The Fenton History Center is holding a short memorial for the "Second War of Independence" veterans at Lakeview Cemetery on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Those attending should meet at the office on the corner of Lakeview Avenue and Buffalo Street.
The remembrance will take place at the grave of Col. Henry Baker, a veteran of the War of 1812 and an early settler in Jamestown. Baker came to the area in 1816, locating eventually at Fluvanna.
All he had in his pocket when he arrived was a land warrant in payment for his war service and 50 cents. The land was in Illinois where he had no intention of relocating.
He sold the warrant to Dr. E.T. Foote for 10 pounds of plug tobacco.
He eventually went into the lumber business - buying and selling logs and sawing to specification for building projects which by the 1820s were in great number as Jamestown expanded.
Over time he moved to Jamestown and served as the constable, ran a variety of retail businesses, developed land for homes and farmed. He was an ardent Union supporter allowing three of his sons to serve in the Civil War. He gave a patriotic, emotion-filled call to arms during the darkest time of the Civil War encouraging the younger men to enlist.
Part of his speech to raise another regiment was, "The country needs the men. I have no more sons to give, but as I will give more money and keep on giving as long as I have a cent left, and if I had three more sons old enough to bear a musket I would give them, too. We must save that flag."
He married twice, his first wife died within a year of the marriage, his second wife bore him 10 children and they adopted two children.
He died a wealthy man with more than 1,800 acres of land in the southwest corner of Jamestown.
Col. Baker's great-great-great-grandson is a member of the Fenton History Center and is planning to attend the ceremony. In an effort to find more War of 1812 veterans, the center is asking the community to come to the ceremony with their veteran's information, whatever that might be. The families can also contact the Fenton History Center with their veteran's information.
Visit www.fentonhistorycenter.org or call 664-6256 for more information.