1844 – 1923
by Samuel Cornelius Rabon – Grand Nephew of Ellis J. Baker
Ellis J. Baker was born February 11, 1844 in the Cartersville section, Darlington District, South Carolina. He was one of eleven children born to the union of Ezekial Baker and Martha E. Phillips.
Ellis enlisted in the Confederate States Army Aug. 10, 1861 at Lightwood Knots Springs, near Columbia, South Carolina, as Pvt. Co. A, 14th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry. The “Roster and Order Book” of the 14th South Carolina Volunteers gives the age of Ellis J. Baker as 18 in the summer of 1861. The majority of the enlisted men and officers of Co. A were residents of the Cartersville section, Darlington District, at the outbreak of the war. There were many family and neighborhood connections among the men of this unit, which became known as “The Lynches Creek Guards.”
Ellis was wounded at the Battle of Fraysers Farm on June 30, 1862. After hospital recovery in Richmond, Virginia he was returned to duty, and later in the war he was captured at Appomatox on April 3, 1865. Ellis was released and took the “Oath of Allegiance” to the U.S., subscribed and sworn to at Hart’s Island, New York Harbor, on June 21, 1865, as Pvt. 14th Regiment, South Carolina, with place of residence as Darlington District, South Carolina.
After the war Ellis returned home to the Cartersville section, Darlington District, South Carolina. In early 1870 he married Frances Vermel Wilson, a daughter of Harvey Wilson and Elizabeth Reynolds, of Darlington District. In the early 1870’s Ellis and Vermel moved to Texas, and settled in Hood County. They became the parents of eleven children who grew to adulthood.
Ellis J. Baker died on March 12, 1923 at Lipan, Hood County, Texas, and was buried there at Baptist Cemetery.
| Samuel C. Rabon 2713 Ingrid LaneMetairie, Louisiana 70003 Phone: 504-887-4563 |