Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/324

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

memory of the "emigrant, Samuel Glass and Mary Gamble, his wife." Samuel and Mary Glass came from county Down, Ireland, in 1736, and found a home in the Shenandoah Valley on the headwaters of the Opequon, where they were among the earliest settlers. They founded a large and influential family and in the old burying ground nearby the founder, lie children, grandchildren, great and great-great-grandchildren, among them their distinguished grandson. Rev. Joseph Glass, the grandfather of Colonel Baker, of Stephens City.

Rev. Joseph Glass was the first man the Presbytery of Winchester ordained to the ministry. He died in 1821 in the prime of a life of great usefulness, leaving a widow and ten children, the seventh child being Susan E., mother of Colonel Baker. Her mother was a lineal descendant of the McAllisters, distinguished for their gallantry and endur- ance during the one hundred and five days of fighting and famine endured by the de- fenders during the famous "Siege of Derry."

James Carr Baker, son of Captain Samuel Baker and father of Colonel James Carr Baker, was born near Winchester, Virginia, in 1813, died February 6, 1889, seventy-six years of age. at the home of his son in Woodstock, Virginia. When a mere youth he entered the office of the clerk of Fred- erick county and there and in the office of the clerk of Hardy county, Virginia, served as deputy clerk until qualified for the prac- tice of law and admitted to the bar. In 1836 he married and shortly afterwards moved to Georgetown, Kentucky, but in 1840 returned to Virginia and for a quarter of a century practiced his profession as an honored member of the Winchester bar. After the war between the states he devoted himself mainly to the pursuits of agriculture. He was a non-combatant during the war, but a strong sympathizer with the south, aiding in many ways to further her cause. He guided the troops of General Early around the defences erected by the Union general, Milroy, the movement resulting in the surprise of the Union forces and their retreat until met by General Sheridan after his famous "ride." For his sympathy with the south and his known activity. Mr. Baker was arrested and held a prisoner by the Fed- eral government. He was widelv known for his integrity, public spirit and ability, but it was as a devoted Christian and ruling elder of the Presbyterian church that he was best

known. Brought into the church at an early age, under the ministry of the late Dr. D. H. Riddle, his life for nearly three-score years was a living exemplication of the ex- cellence of the Gospel, and of the transform- ing power of grace. At an earlier period of his Christian life than is usual, he was called to bear rule in the house of God, having been ordained to the eldership while in Kentucky. On his return to Winchester he was elected to this office in the Kent Street Church in that city and forty years afterwards became a member of the session of the Round Hill Church, then just organized. His service as a ruling elder covers, in the three churches, a period of at least fifty years, a term of service which very few have exceeded and few have ever filled the office with more acceptance or with greater faithfulness. Rarely ever absent from the meetings of his session, he was its delegate to Presbytery more frequently than any other member, and oftener than any other ruling elder in his Presbytery he was sent as commissioner to the general assembly. His attendance upon these courts of the church deepened his in- terest in all that pertained to the Kingdom of Christ, and contributed largely to make him the well informed and influential church official that he was. In conjunction with an elder of another and different church, he. for nearly half a century, maintained a regular religious service near his home on Sabbath nights, which has been a source of inestima- ble spiritual good to that entire neighbor- hood.

His personal character and disposition en- deared him greatly to the churches in which he ruled, and to the community in which he so long resided. His warm sympathy with the afflicted, and his ready help to the needy ; his wise counsels and exemplary life won for him the confidence and affection of all who knew him. Yet the character and v/orth of Mr. Baker shone in their most attractive light to those who knew him in the tender relations of social and domestic life. His house was the abode of a generous hospital- ity, adorned by Christian grace.

James Carr Baker married, in 1836, Susan E. Glass, born in 1813, died July 10, 1885, seventh child of Rev. Joseph Glass and great-granddaughter of Samuel and Mary (Gamble) Glass, who one hundred years prior to the marriage of their great-grand- daughter, settled in the Shenandoah Valley, coming from county Down, Ireland. After