Gertrude Kendall Baker was born in Goreville, Illinois. She was born and raised in the same home. Her father was Dr. Frederick Kendall. He was the youngest of 8 children. When Gertrude's mother was 5 years old their family moved from Pennsylvania to Illinois. In her mother's words she writes; "We took the stage coach to the railroad station. From there we boarded the train." Gertrude's father and her uncles made the trip by wagon train. This trip took 6 weeks of solid torture. On their ride to Illinois soldiers appeared everywhere. They were on their way home from the war. In spirit and song, they sang in harmony; "In 1861 this cruel war had begun; We'll all drink stone blind; Johnny fill up the bowl." Gertrud's father died in 1880, she was 1 year old. Her mother remarried. He had 5 boys and he was a miller by trade. Many, many nights the family would sit in front of the fireplace and sew carpet rags together. Gertrude's mother sat for hours weaving the flax and wool. With weary eyes and trembling hands begging for sleep. Christmas came with no toys. Homemade stockings were hung and filled with nuts, apples, stick candy and 1 orange. The Bible was more important than toys. A festival dinner of roast goose and family was all that mattered. Remember, 1893 was the beginning of The Great Depression. Hundreds of men were out of work. Food was rationed. Gertrude's mother would of course make every dime count. Gertrude became a teacher and her pay was 25.00 a month. This would include room and board. After Gertrude's teachings were over at the school, she met Frederick baker. The couple would marry in 1906. The Bakers decided to move to Utah, hoping for a better life. The train ride left them exhausted. There was no air conditioning. Bellows of smoke and ashes came thru the windows. Finally, after 5 days they would arrive Utah. Water was their biggest concern. Time was important and time was running out. Seeding was done but to no avail. The hot sun and the swarms of insects took their little lives. Winter came and the water from the mountains filled the streams. The streams began to unite and the Sevier River was formed. This river would make life a little better for these settlers. The Bakers had 5 children. Gertrude would read to them by the embers of the fire. Fred would play the violin, life was good. These great pioneers of yesterday deserve to be praised. They opened up many avenues of life for future generations. Years of dedication, starvation, diseases, freezing temperatures, and worn out shoes. These strong-willed pioneers remained full of promise, unbreakable and fierce until the end. In 1939 the Bakers received the deed to their property. It took 27 years to fulfil their dreams.
