great-grandfather of Jacalyn Vohlken

Private      Co. B     8th IL Infantry

Dates of Service: 15 Oct 1864  - 14 Oct 1865

John F. Baker was born in 1842, either in Norway, as family records state, or in Indiana, as his military records show, and worked as a farmer in Indiana.

On September 29, 1864, a man by the name of Joseph Hall was drafted into military service, but hired John Baker as a substitute to go in his place.

Private Baker served with the 8th Illinois Infantry and was at the battle of Fort Blakely, Alabama, in April of 1865, but was mustered out at the end of his term of service in New Orleans, Louisiana in October of that same year, owing 20 cents for a "wiper", something used to clean gun barrels.

At some point, he traveled to Michigan, where he married Josephine Barker, and they had several children, including my grandmother, Florence.

They resided in Douglas, Michigan, where John worked as a farmer until his death January 29, 1918. He is buried in the Fennville Cemetery, Fennville, Michigan.

John F. Baker had blue eyes, light hair and complexion, and was 5 feet 5 3/4 inches tall.

GRAVESITE: Fennville Cemetery, Fennville, Michigan

Written by Jacalyn Vohlken, February 2003