Early School Teacher and Homesteader

Mary Henrietta Baker was born on August 18, 1874 in North Bristol, Wisconsin. She grew up in Wisconsin and attended schools there.

Mary Baker Demaris

By Steve Lent, Crook County Historian

Mary Henrietta Baker was born on August 18, 1874 in North Bristol, Wisconsin. She grew up in Wisconsin and attended schools there. She attended an academy in Wisconsin and became a teacher. She taught at schools in Wisconsin for a few years. She also was a linotype operator and worked for some publishing companies in Illinois.

She heard of the opportunities for homesteading in Central Oregon and moved to the region. A homestead finder assisted her in finding a location to homestead north of Maury Mountain near Newsome Creek. To help support her homesteading she began teaching at local schools including Sheep Rock, Roberts, Post, Shotgun, Upper Mill Creek, Lower Mill Creek and Conant Basin schools.

She met a fellow homesteader Robert Demaris. He had homesteaded in Conant Basin in 1910. Robert was born in Iowa on January 11, 1876. His parents were Enoch and Almeda Demaris who were among the earliest pioneers in Central Oregon. Soon Mary and Robert became enamored with each other and they were married in 1913.

They maintained their two homesteads and managed them by living on one ranch and then another. Mary continued teaching. They had one daughter Mary Almeda Demaris who was born in 1917.

They moved to the Riverside Ranch near Post in 1928. They lived there until 1932 when they decided to move into Prineville so their daughter could attend high school. Mary became active in the community and was a member of the Library Club that worked hard to establish a library in Prineville. Robert served as a “Live” trapper for the Forest Service.

They built a new house in Prineville in 1938 and lived there for the rest of their lives. Robert passed away on April 22, 1963. Mary lived on for two years and passed away on February 14, 1965. Both are buried in Juniper Haven Cemetery in Prineville.