T. B. BAKER
(Theodore Brasher BAKER)
11 Jul 1875 - 11 Jun 1972

From his applications for a U.S. Passport, Theodore Brasher BAKER was born on 11 Jul 1875 in Washington, Washington County, Iowa, USA. T. B. BAKER's Texas Death Certificate states that he was born in Kansas, USA. His father was William BAKER who was born in West Virginia.

Photograph of T. B. BAKER from his application for a U.S. Passport dated 13 Mar 1919. He stated that he was a Hotel Manager in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA. He was described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a broad and high forehead, dark eyes, regular nose, large mouth, square chin, dark-gray hair, brunette complexion and an oval face. He stated that he was going to Mexico City, Mexico with someone from the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. He planned on leaving from the port of Laredo, Webb County, Texas, USA aboard the "Special Train" on 27 Mar 1919.
 

Photograph of Theodore Brasher BAKER from his application for a U.S. Passport dated 3 Sep 1920. He stated that he was a hotel business man in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA. He stated that his previous passport was enclosed for cancellation and return. He planned on visiting Mexico City, Monterey, Vera Cruz, Tampico and Guadalajara on hotel business. He planned on leaving the U.S. from the port of Laredo, Webb County, Texas, USA on 20 Sep 1920.
 

Photograph of Theodore Brasher BAKER from his application for a U.S. Passport dated 20 Aug 1923. He stated that he was a hotel keeper in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA. He stated that his previous passport was destroyed in a flood on 10 Sep 1921. He planned on visiting France, England and Italy for pleasure and rest. He planned on leaving from the port of New York, New York, USA on the S.S. President Polk on 29 Aug 1923.
 

Texas Death Certificate:

"Name: Theodore Baker; Death Date: 11 Jun 1972; Death County: Bexar; Gender: Male; Marital Status: Widowed."

Social Security Death Index Record:

"Name: Theodore Baker; Social Security Number: 457-16-3290; Last Residence: 78214 San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, USA; Born: 11 Jul 1875; Died: Jun 1972; State (Year) Social Security Number issued: Texas (Before 1951."

Obituary from the San Antonio Express (San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA) published 13 Jun 1972 on Page 10-C:

Theodore Baker, Texas Hotel Tycoon Of 1920s, Is Dead

Theodore B. Baker, a Texas hotel tycoon of the 1920s who once owned the St. Anthony, Menger and Gunter Hotels, is dead at the age of 96.

Builder of the famous Baker Hotel in downtown Dallas, the Iowa native died Sunday in a San Antonio hospital of a heart attack. He had been in ill health for about two years.

Masonic funeral services for Baker, of 602 E. Southcross Blvd., will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Konantz Funeral Home in Fort Scott, Kan. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Local arrangements are by Roy Akers Funeral Chapels.

Baker was born in Washington, Iowa. He moved to Kansas as a child and, as a young man, assumed operation of the family's Goodlander Hotel in Fort Scott.

His first Texas hotel was the St. Anthony. He added a second, the Menger, a few years later and in 1924 bought the Gunter.

After building the Texas Hotel in Fort Worth in 1921 Dallas' and landmark Baker Hotel in 1925, he expanded his holdings into a Baker chain across Texas.

A second Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells, was added in 1929 and, in 1931, he opened the Thomas Jefferson Hotel in Birmingham, Ala.

Baker also acquired leases on the Galvez Hotel in Galveston, the Edson Hotel in Beaumont and the Stephen F. Austin Hotel in Austin.

A nephew, Fenton J. Baker of Dallas, succeeded Baker as president of the company in 1935. In 1949, the Baker Hotel in Dallas was purchased by the investment banking firm of Dallas Rupe & Son.

In addition to Fenton J. Baker, survivors include a niece, Miss Oneita Baker of San Antonio.

Theodore Brasher BAKER was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Scott, Bourbon County, Kansas, USA. (Source: www.findagrave.com and T. B. Baker's grave marker