An American Family History

Martin Baker was born on June 15, 1770 in Shenandoah County, Virginia which is now Page County. His parents were Philip Baker and Anna Catherine Gramm. He was a weaver. He was a soldier in the War of 1812.

He married Elizabeth King (Koenig) Seiler about 1812 in Virginia. Elizabeth was born on September 22, 1788 in Virginia.

Elizabeth had been married before to Christian Seiler (Sailor, Sahler Sehler, Siler). She married Christian on October 21, 1809 in Rockingham County, Virginia. The Reverend Johannes Braun performed the ceremony. Christian was born on December 8, 1783 and was the son of Ulrich Seiler.

Christian "Siler" appeared in the tithables list for Rockingham County, Virginia in 1792. Ulrich Sailor also appeared.

Elizabeth and Christian had two children: Susan Sailor and Peter Sailor.

Christian died on January 3, 1810 and is buried in Friedens Church cemetery.

Martin and Elizabeth's children included:
Mary Baker (1813),
Elizabeth Baker Foland (1814, married Daniel Foland),
Anna Baker Roach (1816),
Margaret Baker Metz (1818, married Isaac Metz),
William Baker (1819, married Elizabeth Ann Heaston),
Sarah (Sallie) Baker Dingledine (1823, married Jacob Dingledine),
Catherine Baker Friermood (1824, married William Friermood),
Lucy Baker Harrouff (1826, married Adam Harrouff),
Maria Baker (1826),
Alexander Baker (1828), and
Samuel M. Baker (1830, married Malinda Ann Jenkins).

The family moved to Clark County, Ohio before 1824 when Catherine was born and they appeared in the 1840 and 1850 censuses in German Township, Clark County, Ohio. In 1840 the Peter Sayler was the next household.

From an Ohio newspaper in 1840.

In 1850 the household consisted of Martin age 80, Elizabeth age 60, Mary age 35, Sarah age 27, Lucy and Maria age 24, Alexander age 22, and Samuel age 20. The marginal note indicated that Elizabeth was "insane" as well as illiterate.

Martin died on July 20, 1854 in Clark County, Ohio.

In 1860 the household consisted of Elizabeth age 70, Maria and Lucy age 32, and Samuel age 29. They were still in Springfield, German Township, Clark County, Ohio. Again the marginal note indicated that Elizabeth was "insane."

Elizabeth died on March 6, 1870. Elizabeth and Martin were buried with their daughter, Mary, in Jerusalem/Friermood Cemetery in German Township. 

Children of Philip Baker and Anna Catherine Gramm Jacob Baker John (Johannes) Baker Philip Baker Henry Baker Conrad Baker Samuel Baker Daniel Baker Martin Baker Rudolph Baker Anna Elizabeth Baker Ransbarger

Clark County, Ohio was formed March 1, 1817, from Champaign, Madison and Greene Counties. The first settlement was in 1796. The inhabitants of German Township were German Lutherans who came from Virginia.

In 1831 Page County, Virginia was created from Rockingham and Shenandoah Counties. Originally it was part of Frederick County.