Born in Kentucky on April 2, 1793, Baker first traveled to northern Illinois in 1827. Drawn to a Native American village called Winneshiek—home to the Winnebago tribe—he recognized the area's promise. On December 24, 1835, Baker returned to claim 640 acres of land, establish a trading post, and begin laying the foundation for a new settlement.

Baker named the community Winneshiek in honor of the tribe. But the town’s eventual name came from an even more personal moment. As he and his wife, Elizabeth Phoebe Baker, welcomed a steady stream of travelers and settlers into their home—often offering food, shelter, and ferry passage across the river free of charge—Elizabeth reportedly joked that their home had become a “free port.” The name stuck, and the village officially adopted it.

His acts of service went beyond hospitality. Baker operated a free ferry, offered goods on credit or in trade, and provided space for social gathering through his tavern. In 1836, he moved his entire family to the area, making Elizabeth the first white woman to settle there. Their daughter Caroline was among the first white children born in the village.

Today, Baker’s impact is still visible. A monument erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution stands at the foot of Monterey Street, marking the site of his original ferry crossing and honoring his legacy.

William "Tutty" Baker died on July 14, 1855, but the values he lived by—hospitality, generosity, and community—remain woven into Freeport’s identity.