Career

He came to California in 1849 and engaged in mining supplies business (as Cooke and Baker) in San Francisco. Later he became associated with General Beale in the cattle and sheep business in the northern part of the state and in the Tejon area. In 1872, the Sepulvedas sold their Rancho San Vicente y Santa Monica property to Baker.

With his purchase of the Rancho for cattle and sheep business, Baker moved to Los Los Angeles

The Bakers owned the 30,000-acre (120 km2) property only two years, and in 1874 sold a three quarter interest in the land to the Comstock millionaire John Percival Jones. Jones and Baker decided to subdivide part of their joint holdings, and in 1875 they created the town of Santa Monica.

Jones and Baker formed the Santa Monica Land and Water Company, one of the principal developers of western Los Los Angeles In 1878, he built the Baker block in Los Los Angeles

He is interred at Calvary Cemetery, East Los Los Angeles