Julia Permelia Baker Rich b. 3-20-1834 Lawrenceville, St.
Lawrence, NY and d. 2-17-1920 Wenona, Putnam, IL
Julia Pamelia Baker was a daughter of Leonard Baker and Laura
Shepherd Baker. She was born in Lawrence, NY, March 20, 1834.
When a small child, her parents and older brother, Oscar M.,
moved to Berkshire, VT. She was nine years old when her mother
died. Two years later the father married again. In 1845 the
family decided to move out to Illinois. They came down the canal
and through the lakes to Chicago, and there took a covered wagon
which had hauled grain from Magnolia, IL.
Mr. Baker's older brother, Charles, lived here and his sister,
Mrs. Morrell, kept the post office and tavern, which was a
famous stopping place on the way to Springfield. Dr. Morrell was
a state representative at the time and their daughter, Mary, was
the wife of Dr. Ashley, known for many miles around. In this
year, a little sister was added to the family but the mother did
not live long and the two little girls grew up in the care of
Mrs. Morrell and Mrs. Ashley.
Soon Kendall E. Rich came searching for a location to practice
medicine and November 20, 1851 married Julia. To this union four
children were born--Frank Kendall who died at the age of two
years, Mary B; Charles E. of Farmer City; and Kate, wife of
Charles Burgess, Sr, of this city. The family moved to Henry in
a861 and in 1862 Dr. Rich received an appointment as Assistant
Surgeon in the 73rd Regt IL Inf Vols.
After returning from the army, weakened by malaria, he wished to
leave the river town of Henry and in the spring of 1864 moved
his family to Wenona. Dr. Rich died in September, 1890. When a
young medical student he enlisted in the War with Mexico in Co
K, 1st Regt US Dragoons. He served at Vera Cruz and New Orleans
as hospital steward during the war. Mrs. Rich has drawn a
Mexican pension from the government for a number of years for
this service.
Suffering from a cronic (sic) trouble, she has been an invalid,
and social duties had been given up for many years. She was
always patient, kind, and cheerful to those who ministered to
her. Accepting the Savior in early life, she had a simple
Christian faith without denomination. She was passionately fond
of flowers and the beauty of nature. She had retained all her
faculties, was a reader of the daily news and current magazines,
and much good literature.
Her only brother, Oscar Baker, died some few years before her
husband. and her only sister, Mrs. Laura Scott, mother of C. B.
Scott of this city and S. W. Scott of La Salle, resides in
Warrensburg, MO, with her two daughters.
The holidays had been particularly enjoyable to Mrs. Rich but
January 2 a serious attack of pneumonia set in and made it
rather doubtful whether she would recover. She slowly improved
and was able to be up and dressed. A sudden cold rapidly used up
her frail strength and Tuesday morning, February 17 at one
o'clock she passed beyond the need of our love and care.
Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock funeral services were held at
the home conducted by Rev R F Cressay, pastor of the
Presbyterian Church who took for his text, Job V 26. She was 85
yrs 10 months 27 days old. Mrs. Walter Scott sang "Beautiful
Isle of Somewhere" accompanied by Mrs. C. B. Scott. The remains
were laid to rest in Wenona Cemetery.
Those present from out of town were Chas E Rich of Farmer City;
Mrs. Lucy Baker Swindler of Urbana; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Scott of
La Salle; Mrs. Fannie Eddingfield and daughter, Hattie, Charles
Baker and Miss Mary Baker, Rollin Swindler and son, Leland, of
Magnolia; and Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Heffernan of Bloomington.
The family of Mrs. Rich wish to express their most sincere
thanks to all those who assisted them with kindly service,
expressions of sympathy and beautiful flowers during the funeral
rites ot their beloved mother.
Contributed 05 Mar 2014 by Peggy Thomas
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