Dr. Virgil Aaron Baker was born on April 3, 1876, in Grassy Precinct, Williamson County, Illinois. He was the son of Dr. Alonzo P. Baker and Martha Jane Matheney, and brother to Dr. Griffin J. Baker.
The 1880 census, found Virgil at the age of 4 living with his parents in Grassy Precinct of Williamson County where he was born, sharing space with five siblings. The Baker family lived in the very southwestern corner of the county, roughly where the southern tip of Devil’s Kitchen Lake is located now.
On January 31, 1897, Virgil married Miss Nona Lee Neber, the daughter of B.N. Neber, then of Jackson County. Their first child was Elsie Baker, who died when 18 months old, then Sophia Baker and Alonzo Newton Baker.
In the 1900 federal census, taken in June, Virgil was 24 and Nora was 23. They were still living in Grassy Precinct and Virgil listed his occupation as farmer. They had already lost one child and currently had one child named Sophia, aged 1 month old, having been born in April.
After a term in Crab Orchard Academy he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at St. Louis, where he took a four years’ course, graduating in 1903. Virgil formed a business partnership with his brother Dr. G.J. Baker called Baker and Baker, Physicians and Surgeons. Their office was originally located at 604 Public Square.
In May of 1904, they had a son named Alonzo N. Baker, who would later follow the family tradition and serve as a doctor.
The 1910 census, located the family living at 301 S. Van Buren Street. Virgil was 34 and Nora 33. Their child, Sophia was 10 and Alonzo was aged 5. The couple owned the home free of mortgage. Virgil listed his occupation as private homes physician, presumably meaning he made house calls on his rounds.
When the Marion State and Savings Bank building, later the Hotel State, was built in 1914, the Baker brothers occupied rooms 53 through 55 with their doctor offices.
In September of 1918, Virgil reported to the county Local Board of the Selective Service located at 201 ½ Public Square to register for the draft. He reported his home address as 1310 W. Main Street so the couple has changed their family home since 1910. Virgil was physically described as medium height and build, light blue eyes and black hair, with no impairments.
In the 1920 census, the family’s location is confirmed as 1310 W. Main Street. Virgil was then 43 years old and Nora was 42. Their child Sophia was 19 and Alonzo was 15. The couple owned the home free of mortgage and Virgil listed himself as physician/surgeon.
In April 1925, Virgil’s brother Griffin died of influenza complications, leaving him temporarily alone in the practice. He continued using the fifth floor offices in the Marion State and Savings Bank through 1929 and then moved back to the 600 block of the public square, over the Whittington-Wallace Pharmacy (later Parks Pharmacy).
After his son, Alonzo, completed medical school at the University of Illinois and served his internship at Augustana Hospital in Chicago, he returned home to Marion in January of 1930 and went into practice with his father.
By the 1930 census, both Virgil and his son Alonzo were listed as medical physicians. Ages of the family members were Virgil 53, Nora 53 and Alonzo 25. Sophia has married and no longer lives with the family. The family is still located at 1310 W. Main Street and they value the home at $2,000.
On, Tuesday, October 28, 1930, Virgil died of a heart attack in his home at 1310 W. Main Street at age 54. He had been suffering symptoms of heart trouble since the previous summer, but had gone about his work to the sick. He had suffered a heart attack on Sunday, two days before, but had kept the fact hidden from his family until Tuesday, when he suffered a second attack and died. He was buried on the 31st at New Rose Hill Cemetery. His son Alonzo Baker continued the practice alone.
Virgil was a member of the First Baptist Church and the Masonic Lodge. He was also a Knights Templar of the Carbondale Commandery, and the Knights Templar participated in his funeral service. The funeral sermon was delivered by Rev. R.W. Willis, pastor of the First Baptist Church, where the services were held. The body lay in state at the family home until the hour of the funeral.
He was survived at death by his widow, Nora, a son, Dr. Alonzo N. Baker and one daughter, Mrs. Chester (Sophia) Davis of Chicago. Two brothers of Dr. Baker were not able to attend the funeral because of the distance. One brother, B. Baker, lives at Salem, Oregon and Dave Baker lives in Florida.
Nora Baker continued living in the W. Main home and passed away in late December 1961.
Sam’s Notes:
Elsie Baker was born circa February 1898 and passed away 18 months later on August 26, 1899.
Sophia Baker Davis was born ca April 1900. She married Dr. Chester Davis around 1925, the year of her father’s death and lived in Chicago until the early 1930’s. By 1935, they were living in Lincoln, Illinois and her husband had a private practice there. They had two children, John Davis, born ca 1928 and Benton Davis, born ca 1936. They lived in Lincoln at 627 N. Union at least until the 1950’s. No death dates were found to date but she preceded her brother Alonzo in death in 1993.
Alonzo Newton Baker was born May 28, 1904, and served as an M.D. in Marion until his death on October 8, 1993. He and his wife, Esther McLaren Baker lived at 500 E. Allen Street. For further information, see the post Baker, Dr. Alonzo N.
(Data extracted from the 1905 Souvenir History, WCHS; Federal Census Records; Marion Daily Republican Obituary; Marion City Cemetery Records; Marion City street directories; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 10/06/2013)