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BAKER B. SMITH
Originally published in 1900 |
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BAKER B. SMITH is a descendant of Michael Smith, an Englishman,
who, while quite young, came to America with Captain John Berry, Major
William Sandford, and the Kingslands from the Island of Barbadoes, W.I.
Michael first settled at English Neighborhood in Bergen County, N. J.,
where he married Francina (Frances), a daughter of Major John Berry.
Michael was a man of intelligence and business capacity. He was the first
High Sheriff of Bergen County and also held a commission as Lieutenant
in the colonial militia, of which his father-in-law was Major. Michael
purchased from Samuel Edsall a large farm at English Neighborhood fronting on the Hudson River. His children of the second generation, by
Frances Berry, were at least two: Frances and John, the latter of whom
married Debora, daughter of Thomas Laurens, of Newtown, L. I. Frances
married Debora's brother, Thomas Laurens. The dates of birth of Frances
and John Smith are unknown, but they were both baptized in the Hackensack Dutch Church in July, 1695. Michael Smith's land in Bergen County,
at his death, and which he had bought in 1679, jointly with John Berry, passed to his son and heir, John Smith. John's children of the third genera-
tion were Francis, born in 1712; Michael, born in 1714; and John, born in
1716.
Michael Smith, third generation, married Maria Smith, but the date of the marriage does not appear. Their children, so far as known, were twins, John and Abel Smith, born at English Neighborhood, N. J., July 19, 1750. Abel and John subsequently became largely interested in Secaucus lands. Baker B. Smith, the subject of this sketch, is descended from either John or Abel, above named. His father, Baker Smith (whose father's name was Enoch Smith), married Elizabeth Sickles, of Bergen, prior to 1803, and settled at New Durham, Hudson County, N. J., where Baker B. was born November 29, 1817. Baker Smith died in 1857, at the age of sixty-eight, and his wife at the age of eighty-six. Their children were Mary, Enoch, Eliza, Pheebe, Abram, Baker B., Rebecca, and Philip. Baker B. Smith has always lived at New Durham and is one of the most prominent citizens of that village. For many years he was successfully engaged in the business of shad-fishing, at the same time carrying on farming enterprises. He has been for some time retired from active business pursuits. While he has always been a stanch Republican since the organization of that party, he has neither sought nor accepted office of any kind. Mr. Smith was married to Sarah Ann Haslett, by whom he had three children: Clarinda H., who became Mrs. A. H. Rider, and is now deceased; Philip H. Smith, now deceased; and Anna M. Smith. Mrs. Smith died March 12, 1895, at the age of seventy-seven. She was an earnest Christian, and an active member of the Reformed Church of New Durham.
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