Col. Ashby Baker, Owner Virginia Cotton Mills in Swepsonville, Dies in Raleigh, Dec. 1, 1921

Col. Ashby L. Baker Dies in Raleigh. . . Passed Away Friday Morning—Was Owner of Virginia Cotton Mills at Swepsonville—Had Large Business Interests

Of this well known and esteemed business man and citizen the Raleigh Times says:

Colonel Ashby L. Baker, one of the most widely known business men and cotton mill owners of North Carolina and a man who has been closely identified with movements for the upbuilding of Raleigh, died at his home on Hillsboro Street Friday morning at 8 o’clock.

It was just three weeks before that Colonel and Mrs. Baker returned from New York where they had spent the summer, Colonel Baker going there the first of May for treatment in a hospital. Since his return he had grown gradually weaker until his death came Friday morning.

The funeral service was held at Christ Church, of which he was a member, Saturday afternoon at 3 o’clock and interment was in Oakwood Cemetery.

Born in Baltimore in 1862 Colonel Baker was 59 years of age on the 5th of November. He was the son of the late Charles J. Baker, formerly one of Baltimore’s most prominent citizens. Colonel Baker came to Raleigh in 1893 and married Miss Virginia McAden, a niece of Mrs. Swepson of this city. Her death occurred a few years after their marriage and he later married Miss Minnie Tucker of Raleigh, who with two sons, Ashby Lee Jr. And Julian Tucker Baker, survive him.

Besides his widow and two sons, Colonel Baker is survived by three brothers and one sister, Frank Baker, R.J. Baker, William Baker, and Mrs. Brandenburgh, all of Baltimore. Ben Baker of Raleigh is a nephew.

Colonel Baker’s business interests were chiefly in Virginia Cotton Mills of Swepsonville, of which he was president and owner. He was president of the Commercial Building Company of Raleigh, president of the Carolina Country Club, and was a director and one of the main movers in the establishment of the Commercial National Bank. He was one of the most interested and active members of the Chamber of Commerce, of which he had been president. He was a member of the Capital Club and of the Kiwanis Club.

During the war Colonel Baker was interested in all forms of war work and he was a liberal subscriber and supporter of every movement for the upbuilding of the city. A man of handsome appearance, fine physique, culture and refinement, with the good of the city at heart he had held a large place not only in the business but in the social life of Raleigh.

From the front page of The Alamance Gleaner, Graham, N.C., Dec. 1, 1921