Eber Baker

Who was Eber Baker?

Eber Baker b. April 27, 1780 - d. October 6, 1864, Marion, Ohio is credited as being the founder of Marion, Ohio. Baker was born in either Litchfield or Bowdoin, Maine.

Baker and his first wife, Lydia Smith Baker, came to the vicinity of what is now Marion, buying land from Alexander Holmes, about 1821 and constructed a log home. The location of the home was approximately three-quarters of a mile north of Jacobs Well, a natural spring well that had been dug during the War of 1812 by Jacob Foos, a surveyor for General William Henry Harrison. Baker platted a town, which was named Marion after the newly formed county of the same name; Marion was then chosen as the county seat of government, beating out nearby Claridon, Ohio to the east. A local middle school was named after him.

Baker would go onto serve in the Ohio House of Representatives. He also constructed and operated the Mansion House, in downtown Marion.