L S Baker (Real Name LaFora S. Baker), cashier of the Northern
National Bank, at Big Rapids, was born near Bridgewater, Conn.,
Sept. 21, 1853. His parents removed to Chicago in 1864, where
his father operated as a capitalist, and was a member of the Board
of Trade. Mr. Bakercame to Big Rapids when he was 12 years old,
(in 1865). His grandfather Daniel Stearns, was a resident of Big
Rapids, as was also a considerable circle of relatives. He
attended school and was employed in various business houses; kept
the books in the mercantile house of D E Stearns two years, and served
one year in the same capacity with O P Pillsbury. In the spring of
1872, he became book keeper in the Northern National Bank and has been
promoted through different positions to the post he now fills, to
which he was appointed in January, 1875. He is now one of the
directors, and heavily interested in transactions in lumbering, being
connected with three different firms. He owns a half interest in the
mill and yards of Baker and Stearns, situated at Crapo, in Osceola
County, where the firm have carried on an extensive lumber trade six
years. They employ a force of 100 men, and manufacture between 12 and
15 million feet of lumber annually. Mr. Baker also owned a half
interest in the concern styled " B F Comstock & Co." founded in 1881.
Their production of lumber in 1882 was about twenty million feet.
Their mill was sold in the fall of 1882, and the firm are about to close
their relations. Mr. Baker keeps a desk in the bank for transactions in
lumber, pine lands, etc. His real estate interests include about
20,000 acres in Michigan and Wisconsin, and some tracts of farming
land.
Mr. Baker was married in Paris, Mecosta Co., to Emma, daughter of James
Cooper. She was born in Halstead, Essex Co., England, July 6, 1853.
A son, Arthur was born December 6, 1875, and a daughter, Kitty Irene, born
October 10, 1881. Mr. Baker served as Alderman of Big Rapids three
years.
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