TLC : Materials Lab : Colonel Baker Answers to Questions

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Colonel Baker Answers to Questions

1. Where was Colonel Baker born? Zanesville, Ohio

2. What jobs did Colonel Baker have when he was younger? Soldier, colonel in the militia, lawyer.

3.Why did he study law? He was interested in the laws that decide who owned different lands.

4.Colonel Baker met Indians in Iowa. Why was this important? Since he had treated them fairly and made friends with them, they helped move him out of the area to keep him out of danger.

5. What does a legislature do? Represents the citizens and passes law.

6. Why did Colonel Baker move to California? After his wife died, he wanted to try his luck in the gold fields.

7. Where did he go first? Benecia, California.

8. What did he do in Tulare? He cofounded the city of Visalia, met his second wife, and was elected state senator from Tulare and Fresno counties.

9. Why did Colonel Baker decide to move to Kern Island? He had a vision of what Kern County could be and wanted to build a great city there.

10. How did the Bakers build their house? They used an existing shack, which they reinforced with earth, and built a brush shed to make a kitchen and dining room. They tacked reed matting aroung the house.

11. How did Mrs. Baker make friends? The had the only sewing machine in town, so she had a weekly sewing circle and potluck brunch.

12. What did Mrs. Baker do to help her community? She opened a school.

13. What did Colonel Baker do to encourage people to move to Kern County? He gave small pieces of land to anyone who would come and start a business. He sold land for $1 an acre.

14. How did Colonel Baker design Bakersfield? He mapped the town with streets that were 82 1/2 feet wide and avenues 115 feet wide, because he had noticed that the usual 66 feet were too narrow for carriages.

15. How did Bakersfield get its name? Baker planted alfalfa to feed the animals of travelers - this area was known as Baker's field.

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