Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-01
A SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.

Lewis BAKER was porn november &,
1882, in Belmont county. Ohio. His
early education was such as could be
acquired in the country school of the
period, and at the age of twelve he
began work in country newspaper
Office and learned the trade of compos-
itor. Incident to this he also acquired
general and practical knowledge of
all departments of printing, and at in
tervals, later on. he tried his hand
at reporting and in editorial work,
with marked success. He was indus
trious and ambitious, and made his way
rapidly to the front Before the out
break of the war he owned and edited
various Ohio newspapers, among them
the Woodsfeld Democrat, Cambridge
Jeffersonian and the Ohio State Jour
nal, at Columbus, being associated with
the late Hon. S. S. Cox in the conduct
of the last named journal. He was
active in Ohio politics, serving as a
member of the State Democratic com
mlII66 LOT S6p6Tdl years.
In the first part of 1868, in looking
about for an enlarged field for enter
prise and usefulness, he fixed upon this
city, and arrived here in the early
summer of 1863, with but a limited
amount of capital but with determin-
alton to embark in the business of pub
fishing q Democratic newspaper in a
city where Democrats were few and far
between, and where those few could
scarcely say their souls were their own.
The war was at its height, public feel
ing ran strong, and the city was vir-
tually under martial law, although the
forms of civil government were OBJ
served 1t was a most unpromising
field, and particularly for a stranger
Thenceforth for more than twenty
years his home and work were in
Wheeling.
After consultation with Democratic
leaders and number of prominent eiti-
zens, Mr. Baker determined to go
ahead with his enterprise, and the
plant of the old Press Office was pur-
chased from Col. Henry Moore, such
arrangements and additions were made
as slender capital permitted, and on
the 9th day of July, 1868, the first
number of the Register was issued by
Mr.. Baker, the Office being located on
the east side of Market street, three
doors south of the corner of Eleventh
Under Mr.. Bakers direction the paper
took a vigorous stand for Democratic
principles and policies, and this early
led to trouble. On the 9Th of July, 1854
Mr.. Bakers paper contained some Sc
we're comments upon the failure of
General Hunters Lynchburg raid. and
by command of the General named Mr.
Baker and his editor, Mr. o. S. Long,
who had six months before become
connected with the paper, were arrest
ed and consigned to the Athenaeum
military prison, at Market and Six
teenth strets, where they remained for
two months, and were afterwards join
ed by a number of prominent Demo-
cratic citizens. Messrs. Baker and
Long we're finally released by command
of General Sheridan, only to find the
Register Office a virtual wreck. and it
was not until late in September that
the issue of the paper could be re-
sumed.
Mr.. Bakers practical knowledge and
his untiring energy rapidly built up
the paper. and with the end of the war
and the consequent ending of the ami
mosities incident to it, he became more
and more successful. In 1867 the Office
was removed to what is now the Me-
Lain block. opposite the Mcclure House.
and there Mr.. Baker published the first
Sunday paper ever issued in this city,
| the Sunday News. This was continued,
i In conjunction with the Register, for
some time after the third removal OF
| the paper to the building corner of
Market street and alley 3, in 1872. but