conrad baker was born in franklin county, pennsylvania, on february 12, 1817, the son of conrad baker, a presbyterian minister, and mary winternheimer baker. he worked on the family farm until age fifteen and attended common school. he then enrolled in pennsylvania college in gettysburg where he studied law, but quit before graduating. he continued to study law in the office of thaddeus stevens. he met matilda escon sommers and the couple married in 1838. they had two children. baker was admitted to the bar in 1839 and opened his own office in gettysburg.