Colonel Edward John Baker was an American philanthropist from St. Charles, Illinois, regarded highly for his generosity toward his hometown.

Col. Baker attended the west side school in St. Charles until he was nineteen years of age.

At the end of that time he was appointed Inspector of Grain and Railroad as well as being made Warehouse Commissioner by Governor John Riley Tanner.

Col. Baker served that position for a period of ten years under the Governors Tanner, Yates, and Deneen, until his resignation in July 1907.

Col. Baker chose not to pursue any career endeavors following 1907—but represented the Republican Party of Kane County, partook in local charities, and harbored a great interest in horse racing.

[2][3] Gates sold barbed wire, invented by Joseph Glidden and eventually started his own company to manufacture it.

Col. Baker was confined to Geneva Community Hospital at the time of her death, in between, and undergoing multiple surgeries.

The morning that she died, she was at home planning a cherry picking bee on the Crystal Brook Farm owned by her and Col. Baker.