The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-05-01
The Former Wheeling Editor Elk.
pircs at Washington After
ILLNESS OF SEVERAL WEEKS.
More Than n Third of Century he
was Prominent in Journalism and
Politics-Was Minister to Central
American Republics During Second
Cleveland Administration-Wns Re.
Gently Publisher OF Charleston
Gazette.
Gazette.

Last night the information reached
Wheeling OF the death OF Hon. Lewit
Baker. Of Washington City. The news
was not generally circulated. but those
who learned OF the sad event we're sin.
| cere In their expressions OF regret that
the Great Reaper had called n man who
was formerly so prominent In this COM
munltv. Mr.. Baker having been pub
Usher and editor of the Wheeling Reg
lister from 1868 to 1885. For more than a
third of n century he was prominent in
journalism and politics. During the
past weeks he had suffered from an at
tack OF perniclous aenemi1. which grew
steadily worse.
Besides his widow. Mrs. Ruth Baker,
sister of Colonel s. ". Fordyce, OF 81.
Louis, receiver OF the Kansas City. Pitts
burgh 6 Gulf railroad. nine children
survive him. They are: John F. Baker,
Mrs. c. II. Warren and Mrs. J. *
Stubbert. of New York City; Lewis Bal
ker. OF Philadelphia; Mrs. c. W. Stiles,
Miss S. c. Baker and Miss Ruth Baker.
of Washington: ". F. Baker, of Mel
rose, Mimi: S. G. Baker, of Ellsins. w.
Va. All but one OF his immediate fam
lily were present when he died.
Funeral services will be held on Tues
day morning and the remains will be
inferred In Rock Creek cemetery. Wash
ington.
Lewis Baker was born November Z.
1892. In Belmont county. Ohio. He en-
tered country newspaper office at the
age of twelve years to learn the print
ing business and with the exception OF n
few years in the government diplomatic
service devoted his lie to newspaper
work.
He owned and edited various Ohio
newspapers, among them the Woods
field Democrat; Cambridge Jefferson
! ian and the Ohio Stase Journal. ut COL
umbus. being associated with the late
Hon. S. S. Cox in the conduct OF the last
named journal. He was active In Ohio
politics, serving rs member OF the
State Democratic committee for several
years. He was delegate to nearly er-
cry national Democratic convention
from 1850 TO 1892. During the civil war
he established the Wheeling Register
and conducted It until 1885. He was
chairman OF the Democratic state COM
m!ttee In West Virginia for twelve or
fifteen years and 4 member OF the r,a-
tlonal committee for four gears. He
served two terms In the state senate
and was presiding officer of that body
part Of the time.
He purchased the St. Paul Globe In
1851 and made II power In the political
and commercial development OF the
northwest until 1898. when he was ap-
pointed minister to Nicaragua, Costa
Rica, and Salvador by President Cleve-
land. Mr.. Baker was chairman OF the
Minnesota state Democratic committee
in the campaign OF 1892 In 1886 he was
the unanimous choice OF the Democratic
members of the legislature of Minnesota
for the United States senate. He served
his country faithfully as minister In the
troublesome countries OF Central Amer
ica from 1899 TO 1895.
Recently Mr.. Baker assumed the
management OF the Charleston Daily
Gazette. and remained there until called
to Washington by his Illness.