The Biographical Dictionary of America/Baker, Abijah Richardson

BAKER, Abijah Richardson, clergyman, was born in Franklin, Mass., Aug. 30, 1805; son of David and Jemima (Richardson) Baker. In 1830 he was graduated from Amherst college, and from Andover theological seminary in 1835. In the latter year he became an instructor in the Phillips Andover academy, and in 1836 was installed pastor of the Medford (Mass.) Congregational church. There he remained for thirteen years. When he resigned to accept a call to Lynn, Mass., in 1851. He organized the Central church of that city. This pastorate he resigned in 1857 and resided for a time at Wellesley, removing thence to South Boston, Mass. His published writings include: "A School History of the United States, containing Maps, a Chronological Chart, and an Outline of Topics for a More Extensive Course of Study" (1843); "A Question Book on the Topics in Christ's Sermon on the Mount" (3 vols., 1862), and "The Catechism Tested by the Bible" (1851). This was translated into fifteen languages, and reached a publication of over a million. He also assisted his wife in editing "The Mother's Assistant" and "The Happy Home." He was married in 1835 to Harriet Newell, daughter of Rev. Leonard and Abigail (Wheeler) Woods. His sons in 1897 were located as follows: George Stuart Baker, D. D., rector of St. Luke's hospital, N. Y.; Charles Richard Baker, D. D., rector of the Church of the Messiah, Brooklyn, N. Y.; William Henry Baker, M. D., ex-professor of gynæcology in Harvard university, Boston, Mass.; Walter Abijah Baker, D. D., rector of St. John the Baptist's church, Baltimore, Md., and the Rev. Frank Woods Baker, rector of St. Paul's church, Cincinnati, Ohio. He died April 30, 1876.