George Ralston Baker ^{1 2 3}

  Death Notes:

When Frances Wymer was remarried in 1911, the marriage license indicated that her status was "widowed". Thus it is assumed that George Baker died before 1911.
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He appeared on the 1900 US Census in Hanford, CA on 4 June 1900. ²

1900 US Census
Sheet 2B, District 37, Dwelling 45, Family 49
Hanford, Kings County, California, United States
108-1/2 West Seventh; House rented
Married 3 years
George R. Baker..Son..23..CA..Salesman, Jewelry

(Living with wife and 2 sons at the home of his parents.)
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George married Frances Mildred Wymer, daughter of James K. Wymer and Eunice Arnsberger Lightfoot, on 6 October 1897 in Iowa City, IA.^{1 2} The marriage ended in divorce. (Frances Mildred Wymer was born on 17 November 1877 in Cedar County, IA,^{2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10} died on 5 December 1942 in Harlem, IL ^{4 11} and was buried on 8 December 1942 in Greenwood Cemetery, Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois, United States ^{4 12}.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• They appeared on the 1900 US Census in Hanford, CA on 4 June 1900. ²

1900 US Census
Sheet 2B, District 37, Dwelling 45, Family 49
Hanford, Kings County, California, United States
108-1/2 West Seventh; House rented
Married 3 years
Joseph Baker..Head..52..IA..Drug Salesman
Mary D. Baker..Wife..46..IN..2/2
George R. Baker..Son..24..CA..Salesman, Jewelry
Frances M. Baker..Daughter-in-law..22..IA..2/2
Arthur E. Baker..Grandson..2..CA
Richard R. Baker..Grandson..1..CA
Sella A. M. Baker..Daughter..20..CA
Frank H. B. Allen..Lodger..38..IN..Jeweler
Minnie H. Allen..Lodger..27..CA
Alice S. Allen..Lodger..4..CA
Daniel Gamble..Lodger..20..CA..Salesman, Grocer
Mabel Gamble..Lodger..19..CA
Herbert R. Wilson..Lodger..45..ME..Bartender
Jessie I. Wilson..Lodger..30..IL
Richard Simpson..Lodger..21..CA..Base Ball Player
John L. Casey..Lodger..32..MO..Saloon Keeper
Clarence E. Messinger..Lodger..40..MA..Saloon Keeper
Stephen S. Rowley..Lodger..38..IL..Farm Laborer
Walter W. Sterling..Lodger..22..CA..???
Charles R. Jones..Lodger..27..MO..Laborer, Creamery
Charles Talbot..Lodger..49..IN..Attorney at law
Mcwhinnie..Lodger..24..NY..Druggist

5 married couples, 8 lodgers of various occupations
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• George Ralston Baker and Frances Mildred Wymer was divorced on 30 June 1911 in Muscatine, IA.

  Marriage Notes:

George Baker first obtained a marriage license on 29 Jun 1897 in Cedar County, Iowa naming Frances M. Wymer as his intended bride. However the license was returned and cancelled with no wedding taking place.

About three months later In October, a new license was obtained in nearby Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa and the marriage took place on 6 Oct 1898.

Name: George R. Baker
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 06 Oct 1897
Event Place: Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 22
Birth Year (Estimated): 1875
Spouse's Name: Frances M. Wymer
Spouse's Gender: Female
Spouse's Age: 20
Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1877

Citing this Record
"Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJNS-F96 : 10 February 2018), George R. Baker and Frances M. Wymer, 06 Oct 1897, Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa, United States; citing reference , county courthouses, Iowa; FHL microfilm 986,012.
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Their first son, Arthur, was born in Iowa in July 1898 but after that they must have immediately moved to join George's parents in Hanford, California. Their second son, Richard, was born in California in Dec 1899.

The 1900 US Census shows them living with the parents of George in Hanford which was mostly an agricultural town in the southern part of the arid San Joaquin Valley of California. Sheep ranching was probably the most predominant industry at the time. The small town of Hanford was growing rapidly while they lived there thanks to the introduction of the railroad lines in the city.

While George and Frances lived with his parents in Hanford, it is difficult to describe the type of accommodation according to the census. It would appear to be a hotel or lodging house because the family grouping according to the census form showed 5 couples and 8 other men of various occupations all listed as lodgers. The address was 108-1/2 West Seventh which usually designates the upstairs residence probably over a retail establishment or perhaps over a saloon. The census form does not give a name of any proprietor or owner of a hotel or lodging house so it appears to be one very large apartment that the parents managed and leased out rooms to others. The occupation of George's father was that of a drug salesman according to the census.
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