Honey Grove, Texas

The Baker Family

Published in the Honey Grove Signal-Citizen about 1938

Written by H. P. Allen, assisted by W. J. Erwin

The Baker Family came to Honey Grove about 1858, buying from the Rev. W. A. Provine his residence, which was on the lot now occupied by Sam Dial's residence. The family consisted of the mother, Mrs. Mary Baker, and five children. The eldest son was Daniel. In later yeaers he married a Miss McCleary of Red River county, and went to a farm which the family owned near Rock Point, about three miles south of Honey Grove, where they remained the balance of their lives, rearing a family of five sons and one daughter. The daughter passed away some years ago, as did Robert, the oldest of the sons. Another of the sons lived in Hopkins county, and all of them are upstanding good citizens.

The second of Aunt Mary Baker's children was a daughter, Lucy, who was married to John W. Lane on May 25, 1856, and lived until August 21, 1888. Mr. Lane died August 18, 1915. He had three brothers and two sisters, Winnie, Kate, James Robert and _______.

David Lane, father of the above mentioned children, was a pioneer citizen and gave the land on which the old Lane's Academy ws built.

Mr. and Mrs. John Lane reared a large family. The James Lane mentioned above married Miss Mary Smith and became the father of our fellow townsman, Will Lane.

The third one of Aunt Mary Baker's children was Billie, and he grew to manhood here at Honey Grove. When the civil ware came on he volunteered his services and went in Company F 11th Texas Cavalry, and served valiantly until in battle a cannon shot cut off his right leg. A true friend (James Witcher) got permission to nurse him and as there was only a tent for a hospital, Mr. Witcher went to headquarters and secured permission to take him just over the state line into Virginia, where there was a good building for a hospital and better facilities for caring for wounded men. He stayed as long with his friend as his permit allowed and left him doing well, but pneumonia set up and took him off.

The next of the Baker children was Tom who attended the public schools in Honey Grove and spent some years here. Married Miss Mattie Dial, and later was elected tax assessor two terms. He became the father of Jim Baker, who was the popular sheriff of Bowie county and served three terms.

The next of Aunt Mary's children was Hattie, the youngest daughter. She became the wife of James Larrison. Of this marriage three children were born - two boys who lived to be grown and married, and a daughter, Mary, who died at about 13 years of age.

The writer regrets that he is unable to give a more extended account of these two families, for there were none better in the land. Both families came from Tennessee to Texas. However, we find in Biographical sketches of prominent people in Texas that David Lane, father of John W. Lane and grandfather of the Lane families in and around Honey Grove, was born in North Carolina and reared in Tennessee whither his parents moved in an early day. He came to Texas in 1836 and lived in Bowie county seven years, moving thence to Fannin county, where he lived 20 years, then moved to Hunt county, settling on the Collin county line, and died there in 1863 in the 66th year of his life. He was one of the well known characters in North Texas in an early day. He had served in the War of 1812, was in the battle of New Orleans, and had done considerable scouting in Texas in the 30's and 40's. He was a surveyor and ran out many of the land grants for settlers in North Texas.

Mrs. Martha Lane's family were originally from South Carolina, but she was born in Middle Tennessee and died in Hunt County, Texas in 1863 in her 64th year. Both she and her husband were members of the Methodist Church.

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