John H. Baker, son of John Twitty Baker

 

And at the same time and place came also John H. Baker to me personally well known, and who after being duly sworn, according to Law, to Testify and the truth to speak in requard to the matters in the captions hereof mentioned, deposed as follows that is to say:

 

My name is John H. Baker, I am a son of the witness Mary Baker (whose Deposition is hereto annexed) and John T. Baker, deceased. I have had hearing of the deposition hereto annexed of my mother, Mary Baker and I have of my own knowledge and recollection, full belief that her statements and calculations therein made and given are correct. I was living one half mile from my father when he started to California in April 1857, and know that he had the number of cattle and other personal property in said schedule set forth by the said witness, Mary Baker. I was well acquainted with the price of stock at that time, was also well acquainted with the kind, quality and worth of the property as mentioned in the tabular statement made in the deposition of the said Mary Baker, and I know that the personal property, therein mentioned was the property of my father, and that he started to California with all and more personal property than mentioned herein. He had more guns, saddles, bridles etc. than is mentioned in said stated estimate, etc. Know that such oxen as John T. Baker took with him could not have been purchased in this market and got fixed and ready for the trip under a cost of from Sixty to Seventy dollars. I know also that the mare and mules are put down at a fair estimate, and as to the amount of provisions and camp equipage, my opinion is that it is below the real value, but of this I can not say with so much certainty. I have been in California. I was there in the latter part of the year 1852, stayed there until the month of September 1854, and from my knowledge of the country, and the price of property I think the property that the said John T. Baker left here with in April 1857, would have been worth at Mountain Meadows, the full sum of Ten Thousand dollars. This statement however is only made from such general knowledge as I have from the western hands, and also from the information of other traders.

 

I cannot now state what amount of money my father started with, but I know he had money with him, but as to the amount I do not know. The stock cattle were a well selected lot of cattle, and were sold in this market at twenty dollars per head. I have a good knowledge of the quality of cattle, for I helped my father collect the cattle and also went a few days travel with him when he started to California, and have of my own personal knowledge gave the statements as regards the value of this property here. So help me God.

 

J. H. Baker

 

Sworn to and subscribed to before me this 22nd day of October 1860.

John Bunch J P