Sketch of
Mr. Benjamin P. Baker.

In 1868, Mr. Benj. P. Baker, the subject of this sketch, while yet in his teens, entered the undertaking and building establishment of Watson & Williams on Charles Street as an apprentice, where he remained until the latter part of 1873, when he left that firm and offered his services to the contractors of Key West as a journeymen carpenter.  Mr. Baker succeeded from his energy and integrity, in securing all the work that he could do, and by close economy he succeeded in saving up a small amount of capital in a few years. In October, 1874, he entered into a co-partnership with Messrs. T. R. Russell and F. W. Roberts, and bought out the undertaking establishment of Mr. Robert Morrow. Situated on Wall Street, he started up an undertaking and contracting business, under the firm name of B. P. Baker & Co.; and in 1876 Messrs. Baker and Roberts bought out the interest of Mr. T. R. Russell. In a short while thereafter, the firm purchased a lot on Ann Street, and built a house sufficient in size to accommodate their twofold business.

In 1880 Mr. Baker purchased the interest of Mr. Roberts, and soon after sold the house and lot on Ann Street and built a small house on Simonton Street where his business prospered. In 1883 he moved the shop to the rear of the lot and had a large furniture store erected, and placed in it a small but select stock of furniture.  From his courteous manners and affable bearing, coupled with industry, enterprise and integrity, the business of Mr. Baker continued to grow until March, 1886, when the great fire of Key West leveled his house to the ground and burned up the whole of his furniture store and stock, without one dollar's worth of insurance.

Nothing daunted, however he soon knocked up a small house on the old site sufficient to carry on his undertaking business, until he could

rebuild his furniture house, which he at once took step to rebuild.  About the 12th day of June of the same year, Mr. Baker had completed a large and roomy three-story building on the Simonton Street site, and the very next day after its completion he took a steamer for New York to purchase a new stock of furniture, caskets, coffins, etc. In the following August he returned to Key West with one of the largest and prettiest stocks of furniture ever before seen on this island, and at once opened up and offered his goods for public patronage, which, from his enterprise and liberal and honest dealings was not slow in coming in, his business prospered and increased until in 1887 he was forced to add a large addition to his building on the east end. Today he has as large and handsome stock of furniture and undertaking goods as can be found in any retail establishments of the kind in the State of Florida. 

The undertaking department is situated in the rear of the furniture house, and is stocked with metallic, rose-wood and mahogany caskets, cases and cheaper grade of coffins; among the most attractive of which are white coffins for children and young people who are not out of their teens when they shake off this mortal coil.  These coffins or caskets, after they have encased the last mortal remains of those for whom they are purchased, are borne to their last resting place in a beautiful white hearse, recently imported from New York by Mr. Baker.  This hearse, as does also the one used in the burial of older persons, are stored in the carriage house by the Undertaking Department, which accommodates a large pair of fat and sleek horses (one black and the other white), each for his own hearse.  The white hearse, coffin and horse is an innovation into this city by Mr. Baker, and it's spectacle has never been imitated entirely by the other undertakers in the city.

Mr. Baker certainly deserves the success he has gained, and we are proud to point to him as one of the most enterprising citizens of Monroe county, and one of the largest advertsiers in the Daily Equator-Democrat, which takes a modest credit, in a great measure, for his unprecedented success.