High View Farm

A Family History Web Site

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Tom Baden
James Baden Jr.
Thomas Eagan
William Barbour
Elizabeth Baden
Mary Baden Parker
James Baden Sr.

James Henry Baden
1881 - 1948


James H. Baden and his three sisters, Sally Hattie, and Gertie, mid - 40's.

Jim Baden, as he was known during his life, came from Southern Maryland.  In that part of the state there is a community named Baden, and it is a common surname.  In fact, most Americans named Baden seem to be descended from these Maryland families, who apparently came to this country as early as the 17th Century.  There is a Catholic and a Protestant branch of the families.

As a young man, Jim Baden became a "runner" for a Washington, DC bank, and settled on a career as a banker.  He  worked his way through Georgetown Law School and received an Associate of Laws degree in 1903 (a general business degree).  He married Elizabeth Barbour in 1913, and about 1922 he took advantage of his position as a banker to buy a foreclosed property in Southwest Washington with 40 acres of farmland.  The lovely house is featured in photos on this web site.

Jim Baden received a "Folding Pocket Kodak" as a present from his fiancée at his engagement in 1912.  He continued to take photos with that camera until his death in 1948.  The black and white photos which are used throughout this web page were taken by him.

The camera had a large negative size -- about 5 x 7 inches -- and an f64 lens aperture.  The photos taken with it, when scanned today, have excellent detail.  The camera also had a self timer, and in photos where Jim is seen as part of the group, he set the timer and went to join the others.


Jim Baden's 1912 "Folding Pocket Kodak"

 

In 1929 he was Vice President and Cashier of Commercial National Bank in Washington.  Acting on a rumor that a stock market crash was imminent, he had his property put in his wife's name.  The Commercial National Bank failed in the crash, and since he was a partner, he was responsible for a share of the firm's debts, but because of his foresight the family was able to retain their home.  During the depression they took in boarders and sold produce to supplement their income.

According to oral tradition, he worked for Herbert Hoover on reconstructing the finances of the country.  But when Roosevelt was elected, he and all other Republicans were dismissed.  He later worked with the Maritime Administration under Joseph Kennedy.

Despite the Depression economy, Jim Baden managed to put his two sons through college at the University of North Carolina, and was looking forward to retiring to Chapel Hill when he died at 67.  Some of his last photographs were of his baby grandson, Tom Parker.


Tom Parker "swimming" in an old life raft
Taken by Jim Baden, 1948, just before his death.

Note the new housing which was built on the what was the former grounds of the family home.

 

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Last modified: 03/25/06

Sponsored by High View Music, Inc., Alexandria, Virginia.  Visit our web site for information:  www.highviewmusic.com