Dr. Alfred Carter Baker was born in London, England on March 15, 1813. He was the son of Edward and Lucy Dickinson Baker. Alfred’s father Edward Sr. was a schoolteacher by profession and he brought his family to America in 1816 landing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where Edward Sr. established a school.
In 1825 the family moved west settling in New Harmony, Indiana, a community that had originally been settled by Lutherans who had broken away from the church in Germany. Later they left to settle in Pennsylvania. In the same year that the Bakers arrived in New Harmony, a Welsh industrialist named Robert Owen had purchased the town with visions of making it a utopian community. By 1826 the Bakers moved to Belleville, St Clair County Illinois and then Carrollton, Greene County, Illinois.
In the 1830s Alfred became interested in medicine and his older brother Edward D. Baker became interested in law and politics. Alfred attended Ohio Medical College. After completing his studies Alfred began practicing with Dr. Thomas Worthington in Pike County, Illinois. After about a year he wanted to be more independent, so he moved to Barry, Illinois, purchased a buggy and began practicing medicine. For years he was the only doctor that Barry and the surrounding community had.
In 1844 Alfred married Martha A Barney. It was said that the Barney family claimed ancestors on the Mayflower. In 1850 Alfred helped his brother Edward secure and move groups of men to Panama to help work on the Panama Railroad that would be built across the Isthmus of Panama. By 1852 Edward had moved to California and opened a law practice. In 1853 Alfred followed his brother, however the reason is not clearly known. One story said that he drove a herd of cattle west, while another says he went west to seek his fortune in the gold fields. Either way he soon returned to Barry and practiced medicine.
Edward D. Baker did read the law and was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1830. In 1835 he became friends with Abraham Lincoln. After achieving his first goal he turned his interest to getting involved with local politics. On July 1, 1837, he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives. From 1840 – 1844 he served in the Illinois Senate while living in Springfield, Illinois. In 1844 he defeated his friend Lincoln to earn nomination for 7th United States Congress running and being elected as a Whig. In 1860 Baker ran and was elected Senator from Oregon. As the American Civil War began Baker raised the California Regiment.
While leading troops at the Battle of Ball’s Bluff, Virginia on October 21, 1861, Baker was killed when he was struck by a volley of bullets that struck his heart and brain killing him instantly. It is said that his friend President Abraham Lincoln was moved to tears when he heard the news of Edward’s death.
Alfred Carter Baker continued living and practicing medicine in the Barry area for the remainder of his life. He played an important part in preserving the town park now known as Lafayette Park. On Memorial Day May 1884 he spoke at the dedication of the Grand Army of the Republic monument built in the park.
Martha Barney Baker passed away on July 19. 1887. Alfred would outlive her by eight years passing away on March 13, 1895. They were laid to rest beside Alfred’s mother Lucy Dickinson Baker.