An American Family History

Rudolph “Rooty” Baker was born in 1772 in Shenandoah (now Page) County, Virginia. His parents were Philip Baker and Anna Catherine Gramm. 

He married Eve (Eva) Kiblinger on March 16, 1789 in Shenandoah County, Virginia. She was born in 1772 and was the daughter of Johann Daniel Küblinger who served in Michael Reader's Company in the Revolution.

In 1792 and 1811 they bought Pence family land in Virginia.

Their children were Catherine (Eve) Baker Taylor Loudenback (1790-1864, married Charles Taylor and David Loudenback), Susannah Baker Metz (1791, married Peter Metz), Daniel Baker (1794), Elizabeth Baker Rust (1796, married Abraham Rust), Eve Baker (1798), Mary Baker Vaunn (1800, married Henry Vaunn), Veronica Baker (1802), Adam Baker (1804), Barbara Baker (1805), John Baker (1807), Isaac Baker (1807), Anna Baker (1812), and Rebecca Baker (1814).

The moved to Clark County Ohio in 1812.

His will was filed on July 20, 1825 in Clark County. Rudolph died in 1831 in Clark County, Ohio. Eve died in 1842. They are buried together at Mt. Zion Cemetery, German Township, Clark County, Ohio.

Springfield, Ohio - 1846 - Henry Howe

March 16, 1792. Between John Pence [son of Lewis] and Elizabeth his wife of County of  Shanandoah [to] Rudolph Baker of same County ... Consideration of sum of twelve Pounds ... Tract of Land lying and being on the branch of the Hawksbill Creek in aforesaid County ... (Volume 2, 161 Deed Book H, Page 373)

May 14, 1811. Between Rudolph Baker and Eve his wife of County of Shenandoah [to] Peter Metz Sen.of the same County ... for and in consideration of ten pounds ... one small tract of land lying and being on the branches of the Hawksbill Creek ... it being part of a tract of four hundred and forty acres which was formerly granted by deed from the proprietors office the 7th Nov. 1757 to Lewis Pence dec'd. and after his decease the same devised to John Pence being his eldest son and heir at law... and part thereof conveyed to Rudolph Baker by said John Pence and Elizabeth his wife ... (Volume 6, 198, Deed Book T, Page 392 )

May 14,  1811. Between Abraham Pence and Elizabeth [Mauck] his wife of the County of Shenandoah [to] Rudy Baker of the County aforesaid ...consideration of two hundred and Fifty Pounds ... Volume 7, 13] Deed Book U, Page 74

John Metz, farmer; P.O. Springfield; was born in Virginia Aug. 28,1814; he is a son of Peter and Susannah (Baker) Metz, he a native of Pennsylvania and she of Virginia. Peter Metz, the grandfather, was a native of Germany. Rudolph Baker, the maternal grandfather, was a native of Virginia, and became a resident of Clark Co. and died here, but the grandfather Peter Metz died in Virginia. Peter the father, and family, became residents of Clark Co., locating in German Township in 1827; here he lived and died; he died in the spring of 1861. His wife died in the fall of 1857; they were parents of eight children, five now living-Isaac, John, William, Thomas and Peter.

Our subject remained with his father till 31 years of age. He was married, Oct. 12, 1845, to Margaret [Miller], daughter of William and Mary M. Miller, natives of Pennsylvania, and became residents of Clark Co., in 1818. They were parents of thirteen children; five now survive - William, Isaac, Sarah, Catharine and Margaret. Mr. Metz and wife have had two children - Mary S. and William C. Mr. Metz, after his marriage, located on Mr. Nawman's farm, where they lived one year; thence located upon the farm where they now live and have since resided. The farm consists of 75 acres of good land, most of it in good cultivation, with good buildings and improve-ments, constituting a fine farm and residence. Mr. Metz has been a member of the German Reformed Church forty-six years. His wife has been a member of the Lutheran Church forty-four years.  The History of Clark County, p. 1006

John R. Baker, farmer; P.O. Springfield. John R. Baker, son of Rudolph and Eve (Kiblinger) Baker was born Aug. 27. 1807 in Shenandoah Co., Va; in 1818, came with his parents from Virginia to Ohio, and to Clark County, and settled in German Township, where they lived the remainder of their lives; the father died in 1825 and the mother in 1845.

John R. Baker was married, Nov. 1, 1832 to Sarah Miller, daughter of William C. and Mary M. Miller. Sarah was born in Lebanon Co., Penn., March 31, 1814, and came to Clark Co., Ohio, with her parents, in 1818, and settled near the Bakers in German Township; her father departed this life in 1840, and her mother in 1860.

Mr.and Mrs. John R. Baker are two worthy pioneers of this county; of their six children, but three are now living—Ezra K., James T. and Mary M.; William C., in 1862 (at the end of his third year in Wittenberg College), enlisted in the 94th O.V.I., and was taken prisoner in the battle of Chickamauga; after suffering the horrors and privations of Libby, Danville and Andersonville Prisons, he died in Andersonville Prison Sept. 22, 1864, one year from the time he was taken prisoner. Ezra graduated at Wittenberg College in 1870, and is now a Lutheran minister; Mary was married, November 22, 1855 to David Cutshaw; in 1866, she was left a widow by the death of her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Baker remember well when they first settled in this country; they had to “blaze” the trees when they went to a neighbor’s house, in order to find their way home again.