An original card with W A Baker Pleasant Gap Township, Candidate for Sheriff of Bates County Missouri Card. Subject to the Action of the Democratic Party Primary August 7, 1925 BAKER, William A. History of Bates County, Missouri, W. O. Atkeson, 1918 WILLIAM A. BAKER, of Pleasant Gap township, is perhaps the best known man in Bates county, a successful stock dealer. So extensive and successful has he been in his chosen field of endeavor that he is frequently referred to as "The Hog King." Mr. Baker is a native son of Bates county. He was born two miles north of Pleasant Gap, December 9, 1867, a son of Zephaniah and Martha E. (Hale) Baker, natives of Indiana. The father went to Iowa with his widowed mother at a very early day. He came here prior to the Civil War. During that conflict, he returned to Iowa, where he remained until peace was declared. He then returned to Missouri, settling in Pleasant Gap township, Bates county, and here spent the remainder of his life, with the exception of one year in Oklahoma. He died in 1907 and the mother departed this life three years later. William A. Baker is one of a family of twelve children born to his parents, all of whom are living, as follow: Joseph, the present sheriff of Bates county; Mrs. Lillie Ferl, resides on the old home place in Pleasant Gap township; John T., Rich Hill, Missouri; Mrs. Mary Griffin, Pleasant Gap township; Mrs. Anna Olen, lives in Oregon; William A., the subject of this sketch; J. H., lives near Spruce, Missouri; Mrs. Thena Beard, Parsons, Kansas; Mrs. Ella Olen, Parsons, Kansas; Mrs. Ida Davis, Enid, Oklahoma; C. Z., Pleasant Gap township; and G. W., Summit township. Mr. Baker was reared in Pleasant Gap township and he there attended the public schools. He engaged in farming and stock raising in early life, and has since made such his occupation. About ten years ago, he began raising registered Poland China hogs and he has been unusually successful in this line of endeavor. He raises about two hundred head annually, which he sells in various parts of the country. The high standard of his registered stock is well known to breeders and the demand is generally more than he can supply. He is also engaged in breeding registered Aberdeen Angus cattle. He engaged in this branch of business about seven years ago and at this writing has seventy-eight head of these cattle, which compose one of the finest herds to be found in western Missouri. Mr. Baker has a farm consisting of three hundred sixty acres, well adapted to stock raising and general farming. May 15, 1881, Mr. Baker was united in marriage with Miss Maggie Griffin, of Harwood, Vernon county, Missouri. Six children have been born to this union, as follow: Claude A., Pleasant Gap township; Clarence H., Pleasant Gap township; Alice, married Verni Geheere, Pleasant Gap township; Marie, a student in the Butler high school; Frederick H. and Lydia, at home. Mr. Baker is a stanch supporter of the politics and principles of the Democratic party and takes a commendable interest in local political affairs. He has served as collector of Pleasant Gap township two terms. He is a member of the Christian church and of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Baker is one of the Bates county's most progressive citizens.