A Leaf on the Family Tree: Falcon Olero Baker -- Department Store Owner and Businessman

Falcon Olero Baker

Falcon Olero Baker was born on December 24, 1876 on his grandfather’s farm in Hopkins County, Kentucky. He was the oldest of eight children born to Franklin Pierce “Pearl” Baker and Cornelia Osburn Baker. Both Franklin and Cornelia were natives of the Richland community in Hopkins County and Franklin was a successful farmer in the Richland area. Falcon spent his childhood and youth on the family farm and attended the neighboring schools for his early education. At the age of 19, he went to Nebo, Kentucky and enrolled in a course in business administration, which prepared him for a career in the mercantile department store business.

In 1898, Falcon., at the age of 22 moved to Madisonville, Kentucky where he became a clerk in a department store owned by a Mr. Ashby. In 1901, he bought into the firm and the store’s name was changed to Ashby and Baker. In 1907, Falcon sold his interest in the store back to Mr. Ashby and he became a cashier in the Farmers National Bank.

After working three years at the bank, Falcon formed an association with L. K. Hickman, an association which continued the remainder of Falcon’s life. Together they bought a two-thirds interest in Mr. Ashby’s store and the department store became known as Ashby, Baker & Hickman. A few months later, Mr. Ashby died and the store became known as Baker & Hickman, which was a very successful Madisonville mercantile business. In 1917, the two partners built an attractive structure for their downtown business. Also, for the period 1912 through 1915, Falcon became a partner with F. B. Wilkinson in Cadiz in the department store known as the Baker-Wilkinson Company. In 1933, Falcon purchased Mr. Hickman’s interest in the Baker & Hickman firm and formed a corporation which retained the name. Baker and Hickman. Falcon continued to remain as a partner with Mr. Hickman in several real estate, oil and gas developments, and coal enterprises.

On November 24, 1909, Falcon married Myrtle Lynn Golladay in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Myrtle was a teacher in the Madisonville Graded Schools when they were married. She was born on December 3, 1884 in Trigg County, Kentucky, the oldest of eight children of James Richard Golladay and Ida Thomas Golladay. Both James and Ida were natives of Trigg County, Kentucky. James was a well-known farmer of the Gracey neighborhood and Ida was a granddaughter of Starkie Thomas. Myrtle’s siblings were Ethel Golladay, born in 1887; Edgar Golladay, born in 1889 and died at the age of four months; Edna Golladay, born in 1889, a twin of Edgar, and died at the age of ten months; William Thomas Golladay, born in 1890 and died at the age of 13; Sarah Elizabeth Golladay, born in 1892 and married John Towles Evans; Nora Bell Golladay, born in 1894 and married Joseph Earl Randle; and Alfred Golladay, born in 1897 and died as an infant.

Falcon and Myrtle were the parents of two sons, James Golladay Baker, born in 1914 and married Anne Priest and Falcon Olero Baker, Jr., born in 1916 and married Ernestine Maria Theresa Magagna.

Falcon died suddenly of a heart attack at his home in Madisonville on April 7, 1937 at the age of 60. He was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Madisonville. Myrtle died on March 2, 1946 at her home in Madisonville, at the age of 61. She was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery next to her husband.