Clayton co IAGenWeb

~seated in front are husband and wife, James Tracy and Clarissa (Champion) Tracy
(James Tracey biography)

~standing in the back are husband and wife, John S. Tracy and Melissa (Baker) Tracy
This picture is thought to have been taken in the 1860's or 70's. The family lived near Strawberry Point.

~notes: Obadiah Ethelbert Baker was a brother to Melissa Baker. I believe that the two siblings were close to each other, because Obadiah E. wrote about his sister Melissa in his journals a few times. Obadiah was an amateur poet, and he kept extensive journals during his life, writing poems about events, in particular about the Civil War. Even to this day a few of those poems can be found in published in books about the war. The following is a poem Obadiah E. wrote when he heard of the passing of his sister Melissa -

Much lived sister, thou art gone
    On earth I'll see thy face no more
    May we meet beyond the river
    When the toils of lie are o're!

Dear, fond sister, when we parted,
     But a few short weeks ago,
     Thought I not, we'd meet no never
     In this vale of tears below.

But we'll meet beyond the river,
     Nor the time will not seem long,
     E're we'll meet, and praise the Savior,
     In that land of prayer, and song.

Thou hast gone to meet a brother,
    He who fell to save our land,
    Ah he fell with a rebel bullet
    Piercing through his forehead grand.

Thou will meet him my dear sister
     Meet him with that patriot band
     Slaughtered in our late encounter,
     By the rebels of our land.

Thou will meet also a sister,
     Not a year since gone before
     She will greet thee, "Sister Janie"
    At the portals of the door.

Thou will meet also a father
     Not five years ago he went,
     Went to join the host of heaven,
     And a message to was sent.

At the same time, to our mother,
    To be ready soon to go,
    And she laid aside earth wrappings
    Leaving us, to mourn below.

May I meet you all in Heaven
     Brothers, Sisters, dear ones all
     Father, Mother, Gracie darling
     Meet you all at the Saviors call.

                                  .........Ethelbert