Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-11-07
Sketch of the Life of the Late
Colonel Baker.

Colonel Baker.
The Hor. E.. D. Baker, who was killed on
Monday. the 2lst ult.. in the engagement
ner Leesburg, Va, was United States Sem
ator from Oregon, and took his seat for the
March. lie was the Colonel of the Califor-
mia regiment recruited in Philadelphia. and
commander of the brigade mostly made up
of Philadelphia regiments. The Inquirer, of
that city, has the following sketch of his
life:
" He is an old Philadelphian. and of Qua
ker lineage. His ancestors were English
Friends. Col. Baker was born in England,
but was brought to Philadelphia when an in
fant, where he, with young brother, were
left orphans soon after their arrival.
This calamity left them no resource but TO
work their way through the world with their
own hands. For while young Baker. the
present Senator. worked as = hand .oom
weaver in small manufacturing establish
ment near Thirteenth and south streets, where
the loom upon which be labored is still STAN
ding. 1t is likely, now. to become an object
of interest. Before he reached manhood, he
paid some attention to the study of the law,
and left Philadelphia for the Great Vest
His purse being light, he and his young
brother crossed the Allsghenies, and went
through Ohio AID Indiana all the way on foot,
until they reached the Wabash river, which
they descended in canoe, and at lest found
themselves on the broad praries Of Illinois.
n this State Col. Baker took up the study of
the law In the regular way. and soon made
tor himself name, even at the bar of Srings
field, where be met-sometimes as colleagues
and sometimes as adversaries-both the de-
ceased Douglas and President Lincoln.
Being of active mind. he took part in the
politics of Illinois, but az be was whig, and
In strongly Democratic State, he did mo-.
appear in public life until l845, when he was
elected to Congress. Shortly after this, the
Mexican war having occurred, he raised
regiment in his State, and went out TO rein
force Gen. Taylor. Returning home as
bearer of dispatches, after several months'
service on the Rio Grande. be resumed his
seat in Congress, but almost Immediately re-
signed and rejoined bis regiment. lie par.
ticipated in the seige of Vera Cruz, and in
the bloody struggle at Cera Gordo, and after
Gen Shields received his apparently mortal
wound at the latter battle, Col. Baker took
command of the brigade.
After the war was over, Col. Baker was
again elected to Congress from Illinois where
be served with distinction during the ses-
sions of 1849 and 1850. His adventurous
spirit soon led him to new field. In pur-
suance of a contract with the Panama rail
road company, he raised, equipped and led
to the Isthmus four hundred men, with
whom be surveyed and cleared much of th =
track of that important highway. Here. in
common with many of his laborers, be was
seized with the deadly Panama fever, and
nearly lost his life.
He returned to Illinois, with both health
and fortune very much Impaired, and in
1852 went with his family to California. In
San Francisco Col. Baker TO a front rank in
his profession of the law. and acquired =
cost lucrative practice. His fame as a law
yer and orator penetrated every part of that
remarkable State. But be was famous also
IS an orator, and his panegyric of Broderick,
over the body of the murdered Senator. is
said to have been one of the grandest exhi-
bitions Of fervid eloquence ever seen or heard
on this sentiment.
But little more than year ago. the spirit
of progress being still in full vigor in his
breast, Col. Baker removed to Oregon. His
character and fame had preceded him, and
almost Immediately after his arrival he was
elected to the Senate of the United States for
six years.
At the outbreak of the rebellion he raised
regimen: called the California regiment,
mostly enlisted in this city. Subsequently
he added another battalion to it, also of Phil
idelphians. Not satisfied with this, he un-
dertook the organization brigade, which he
successfully accomplished out of several
Philadelphia regiments. 1t was at the head
of one of these that he lost his life."