Henry Clay Baker family papers

Henry Clay Baker family papers, 1891-1947

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Baker, Henry Clay, 1894-1947
Title: Henry Clay Baker family papers
Dates: 1891-1947 (inclusive)
18911947

1894-1929 (bulk)
18941929
Quantity: 0.8 cubic feet, (2 document cases)
Collection Number: Mss 1126
Summary: Papers of the family of Henry Clay Baker, including property, estate, and financial documents. The materials are related to the Baker family of Walla Walla, Washington, and the Tibbetts family of Portland, Oregon. The collection contains property-related documents such as deeds, abstracts of title, and plats. Estate papers relate mostly to Mary Tibbetts. The materials include a "fence book" that describes properties in the estate of Dorsey Syng Baker.
Repository: Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org
Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.
Languages: English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Henry Clay Baker was the son of Dorsey Syng Baker (1823-1888) and Caroline Tibbetts (died circa 1863), and the grandson of Gideon Tibbetts (1808-1887) and Mary Fox Tibbetts (1815-1901). Dorsey Syng Baker crossed the plains to Oregon in 1848. After living briefly in California, Baker returned to Oregon in the early 1850s. In 1850, he married Caroline Tibbetts and they had four children. Baker was educated as a physician but eventually ventured into a variety of businesses, such as a store, steamboats, and railway lines. He built the second rail line in the Pacific Northwest, which was named the "Rawhide Railroad." He also established, with John F. Boyer, one of the first banks in eastern Washington.

The Tibbetts family was connected to the Bakers through the marriage of Caroline Tibbetts to Dorsey Syng Baker. Gideon and Mary Tibbetts arrived in Oregon in 1847. A few years later, Gideon Tibbetts moved his family to East Portland and took over a homestead originally held by a family named Dobbins. This area, about 600 acres, was known as Tibbetts Addition. Gideon also served one term in the Oregon Legislature.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists of papers of the family of Henry Clay Baker, including property, estate, and financial documents. The materials are related to the Baker family of Walla Walla, Washington, and the Tibbetts family of Portland, Oregon. The majority of the collection consists of property-related documents such as deeds, abstracts of title, and plats. The estate papers relate mostly to Mary Tibbetts. The collection includes financial records of the Baker & Baker Company. A "fence book" for the estate of Dorsey Syng Baker describes properties in the state of Washington.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

Henry Clay Baker family papers, Mss 1126, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Restrictions on Use

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in two series: Series 1. Family papers; Series 2. Baker & Baker Company records.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Mrs. Lincoln Earl Kennedy, 1966 (Lib. Acc. 10254).

Related Materials

Dorsey Syng Baker letters, Coll 20, Oregon Historical Research Library.

Bibliography

Howard McKinley, editor, "Dictionary of Oregon History" (Portland, Oregon: Corning, Binfords and Mort, 1956); Morning Oregonian, August 6, 1887; biography file, Tibbetts, Mrs. Gideon, Oregon Historical Society Research Library; Scrapbook 51, pages 155-156, and Scrapbook 66, page 8, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1: Family papers, circa 1891-1941Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	1	Estate papers and receipts--Mary Tibbetts	1900-1909
1	2	Checkbooks and account book--Mary Tibbetts	1895-1901
1	3	Estate papers--Mary Tibbetts Inventory of real and personal property, account information, receipts, and map of Tibbetts Addition, Portland, Oregon	1891-1918
1	4	Estate papers--Mary Tibbetts Quitclaim and warranty deeds.	1902-1913
1	5	"Fence Book"--Estate of Dorsey Syng Baker Property locations in eastern Washington.	circa 1900
1	6	Plats, Gideon Tibbetts donation land claim, Portland, Oregon	circa 1900-1910
1	7	Deeds and agreements, Gideon Tibbetts donation land claim, Portland, Oregon	1910-1941
1	8	Abstract of title, Gideon Tibbetts donation land claim No. 64, Portland, Oregon	1936
1	9	Abstract of title, Gideon Tibbetts donation land claim No. 64, Portland, Oregon	1928
1	10	Abstract of title, Cole's Addition, Portland, Oregon, lots 2, A, B, and C in Block 12	1910
1	11	Abstract of title, Cole's Addition, Portland, Oregon, lots lettered "A" and "C" in Block 12	1895
1	12	Abstract of title, Cole's Addition, Portland, Oregon, lot "B" in Block 12	1912

Series 2: Baker & Baker Company records, 1894-1947Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
2	1	Correspondence Property in Columbia County, Oregon, and lot 7, block 201, Portland, Oregon.	1900-1947
2	2	Deeds, property in Benton County, Washington; Columbia County, Oregon; Umatilla County, Oregon; and part of Block 201, Portland, Oregon	1894-1940
2	3	Notices and receipts	1900-1929

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Land tenure--Oregon
Land tenure--Oregon--Portland
Land tenure--Washington (State)

Personal Names

Tibbetts, Gideon, 1808-1887
Tibbetts, Mary Fox, 1815-1901

Corporate Names

Baker & Baker Company--Records and correspondence

Form or Genre Terms

financial records
property records

Archives West Finding Aid

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