Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-10-31
Hon. e. ID. Baker.

The death of this patriotic statesman
and soldier in the battle at Leesburg,
caused profound sensation and SORROW in
Philadelphia. Gov. Curtin Of Pennsylva,
mia, issued touching general order bear
ing public testimony TO his g$llantry and
worth; and The Philadelphia Inquirer
gives The following sketch of the even!ful
life of the Colonel Of The California regi.
mrnt recruited in that city, and who in the
very zenith Of his noble career has been
stricken down, sinking .s
.To rest, -l' .
With ali his country rs wishes blest."
Senator Bakers life has been almost a
romance. He is an Old Philadelphian,
and of Quaker lineage. His ancestors
were English Friends. Col. Baker him.
self was born in England, but was brought
to Philadelphia whsn an infant, where he,
with younger brother, were left orphans
soon after their arrival. s15u-.eJ ,f-i
This calamity left them no resource but
to work their way through the world with
their own hands. For a while young Ba-
ker, the present Senator, worked as hand
loom weaver in a small establishment near
Thirteenth and South Streets, where the
loom upon which he worked is still stand
ing. 1t is likely now to become an object
of interest. Before he reached manhood,
be paid some attention TO the study OF
the law, and let Philadelphia for the
great West. His purse being light, he and
his young brother crossed The AlIeghabies,
and went through Ohio and Indiana, all
the way on foot, until they reached the
Wabash river, which they descended in a
canoe, and at last found themselves on The
broad prairies of Illinois. In this State,
Col. Baker took up the study of the law
in regular way, and soon made for him
sci! name. even at the bar of Springfield
where he met-sometimes rs colleagues
and sometimes as adversaries-both the
deceased Donglas and President Lincoln.
Being of active mind, he took part in
the politics of Illinois, but as he was
Wing, and III a strongly Democratic State
he did not appear in public life until ls45,
when he was elected TO Congress. Short
ly after this, the Mexican War having oc.
Cured, he raised regiment in bis State,
and went out to rel, force General Taylor.
Returning home as bearer of dispatches,
after several months service on the Rio
Grande, he resumed his seat in Congress,
but almost Immediately resigned and re-
Joined his regiment. He participated in
the siege of Vera Cruz, and in .he bloody
struggle at Cerro Gordo, and after Gen.
Shields received his apparently mortal
wound, at the latter battle, Colonel Baker
took command of the brigade. 81 81.
After the war was over, Colonel Baker
was again elected to Congress from llIi-
nois where he served with distinction du-
ring the sessions OF lS49 and 1850. His
adventurous spirit soon led him TO new
field. In pursuance Of contract with
the Panama Railroad Company, he raised,
equipped and led to the isthmus four hum
dred men, with whom he surveyed and
cleared much of the track Of that impor-
tant highway. Here in common with
many of his iaborers, he was seized with
the deadly Panama fever, and nearly lost
his life. He returned TO Illinois with both
health and fortune very much impaired,
aud in 1852 went with his family 10 Cali
lornia. ln San Francisco Coiouel Baker
soon took front rank in his profession of
the law, and acquired a most lucrative prac
tice. His fame as lawyer and orator
penetrated every part of that remarkable
State. But he was famous also as an ora
tor, and his panegyric of Broderlck, over
The body of the murdered Senator, is said
to have been one Of the grandest exhibi
tions of fervid eloquenee ever seen or heard
on this continent a7s! 5rii s.uf oi GI
But little more than n year ago, the spir-
it of progress being still in full vigor in
his breast, Colonel Baker removed to Ore
gon. His character and fame had preceded
him, and almost Immediately AFTER his arri-
val, he was elected TO the Senate Of the
United States for six years. True to his
instincts as patriot be a secondtime, uil-
der almost exact y similar circumstances,
laid aside the robes of the Legislator for
the armor of The soldier.5di 1el 9.slqme9
Al the outbreak of the rebellion he rails
ed regiment called the California rrgi
ment, mostly enlisted in this city. Su5se-
quenlly he added another battalion To it,
also of Phiadeiphians. Not, satisfied
with this he undertook the organization Of
brigade, which he successfully aecorn-
plished out of several Philadelphia Regi-
rnents. 1t was at the head of one of
these that he yesterday lost his life, falling
in defence of his country's life and honor;