William "Tutty" Baker (1793-1855), was an American pioneer credited as the founder of Freeport, Illinois. Originating from the South, he claimed the land which would become Freeport, then occupied by the Winnebago tribe, in 1827, though he did not immediately build a homestead.[1] He received the nickname "Tutty" from the tribe, which he was on good terms with, on account of his stutter. He built a trading post on the banks of the Pecatonica River. A generous man, Baker began operating a free ferry across the river and even invited travelers into his home for meals and lodging.[2] According to one story, Freeport earned its name after Baker's wife, Elizabeth Phoebe Baker, asked him if his river port was a "Free Port", because of the number of people he didn't charge to ferry across the river.[3]

A monument to him was erected in Freeport by the Daughters of the American Revolution.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Looking Back: Freeport's founder: Who was he?". Gustason, Harriett. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  2. ↑ "History of Freeport". City of Freeport. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  3. ↑ Illinois, written by the Federal Writer's Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of (1939). Illinois; a descriptive and historical guide. St. Clair Shores, Mich.: Somerset Publishers. pp. 520–521. ISBN 0403012929.
  4. ↑ "Tutty Baker Monument". Freeport/Stephenson County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.