Conn Baker appears in this studio portrait wearing a dak suit and hat. John Carter "Conn" Baker (1/31/1870-10/8/1944) was the son of Burr and Jenny Carter Baker. Conn took up bicycle racing as a teenager in the 1880s. He soon held several world records for speed and endurance. Known as a daredevil, Baker performed bicycle stunts and was the first person to perfect a "loop-the-loop" using a safety bicycle. He joined the Forepaugh and Sells Circus in 1901, performing under the stage name of J.C. Carter, aka, "Allo, Diavolo!" and appeared in a devil costume. He later toured Asia, where he met his future wife Laura Calvert, a member of the Tiller Girls troupe, which was also touring in India. They married in 1908. Baker and his brother, were artists, specializing in landscape and animal subjects. They had purchased the David Beers house, an 1805 log cabin, around 1900 and moved it from its original location on West Dodridge Street to 40 East Norwich Avenue to use as a studio. Several other log structure were added and it later became his home. The house is still standing and is the oldest residence in all of Franklin County, Ohio. After retiring from circus performing, he focused on his landscape painting. He was active in the Ohio Republican Party and worked for the State of Ohio Auditor's office for many years. He also served as the commissioner of the Franklin County Liquor Licensing Board. He and his wife had one daughter, Miriam Poona Gibney. One of her children was artist and author, Conn Baker Gibney.