He attended elementary schools, Lincoln and Logan and the Washington Junior High and completed four years at Marion Township High School in three years graduating in 1921. He completed pre-medical courses at the U. of I. and there graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in 1928 and is a life member of both the Theta-Chi national Fraternity and the Phi Beta Pi Medical Fraternity.
After serving his internship at Augustana Hospital in Chicago, he returned home to Marion in January of 1930 and went into practice with his father, Dr. Virgil A. Baker, over the Whittington-Wallace Pharmacy (later Parks Pharmacy). His father died suddenly in October of that same year and” Dr. Lon” continued to practice on his own. Dr. L.L Fowler had an office upstairs in the same building. About 1935 his office was moved next door, upstairs, over the F.W. Woolworth store. Dr. M.W. Ballance, a dentist, occupied an office on the same floor.
He married Esther McLaren on October 25, 1934, and their first home was at 400 E. Allen Ave. in Marion, Illinois. Esther was the youngest child of Archibald B. McLaren. One son, William Jonathan Baker was born to them in 1937.
Dr. Baker reported for active duty in March of 1941 where he was assigned to the 30th Division, Medical Regiment, as a First Lieutenant. While serving at several locations, where his wife and son accompanied him, he was promoted to Captain and then to Major while he commanded the clearing hospital for the Division.
In February 1944, the entire 30th Division left Boston for England and Scotland where more training was accomplished. D-Day Invasion was set for June 6. A clearing hospital was set up in the high school building when his unit was transported to Isigny, France and about five days after the invasion they received their first casualties.
This was near an airfield, so most casualties were transferred to England this clearing hospital consisted of ten medical officers commanded by Dr. Baker. After the break through they themselves cared for the casualties and then followed the 30th Division through almost every major battle in Europe, ending with the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium.
At the end of active duty, the clearing hospital had processed approximately twenty- one thousand casualties.
After the war was over and having received a “Bronze Star” and numerous other awards he was discharged in January, 1946 as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Upon returning to general practice, including obstetrical work and some surgery, he opened his office in the “Pride Building” at 200 W. Main in Marion in April, 1946. Due to the magnitude of work he had to stop surgery and finally obstetrics after having delivered some 2400 babies.
Dr. Baker was first on staff at Holden Hospital in Carbondale.
Dr. Baker was a major force in organizing Marion Memorial Hospital, working in conjunction with other doctors, including Dr. Martin M. May, and citizens. The hospital opened in May, 1953 with Dr. Ben Fox and Dr. Howard Dibble as the main surgeons. A teenage with acute appendicitis, Peggy Phillips, was the first surgical patient. Most doctors did some obstetrics. At one time Dr. Baker was Chief of Staff.
Dr. Baker was Vice Chairman of the Bank of Marion at the time it celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1987. He was a major force in its organization but was at first hard to Convince in helping to start a new bank by his good friend Fred Harrison of Herrin. At that time (1937) Dr. Baker said he had had considerable experience in banking.
“My bank account was with The First Trust and Savings Bank, which failed in the 1929 depression; then my account was with the First National, which also failed then to Carterville National Bank, which failed and finally to the State Bank, which stayed open, thank goodness.” Finally he was convinced and he and Fred Harrison met weekly with business people and anyone who would listen.
Eventually 500 shares of stock were sold at $125.00 per share; applied for a state charter, which was obtained, and the Bank of Marion was opened for business in December 1937. Some others that helped in starting the bank were Harry Cox, Carl Bruce of Herrin, G.J. Frick, Edward Longbons, Harold Zimmerman, Ira Nelson, V.W. Bowman, Clyde Keltner, Ralph Thurmond, Lloyd McMichael, and Oscar Schafale.
Baker served as both Vice President of the Bank of Marion and also Vice Chairman in addition to acting as a board member.
Dr. “Lon” was a member of many clubs and organizations including BPOE (over 50 years life member), Missouri Athletic Club (since 1946), American Legion (after war), VFW (after war), American Medical Association (50 year club), American Academy of Family Physicians, Illinois State Medical Society (past president), University of Illinois alumni, Williamson County Heart Association (past president), Illinois State Medical Society (Emeritus Member) and Lions Club. He was a member of the Marion Chamber of Commerce and was president for one year in the early 1930’s. At the Annual Dinner of the Greater Marion Area Chamber of Commerce in January, 1987 he was awarded the prestigious “Lifetime Achievement Award”.
In 1976, at age 72, Dr. Baker retired from active medical practice. On his last day he saw 52 medical patients: However, after “retirement” he maintained a business office and continued to do examinations for the Federal Aviation Administration. He was first designated an official examiner in 1932 (then known as the CAA Examiner) and was then recognized as a Federal Aviation Agency Designated Official Examiner (FAA).
Dr. A.N. Baker died at 12:05 A.M. Friday, October 8, 1993 at Marion Memorial Hospital at the age of 89. At the time of his death, he and his wife were residing at 500 E. Allen Ave.
Dr. “Lon” was the last of a long line of doctors originating with his grandfather in Herrin, Dr. Alonzo P. Baker – Father, Dr. Virgil A. Baker – Uncle, Dr. Griffin Baker – Great Uncles, Dr. Miles Baker and Dr. Griffin Baker (both of Herrin) and their sons, Dr. Wade Baker and Dr. Carl Baker.
Survivors after his death included a son and daughter in law, William J. and Pauline Baker of Marion; two step grandsons and a granddaughter-in-law, Daniel Dean and Pam and Jeffery Paul Boan, all of Marion; and three grandchildren, Sarah Boan, Daniel Boan and Jonathon Boan, all of Marion.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Sophia Davis.
Baker was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Marion.
Wilson Funeral Home handled the funeral services on Sunday, October 10th. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery with Rev. Earl R. Black officiating.
(Extracted from an article written by Mary Lou Roberts and published in the 1989 Sesquicentennial History; Marion Daily Republican obituary; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 1007/2013)