Baker, George W

Baker, George W.

a Free-will Baptist minister, was born in Litchfield, Me., Oct. 22, 1803. At the age of nineteen he removed with his father's family to Marion, O., where, with the exception of one or two brief intervals, he ever afterwards resided. In 1827 he united with the Church in Marion, and soon after was impressed that he was called of God to preach the Gospel. His discouragement arising from a want of preparation for the work was very great; but he persevered,and at length was licensed to preach, resolving, however, that he would decline regular ordination. This resolution he found himself unable to keep when he saw what a blessing followed his labors. During nearly all his ministry, he had the special pastoral care of one or more churches. His preference, however, was for itinerant revival work, to which he devoted himself with great zeal and earnestness for a half-century. He died at Marion, Oct. 11, 1881. "He was endowed with fine and strong powers of mind; was vigorous and strong in thought; had a good knowledge of human nature; had genius and conseqtent originality in illustration; was a diligent student of the Bible, deeply pious and spiritual; had a large and unusually vigorous body and constitution; was earnest and magnetic, and had great power in winning souls to Christ." Under his ministry it is estimated that not less than three thousand persons became professed Christians, the larger part of them being baptized by himself. Of these, over twenty-five entered the ministry. See Morning Star, Nov. 23, 1881. (J. C. S.)