Murray M. Baker

Murray M. Baker
Born	Murray Morrison Baker 1872 Alton, Illinois, USA
Died	August 5, 1964(1964-08-05) (aged 91–92) Peoria, Illinois, USA
Known for	First Executive VP of Holt Manufacturing Company
Spouse	Mary Lyman ​ (m. 1904)​
Children	3

Murray Morrison Baker (1872–1964) was the first executive vice president of Holt Manufacturing Company that became Caterpillar Tractor Company.[1]

Personal life

Baker owned a home at 1222 W. Moss in the West Bluff neighborhood of Peoria, Illinois.[2] He married Mary Lyman of La Grange, Illinois in 1904; she died in 1957.[3]

Career

Baker was a farm implements dealer.[4] He worked with Deere and Co. in St. Louis in 1890.[3]

In 1908, the Colean Co., a steam-powered tractor firm went bankrupt and its plant went up for sale.[2][5][6][7] Baker alerted Pliny Holt of Holt Manufacturing Company to the opportunity.[2][8][9][5][10] Baker joined the Holt Manufacturing Company in 1909 and became vice president and general manager.[2][7] Baker helped the company secure military contracts during World War I, which helped the company grow four-fold.[2]

In 1917, he was involved in building a seven-mile stretch of Illinois Route 116 in East Peoria.[2][9] During World War II, he advocated for a new bridge over the Illinois River between Peoria and East Peoria.[2]

Baker worked at Caterpillar until 1927.[2]

Baker also influenced R.G. LeTourneau to bring his business to Peoria in 1935, at the Avery Manufacturing Co. site on NE Adams Street which is present-day Komatsu plant.[2][11]

Baker served on the Caterpillar Board for over 40 years, from 1925 to 1957.[2]

Philanthropy

Baker contributed funds to Bradley University, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Proctor Hospital, and Methodist Hospital.[2][3]

Death

Baker died at the age of 92.[3]

Legacy

The Murray Baker Bridge, which carries Interstate 74 over the Illinois River, was named for Baker in 1956.[3] The bridge was dedicated on Dec. 12, 1958.[12]

Baker Hall, former home of the Foster College of Business Administration at Bradley University, was named for Baker and demolished in 2017.[13][14]

References

1. Haycraft, William R. (2002). Yellow Steel: The Story of the Earthmoving Equipment Industry. University of Illinois Press. p. 60. ISBN 0-252-07104-2.
2. Lynn, Greg (2019-07-29). "Murray Baker's Mansion on Moss". Peoria Magazine. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
3. "Murray Baker Dies at 92". Chicago Tribune. 1964-08-06. p. 94. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
4. Tarter, Steve (2015-04-11). "Peoria and the world have depended on Caterpillar For 90 years". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
5. Higgins, F. Hal. "Murray M. Baker Looks Back at 80 - Farm Collector". www.farmcollector.com. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
6. Gordon, Paul (2010-02-16). "Caterpillar completes its first century". The State Journal-Register. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
7. Potts, Jim (2015-06-05). "Cat historian digs into company roots". Pekin Daily Times. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
8. Reid, Ali (2019-09-12). "Murray Baker's historic home on the market in Peoria's West Bluff". CIProud.com. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
9. "How One Man Changed Caterpillar's Future". Caterpillar. 2019-08-15. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
10. "Caterpillar est. 1910" (PDF). Peoria Historical Society.
11. Lynn, Greg (2011-01-03). "Six Degrees of Murray Baker". Peoria Magazine. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
12. Farris, Christopher (2020-11-01). "Murray Baker Bridge brought big changes to Peoria, good and bad". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
13. Tarter, Steve (August 2019). "Murray Baker's Mansion on Moss". PeoriaMagazines.com.
14. Kaergard, Chris (9 March 2020). "Demolition begins for final phase of Bradley University Business and Engineering Convergence Center". Journal Star.