Baker, John (4)

Baker, John (4), a Baptist minister, was born in Stonington, Conn., Sept. 26, 1805. In November, 1822, he united with the Church, and not long after was licensed to preach. For some time he combined the labors of teacher and preacher, making himself especially useful in assisting evangelists in revival meetings. He was ordained in April, 1831, and pursued his theological studies at Hamilton, N. Y. Having completed his studies, he devoted himself exclusively to the work of an evangelist, never settling as a permanent pastor. His labors were confined chiefly to places in Connecticut and Rhode Island, and were followed by remarkable revivals. His home was in East Greenwich, R. I., where he resided from 1842. While engaged in prayer in the Church on Block Island, he had a stroke of paralysis, Jan. 5, 1867, from which he never recovered. He returned to his home in East Greenwich, where he lingered a little more than two years, dying Jan. 16, 1869. As an illustration of the kind and amount of labor he performed, we are told that from December, 1865, to October, 1866, he travelled 2935 miles, mostly on foot, made 737 visits, attended 256 meetings, preached more than 100 sermons, and baptized 140 persons. See R. I. Biog. Cyclop. p. 331. (J. C. S.)