The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-11-01
The Late Col. Edward D Baker.

in the recent disastrous battle on tho Upper
Potomsc;
Senator Bakers lifo has been almost
romance. Ho 10 an old Philadelphian, and |
Of Quaker lineage. His ancestors wero En.
glish Friends. Col. Baker himself was born !
in England, but was brought 10 Phiisdoi- !
pbis when an infant, where he, with q
younger brother. were lofs orphans soon
after their arrival. ..
This calamity left them no resource but
to work their way through tho world with
thoir own hands. For while young Baker,
the present Senator, worked as y hand
loom weaver In q small establishment near
Thirtecnth and South streets, whore the
loom upon which he labored 10 still stardins.
IL 10 likely now TO become an object Of In.
torest. Before he reached manhood, he
paid some attention 20 tho study Of the Law
aud loft Philadelphia for the Great West.
His purse bcing light, ho aud his young
brother crossed the Allcg and vent
through Ohio and Indiana, oil the way on
foot, until they reached the Wabash river,
which they descendod in q canoe, and ut
last found themselves on the broad prairics
Of Illinois. Ia this State, Col Baker took
up the study of tho law in u regular way,
aud soon made for himself name. even at
the bar Of Springfield. where he mot-some.
times as colleagues aud sometimes as sd
versaries-both tho deceased Douglas and
President Lincoln.
Boing OF active mind, he took part IN the
politics Of Illinois, but as he was Wing.
and in strongly Democratic State. no did
not appear in public life until iS45, whom
no was elected to Congress. Shortly after
this, the Mexican War having occurred. he
c raised Iog'ment % !" his STATE, state. and went
ing home as bearer OF dispatches. after
several months service on the Rio Grande.
no resumed his seat in Congress. but almost
Immediately resigned and rcjoined his regi-
inent. He participated in the siege OF Vcra
Cruz aud in tho bloody struggle at Cerro
Gordo. and after General Shields received
his apparently mortal wound, ut tho latter
battle. Col. Bskor took command Of the
brigade.
Alter the war Sas over, Colonel Baker
was again elected TO Congress from Illinois,
whore he served with dis inction during the
sessions of lSI9 and 1850. His adventur-
Ous spirit soon led him TO u new field. In
pursuance of contract with the Panama
Railroad Company, he raised, equipped and
led to the Istbmus four hundred men, with
whom he surveyed and cleared much Of the
track of that important highway. Here, in
common with many of his laborers, he was
seized with the deadly Panama fever. and
ncaf'y lost his life. He returned to Illinois
mn.;,.d " T .nd "1 ~ ,ssa "an. ";,h h h;s fam;Iu %
~ CaIifornia In San Franci.co ColonsI
Baker soon took front rank In his pro-
fession OF the law. and acquired most iu.
cratse Prac.ce. iis 'au'o AZ" 's~yoI anu
m.rSshia S,.,s
But little more than q year ago. the spiri,
of progress being still in full vigor 10 bis
breast. Colonel Baker removed to Oregon.
His cha,a actor and fame had preceded him,
and almost Immediately after his arrival, no
was elected to the Senate of tho United
States for sig Years Truo to his instincts as
u patriot. he a second time. under almost
exactly similar circumstances. laid uside the
robes OF the legislator for the armor of the
soldier.
At the outbreak Of the rebellion he raised
q regimen; called tho California Regiment,
mostly enlisted in this city. subsequently.
he added another battalion 20 It. also OF
Phiiadelphians. Not satisfied with tina. he
undertook tho organization OF . brigade,
which he successfully accomplished out OF
several Philadelphia Regiments. IL was nj
tho head OF one OF these mat ne yesterday
lott his life, falling in defence OF his coun-
trys life and honor.
Goo. Wilkes, editor of the Spirit Of the
Tim, n,b,isba. y. long and dsenI, ;,,sr.
:, a.. a.. W. T-u.
es'"s A'"o'o :" '"o "
apon tho death OF Co'' bskor' from "bich
wo extract that portion which relates TO bis
connection with tho funeral obseq uiss of
s.,.,or Rro5o,;.l.
o -
iney nave kn'eu me oeeaese l was OPP
Poseu " 'no eAo" VI slavery an"
corIup' Ao'ao, n u';S, wa. 'ne 'as. aec'
'ars,'on o. 'ue oy"g oeua'o' Ano as 'no
worus Ie.' ,ro,n ou n's ,pe, 'ney oecahe h,e IN
'ne noa'. o' .ne "eoP'"g ofa'o' VINO he'Pou
" c'ose us oyes'
The empire city OF the Western Ocean
was STEPPED IN gloom at the contemplation
OF tho monstrous doed. All trade vas stop
PED no sound OF Dustie was neard along
the streo"; and, by common consent, with
out pagoant or parade. or any sound but
the low, measured, mnfiied ihrob OF the
church-beIls' the dejacted people. walking
as u they almost held their 6reaths. gath
cred in the main square. and formed them
selves, Ike so many shadows.round the hIor.
AZ the foot OF the cothn stood the priest (;
At its head, and so he could gaze freely on
the face OF his dead friend, stood the pale
figure OF the orator. Both OF them, the
living and the dead, were self'made men ;
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