Baker, James Delmer (1881–1974) and Annie Eulalia (Owens) (1882–1949)

James and Annie Baker were missionary nurses to Africa and among the earliest pioneer Adventist missionaries to east-central Africa.

Background

James Delmer Baker was born in Oakland, California, on October 12, 1881.¹ Annie was born in 1882 in Decatur, Texas. She came to California in 1888, where she attended school in Norwalk, followed by nursing training at St. Helena Sanitarium.²

James left the United States on December 1, 1902. Initially, he worked as a colporteur in London.³ Soon afterward, both he and Annie were working as nurses at Belfast Sanitarium in Ireland.⁴ On October 4, 1904, the couple were wedded in London, England.⁵ By late 1905 and early 1906 the couple were conducting medical missionary work in Leicester together.⁶ While here they met a “young African, a native of Nyassaland,” who was studying in school.⁷ This young man was a catalyst for interest in mission service in Africa. James wrote to his father: “All our people in Europe are becoming fired with the missionary spirit.”⁸ James reported on fundraising efforts for mission work in East Africa.⁹

Missionaries to East Africa

James and Annie sailed from London on June 8, 1907, to serve as missionaries in the British East African Mission where they received missionary credentials.¹⁰ They arrived at Gendia that July and contributed to establishing a mission among the “Kavirondos” (Kanyadoto), a large tribe on the shores of Lake Victoria. James built houses, visited people in their villages, and did “many other things” while Annie “taught the school and took care of the sick people in the community.”¹¹ These people were a “semi-pastoral people” who tended flocks of cattle, sheep, and goats, and some along the lakeshore who fished. They were furthermore “a peaceful and contented people” who, until they arrived, “had never heard the name of Jesus.”¹² Eighteen months after arrival, James described their work:

So far our time has been spent principally in learning the language and in erecting necessary buildings—houses, workshop, and also a school which is used for Sabbath services. These buildings are nearly completed. Our Sabbath services are largely attended, the average attendance being over three hundred. Last Sabbath between six and seven hundred were present. The Lord’s Prayer, a few texts, and a number of songs have been translated into their own language. The natives are rapidly learning to sing our old favorites, such as “I love to Tell the Story,” “I Am so Glad that Our Father in Heaven,” “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus,” and “There Is a Happy Land.” I am sure you would enjoy hearing them sing and ask questions about Jesus and heaven. They are beginning to know which day is the Sabbath, and often on Friday we are asked, “Is to-morrow Jesus?” “Is to-morrow the Sabbath?” or “Do we sing to-morrow?”¹³

After about two years they started a second mission station about fourteen miles southeast of Gendia at the Wire (pronounced “weary”) Hill Mission in March 1909.¹⁴ On Sunday, May 28, 1911, Brother Carscallen baptized sixteen boys, ten from Gendia and six from Wire Hill, the “firstfruits” of their missionary labors.¹⁵ After a second baptism the following year, raising the number of baptized believers to forty persons, with continued growth, this necessitated on

Sunday, December 8, 1912, the Gendia and Wire Hill Adventist congregations were organized as Seventh-day Adventist churches.¹⁶ Not all converted, as evinced by a later account of one of their students who became a chief, but although he was sympathetic, “found it too hard to follow the Christian custom of having only one wife.”¹⁷

The Bakers had two children: Ethel (born in 1912) and James Delmer, Jr. (born in 1914).¹⁸ In 1918 J. D. Baker received a ministerial license and Mrs. Baker a missionary license while they were on furlough.¹⁹ For a time they worked at the Glendale Sanitarium. In 1921 they returned to Africa as missionaries.²⁰ They left July 6 on the steamship “Adriatic,” via England, to South Africa.²¹

Missionaries to Angola

In 1923 James traveled to “Angolaland” to secure permission from the Angola government to establish an Adventist mission “in the very heart of this country.”²² Near the village of Lepi, he went “pegging out our first mission site.”²³ These initial explorations were supplemented by a more formal expedition in April 1924. James traveled with W. H. Anderson, O. O. Bredenkamp, and T. M. French, who first landed at Lobito Bay. “We proceeded to the interior,” wrote French, “where we chose our first mission site among six million natives.”²⁴ As they traveled into the interior by train to Huambo, French recounted:

While on the way to Huambo we were providentially brought into touch with a government official, who is the administrator of a large district. He introduced himself to us, and upon learning that we are American missionaries urged us to come to his district and open work. We were given a cordial invitation to his home. The invitation was accepted, and we spent a few days in the Lepi district. Several days were given to looking over the country. It was found to be well watered, to have excellent soil, and to be very healthful…. So we chose an excellent site a few miles from the railway, and plans are being laid to open immediately a training center here to prepare workers for this populous field.²⁵

In 1925 he began coordinating the beginning of the first training school in that country.²⁶ They continued to establish a mission station here until 1927 when they left on furlough. They stopped in Australia on their way.²⁷ Upon their arrival to the United States, denominational leaders placed them on medical leave for approximately a year.²⁸ Due to medical challenges, Annie remained on furlough with the children until 1929 when she was given medical clearance to join her husband back in Africa.²⁹ While they were away, Delmer went with B. M. Heald in August 1929 on an exploratory trip to the Bundu people.³⁰ His family arrived back in Africa that July.³¹

In late 1930 the Bakers moved further inland, about 100 miles north from the railway station to take over the Luz Mission (Mission of Light), formerly directed by O. O. Bredenkamp, who had provided leadership after W. H. Anderson located this mission site in 1926.³² In turn, Bredenkamp went an additional 150 miles further north to establish another mission station. Thus, one can see the missionaries' collaborative and cooperative efforts to support one another to establish mission stations from which they would keep pushing an Adventist missionary presence. Annie reported about the high elevation (6,000 feet above sea level) with wild animals, including baboons and the challenge of mold. They hoped to be able to reach out to the Selles people group.³³

From this new point, J. D. Baker laid plans to hold five series of evangelistic meetings in 1932.³⁴ Annie assisted with “dispensary work” and was joined by Brother and Sister E. A. Buckley. In the first eight months of 1931, they treated 1,400 patients with approximately ten thousand treatments.³⁵ Early 1932 the Bakers spent four months recuperating in South Africa. They were once again able to return to Angola.³⁶ Annie reported on the wide variety of medical treatments, especially snake bites. She stated that their “courage is good” and in the last year opened six new Sabbath schools.³⁷

Permanent Return

In 1936 they were granted permanent return for health reasons.³⁸ They arrived in time to attend the 1936 General Conference Session (May 26 to June 11) where James served as a delegate.³⁹ Continuing poor health caused them to stay to recuperate. This leave was extended for two years as poor health prevented them from returning to Africa.⁴⁰ James also attended the 1937 Pacific Union Conference session as a delegate.⁴¹ Annie passed away in 1949; James died in 1974. They are buried together in Cherokee Memorial Park.

Sources

Anderson, W. H. “Victories for the Message in Angola.” ARH, August 18, 1932.

Baker, J. D. “Among the Kavirondos.” The Signs of the Times, June 3, 1908; The Signs of the Times [Australasian], August 10, 1908.

Baker, J. D. “Angola, Africa.” ARH, May 22, 1924.

Baker, Mrs. J. D. [Annie] “’Our Daughter.’” The Youth’s Instructor, April 3, 1923.

Baker, Mrs. J. D. [Annie] “Experiences Among the Chokwes.” ARH, May 18, 1933.

Baker, Mrs. J. D. [Annie] “Luz Mission, Chokweland, Angola.” ARH, December 3, 1936.

Belton, T. J. “Saving the Girls.” ARH, February 14, 1924.

Branson, W. H. “Extension Plans for Our Educational Work.” African Division Outlook, January 1, 1926.

“Church Worker Funeral Here.” Lodi News-Sentinel, November 5, 1949.

Conradi, L. R. “Our Work in British East Africa.” ARH, April 3, 1913.

Dail, Guy. “The British Union Conference.” ARH, October 3, 1907.

French, T. M. “Entering Angola.” Missions Quarterly, Fourth Quarter, 1924.

Heald, B. M. “A Page From My Diary.” Atlantic Union Gleaner, March 18, 1931.

Montgomery, O. “Itinerating in Angola.” ARH, January 14, 1932.

Olsen, A. B. “The Belfast Sanitarium.” ARH, April 28, 1903.

“Our Work and Workers.” The Signs of the Times, January 2, 1907.

“Pacific Union Conference.” Pacific Union Recorder, January 27, 1937.

Shaw, J. L. “Workers Sent to the Fields in 1921.” ARH, January 12, 1922.

Notes

1. Baker’s passport application reveals that he was 5 foot, 11 inches tall and had gray eyes and brown hair (http://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tools/tree/181245202/invitees/accept?inviteId=791bde4c-e7ef-4f9b-8247-9e2b493a11fd).↩

2. “Church Worker Funeral Here,” Lodi News-Sentinel, November 5, 1949, 1.↩

3. W. A. S[picer], ARH, November 25, 1902, 24; The Missionary Worker, February 18, 1903, 27.↩

4. A. B. Olsen, “The Belfast Sanitarium,” ARH, April 28, 1903, 19.↩

5. For genealogical information, see: http://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tools/tree/181245202/invitees/accept?inviteId=4a105c54-7a6d-485b-9051-9cee7380191d [accessed 2/24/22]↩

6. See note in The Signs of the Times, January 31, 1906, 13.↩

7. See note in The Signs of the Times, July 4, 1906, 13.↩

8. Excerpt from a letter published in The Signs of the Times, September 12, 1906, 13.↩

9. “Our Work and Workers,” The Signs of the Times, January 2, 1907, 13.↩

10. Guy Dail, “The British Union Conference,” ARH, October 3, 1907, 13.↩

11. Mrs. J. D. [Annie] Baker, “’Our Daughter,’” The Youth’s Instructor, April 3, 1923, 11.↩

12. J. D. Baker, “Among the Kavirondos,” The Signs of the Times [Australasian], August 10, 1908, 507.↩

13. Ibid., 508.↩

14. A. C. Enns, “German East Africa,” ARH, March 3, 1910, 14.↩

15. Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Baker, “First-Fruits in Kisumu, Southeast Africa,” The Signs of the Times, August 8, 1911, 14.↩

16. L. R. Conradi, “Our Work in British East Africa,” ARH, April 3, 1913, 323-324.↩

17. T. G. Belton, “Saving the Girls,” ARH, February 14, 1924, 11.↩

18. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/lodinews/name/james-baker-obituary?id=24203490 [accessed 1/11/23]↩

19. General Conference Executive Committee Minutes, January 14, 1918, 717.↩

20. See note, ARH, April 29, 1920, pg. 17; J. L. Shaw, “Workers Sent to the Fields in 1921,” ARH, January 12, 1922, 3.↩

21. See note ARH, July 14, 1921, 24.↩

22. See note, ARH, October 18, 1923, 24.↩

23. See note, ARH, October 18, 1923, 24.↩

24. T. M. French, “Entering Angola,” Missions Quarterly, Fourth Quarter, 1924, 17.↩

25. Ibid., 18-19.↩

26. W. H. Branson, “Extension Plans for Our Educational Work,” African Division Outlook, January 1, 1926, 3.↩

27. See note in Australasian Record, February 1, 1928, 8.↩

28. General Conference Executive Committee Minutes, April 5, 1928, 511.↩

29. General Conference Executive Committee Minutes, February 28, 1929, 800.↩

30. B. M. Heald, “A Page From My Diary,” Atlantic Union Gleaner, March 18, 1931, 5.↩

31. See the list of returning missionaries in ARH, January 30, 1930, 4.↩

32. O. Montgomery, “Itinerating in Angola,” ARH, January 14, 1932, 35-36.↩

33. [Mrs. J. D. Baker], “A Word from Angola,” ARH, May 15, 1930, 32.↩

34. W. H. Anderson, “Victories for the Message in Angola,” ARH, August 18, 1932, 11.↩

35. O. Montgomery, “Itinerating in Angola,” ARH, January 14, 1932, 11.↩

36. See “General News,” Southern African Division Outlook, April 1, 1932, 16.↩

37. Mrs. J. D. [Annie] Baker, “Experiences Among the Chokwes,” ARH, May 18, 1933, 9-10.↩

38. General Conference Executive Committee Minutes, April 15, 1936, 1939.↩

39. See the list of delegates in ARH, May 28, 1936, 3.↩

40. General Conference Executive Committee Minutes, February 3, 1938, 669.↩

41. “Pacific Union Conference,” Pacific Union Recorder, January 27, 1937, 1.↩