For almost six decades, the descendants of Rosebell Baker were searching for the fathers of her children, with limited success. In Part One, we analyzed vital records and newspaper articles to determine that Samuel Chase Early was the father of Lucinda Baker. In Part Two, we determined the father of Rosebell’s other child, Meldia Baker, was Oliver Broughton. We speculated in Part Three that the identity of Axie Baker’s father is John Sidney Ingram.
When trying to identify the fathers of Cora and McKinley Baker, we are unable to find any records that can correlate them with a surname other than Baker.
While Rosebell’s son appears as “McKinley,” we speculate that his name may have been William McKinley Baker, so named after the former president of the United States. And while a “William” appears in the Kentucky school censuses, his age does not coincide with a son supposedly born in 1903 and further supported by the ages given in the federal censuses.
1900 School Census of White Children, Flat Lick – New Flat Lick – District #44
PARENT: BAKER JAMES M [Recall James M[adison] Baker is Rosebell’s father]
CHILD (AGE)
CALHINE BAKER (17)
GROVER C. (16)
WM. (11)
LUCY (9)1904 School Census of White Children, White District No. 40, Page 159
PARENT: ROSE BAKER
CHILD (AGE)
LUCY BAKER (12)
WILLIAM BAKER (15)
EFFIE BAKER (9)
AXIE BAKER (7)
The theory is that the other Baker children listed in the school censuses, Calhine, Grover, Effie, and William, are cousins to Lucinda, Axie, and Meldia. With two William Bakers in the Barbourville area, Rosebell’s son was probably referred as McKinley?
Regarding McKinley, there is a 1930 federal census showing a “McKinley Baker” as an inmate in Ohio. However, when analyzing several newspaper articles from Portsmouth, Ohio, we can conclude with a high degree of certainty that the inmate is the son of James Baker residing at 1225 Linden Avenue, and former husband of Lulu Baker. Several articles have McKinley arrested on charges of domestic abuse, drunk driving, and public intoxication.
Two other records were examined to determine if any other surname may be attributed to Cora and McKinley:
Rosebell Baker’s death certificate. When examining Rosebell’s death certificate in 1955, the informant is given as “Irvin Delong.” We know that the informant is Rosebell’s son-in law, Meldia Baker’s husband, Ervin Arthur Delong (1910-1962).
Lucinda Baker’s marriage license. When examining Lucinda Baker’s marriage bond, we see her maiden name listed as “Begley” and corrected to Baker. We also see she lied about her age; having been born in 1891, Lucinda would have been about eighteen years old.
We’re assuming John Linville provided the information to the court clerk for the marriage bond, and that Lucinda later corrected the information when it became a marriage license.
The license is dated in 1909, six years after McKinley was born in 1903, and four years before Rosebell and Oliver Broughton gave birth to Meldia. Cora was born in 1899. The working theory based on dates is that “Begley” may have been who Rosebell was with when Lucinda was married and may have been the surname of McKinley’s father.
It’s also possible that “Begley” is Cora’s father, as John may have known that Mr. Begley had a daughter, and thought it was Lucinda, although we have a high degree of certainty that Lucinda’s father was Sam Early. Plus, as John and Sam Early (later his widowed wife Elon) were both store owners, and surely would have known each other as competitors, this doesn’t seem very plausible that John would think Lucinda’s father was Begley.
In trying to determine McKinley’s father, we come across a William Matt Begley, the son of Thomas Begley and Ama Anne “Amy” Hoskins born on 16 May 1850. William was married to Margaret Mays on 08 January 1874. They had ten children. There isn’t enough evidence that proves William is McKinley’s father, but the parallels are very similar:
- Lucinda was probably named after Rosebell’s aunt. Axie was probably named after her father’s sister. McKinley may have been named after a William.
- Lucinda’s father Samuel Chase Early held a public office (sheriff). William Begley was a district magistrate.
- Lucinda’s father Samuel Chase Early was murdered on 08 August 1909. Meldia’s father Oliver Broughton was murdered on 06 September 1918. William Begley was murdered on 26 December 1903.
The only photo available of McKinley at this time was provided by a family member. If the photo looks familiar in another non-Baker family tree, please contact us.
This series started with our side of the family wanting to know about Lucinda’s background. For almost six decades, those who knew the information would emphatically state “you do NOT want to know that…” Whatever the secret was, they all took it with them when they passed away. Could it be the shame of being an illegitimate child? This doesn’t seem believable as social morals and norms changed over the years. Perhaps it was the murder of Lucinda’s father… something most families keep hidden. But how is it that four other families didn’t know their fathers either, including those whose fathers were not murdered?
We may never know.
Philip Farmer is currently assisting three families break down their genealogical brick walls and find information on their ancestors. He is also the author and publisher of “Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh,” a 500-page, 155-year biographical history of the Farmer’s immigration from Ireland into Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Harlan County, Kentucky. The continuation of Stephen Farmer’s story from 1800 into the mid-1900’s is currently in work.
