John Macaulay Hamilton Baker

4.) John Macaulay Hamilton, born Oct. 29, 1870, lived in the Okanagan, B.C. area, and never married. He was known as Jack Baker and was a banker and a rancher, having lived with his brother Sydney Bathurst Baker, and his half brother, Frederick Clements Baker. His death certificate gives his date of birth as October 19, 1870 at Ottawa, Ontario. He had lived in British Columbia for 35 years, and his last address was 111 Lawson Avenue, Kelowna, B.C. Jack Baker died October 13, 1943 at the Provincial Mental Hospital at Essondale B.C. where he died of exhaustion and senile dementia. He was buried in Kelowna, B.C. at the Winfield Cemetery.

A Winnipeg newspaper reported the death of Jack Baker with an article as follows: " J. H. M. BAKER DIES IN B. C. Jack H. M Baker, pioneer bank manager here before the end of the 19th century when he joined the rush to the Klondyke in 1898, died Oct. 13 in British Columbia. Mr. Baker had been fruit farming in recent years with a brother, in the Okanagan Valley, retiring recently to live in Kelowna. He was well-known in athletic circles in Winnipeg in the early days. He was a son of the late Godfrey Phipps Baker, of Woodroffe, Ottawa, where he was born. He was educated at Bishop's College, Lennoxville, Quebec, and came west to take over managership of the Bank National, then situated at the corner of Portage Ave. and Main St. In the east, he had been connected with the old Molson's bank in Montreal. He went to the Klondyke in 1898 with several other Winnipeg residents, including Charles Norris, now retired, who was formerly with the Bank of Commerce. Mr. Baker was a popular member of the old Winnipeg Rugby club in pioneer days. He is survived by three nephews, E. G. Phipps Baker K.C., Henry Baker, and R. D. Baker, Winnipeg, two sisters, Mrs. (Dr.) Victor G. Williams, Winnipeg, and Mrs. W. A. Wilson, Binscarth, Man., and two brothers, Sydney, Kelowna, and Godfrey Phipps Baker, Togo, Sask.

The Kelowna Courier published an interesting article about John M. Baker after his death. " JOHN M BAKER WAS WINFIELD PIONEER. Ranched at Woods Lake With Brother For Many Years - Was In Yukon Gold Rush There passed away in Kelowna on Wednesday, October 13, John Macauley Hamilton Baker, a former well-known Winfield resident. He was born in Ottawa, October 19, 1870, the sixth son of Godfrey Phipps Baker and Marion Johanna Baker, and received his education at Bishop's College School, Lennoxville, Quebec. Prior to leaving for th Klondike, an experience of which he often spoke, Mr. Baker was manager of the Banque Nationale in Winnipeg. He came to the Okanagaan in 1912 and ranched with his brother, the late F. C. Baker, at Woods Lake until 1940, when he moved to Kelowna. By the death of Mr. Baker, Winfield loses one of the ever-diminishing band of pioneers who were in the district when it was known as Woods Lake. Winfield also loses a link with the historic Bytown, as Mr. Baker was a grandson of George William Baker, one time postmaster of Bytown, now Ottawa. With six companions, including D. Norquay, son of Lieut. - Governor Norquay, of Manitoba, J. M. Baker sought fortune in the Klondike in 1898.In his younger days he was noteworthy for his skill at rugby football, also in a very different pastime, the game of chess. A member of a clever family, he was ingenious and of great help in the days when repair shops were few and distant, making many a repair or building some much needed farm implement for a neighbour. Before coming to Winfield, he guided a party from Prince Rupert to Hazelton with saddle and pack horses, as this was before the railway came to those parts. Mr. Baker took an active part in local affairs, being auditor for the School District for many years as well as for the Farmers' Institute. The deceased is survived by two sisters, Mrs. V. G. Williams, of Winnipeg, and Mrs. W. A. Wilson, of Binscarth, Manitoba, and two brothers, Godfrey P. Baker, V. S. of Togo, Sask., and Sydney B. Baker of Winfield. Burial took place in the Winfield Cemetery." Jack Baker is buried at the the new Winfield Cemetery, or St. Margaret's Anglican Cemetery, Winfield, B.C. A cemetery map reveals that Jack Baker is buried next to his brother Sydney Baker in section A of the cemetery, in unmarked graves.

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