Hector Baxter, a farmer of Maple Township, Ida County, Iowa, was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, June 16, 1834. His parents were John and Mary (McNeil) Baxter, natives also of that country where they lived and died.
Hector was reared and educated in Scotland where he learned and followed the trade of shoemaker for many years. In 1877, he left his native land for the United States, and after landing in New York, purchased and improved 160 acres of wild land in Tama County, Iowa. He sold this land in 1881, and bought 320 acres in Ida County. He built a two-story, eight-room house, along with a barn. He engaged in farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of shorthorn cattle.
He was married at the age of 25 years to Margaret Stuart, a daughter of John and Helen (Cockburn) Stuart of Scotland. Mr. And Mrs. Baxter had seven children, namely: Nellie (wife of Dr. F. B. Warnock), John, James, William, Mary, Hector M. and Stuart.