Frederick Baxter

born March 12, 1843

died September 23, 1901

Frederick was the fourth child of Seymour and Dinah Baxter. He was born in Canada and was six years old when his family moved to the United States.
He worked on his family farm until he married Philomena Rennay on July 18, 1867.
According to the 1870 U.S. Census, Frederick worked as a farmer and lived with his wife Philo and young son Eugene in Mexico, New York.
In 1880, he still lived in Mexico but now worked at a bee hive factory.
Two daughters were born into the family before Philo died unexpectedly in March 1894. Frederick and his two daughters then moved to Albany, New York and lived with Eugene, Eugene's wife Nellie and their young son, Frederick.

This is a letter written on the bark of a tree by Frederick Baxter. It is addressed to his sister, most likely Lena. In the letter he writes:
"You may think this is rather funny paper. Well I have none at all and I had to take this which is the bark of a tree. Show it to father and he will tell you what it is."
The mystery of where Frederick was and the year of this letter remains to be solved. (That is part of the fun of genealogy!)