester Baker's death is confirmed by the number of his mother's children: six, of whom one was living.

1900 US Federal Census

Rosanna seems to have died by 1910, when her daughter and her family were renting an apartment at 441 Main Street in Danbury. George's mother Jennie was now living with them. George worked as a salesman of silver plates. This census reveals that the Bedients had lost one child.

1910 US Federal Census

George, Emma, and Jennie were still living together in Danbury in 1920. By 1930, both George and Jennie had died, and Emma was living on her own. She seems to have died before 1940.

What about George Bediant, the couple's only surviving child? Here he is documented in the Connecticut Military Census of 1917:

Connecticut Military Census 1917

At age 26, he could ride a horse but not drive a car. According to his World War I Draft Registration Card, he had blue eyes and brown hair.

In 1920, George was living in Bridgeport, CT, with his wife Louise and their two small children, Viola and Louis. Louise was French and had come to the United States in 1906; she was now a naturalized citizen. George worked as a machine operator in a cartridge shop.

1920 US Federal Census

In 1930, the family had moved to Beacon Falls, where both husband and wife worked in a rubber factory. Ten years later, George still lived in Beacon Falls, but Louise wasn't with him. He still worked as a machine operator.

Louis Bedient enlisted in World War II in December 1941. At that point he was single and 64 inches tall. He later married Anne Marcy, had two children, and worked as a machinist. He died in 1988 in Danbury, CT; Anne died in 2003.

1.  William Baker (1793-) m. Esther (1809-)
1. Catherine O. Baker (1831-)
2. Amy Ann Baker (1832-)
3. Daniel P. Baker (1837-before 1880) m. Rosanna (1838-before 1910)
1. Susan M. Baker (1858-1871)
2. Emeline Baker (1860-1869)
3. William Baker (1864-1869)
4. Salena A. Baker (1865-1868)
5. Sylvester Baker (1868-before 1900)
6. Emeline Baker (1870-before 1940) m. George S. Bedient (1869-before 1930)
1. George Harrison Bedient (1890-after 1940) m. Louise (1891-before 1940)
1. Viola Bedient (1916-)
2. Louis G. Bedient (1918-1988) m. Anne Marcy (1915-2003)
1. Two children (living)
2. Unnamed child (d. young)
4.  Sylvester H. Baker (1839-)