Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-04-24
FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL or
IOWA PASSES AWAY At
cENTERviLLE. I
PROMINENT IN STATE
IN PIONEER DAYS
Had Distinction Of Serving Two States
a. Attorney General, Having Assisted
In Reconstruction, In Missouri - III
for Many Months-Funsral Tuesday
at csntsrviIle. is

Centerville. April 24.-Gen. Andrew
Jackson Baker. pioneer Iowa law max
err and law enforcer of two states, died
at his home here Sunday afternoon at
ter an illness Of many months. He
death.
For years General Baker was q CEN
trail figure in the political life, not only
Of Iowa, but also Of Missouri, having
had the distinction of serving terms
as attorney general of both states.
With his death passes one of the great
men who aided in the making Of his
tory Of the state In the early days, and
the building up Of Missouri in the
stormy days of the reconstruction per-
iod which followed the civil war.
The life story Of General Baker is
similar in many respects to that OF
many men whose records are now en-
rolled in the who's Who" of Iowa. His
early life was struggle with poverty
and the hardships Of the wild days OIL
the state, seemingly with but one
thought in view. that Of Calming an
education. Thru the years Of his
young manhood this idea seemed to
predominate.
Native Of Virginia.
General Baker was born In ONO
county, Virginia, near Moundsville, now
in Marshall county. West Virginia He
received his early education in the
schools of Butler county. Ohio. where
his father removed soon after General
Bakers birth, and afterward at Fur
mans academy. When he was only IN
his teens and the country was stu
young, the family removed to Des
Moines county.
At the age Of Is. young Baker went
to work in q store at Burlington watn
q view Of obtaining an education. he
was there but a short time, When ne
was compelled to return to the 1aEh 90
aid his father. However. he did not
surrender the idea OF better n.t1hs
himself for life In educational INES
and in 1s49 he entered the nrst class
at Wesleyan seminary, which ID no"
Iowa Wesyelan College, at mount
Pleasant.
Here he remained but a short time.
as n, 1850 and 1851 he taught echooA M
Des Moines and Henry countles' sl1l.
continuing his studies, however anu
reciting 10 Professor Gunnion' OF ei.e
Burlington Collegiate institute. ms
he continued for some time, bvt In 1893
he began reading law with Q. b. Lar
win at Burlington, continuing In tns
work until 1855, when he was admitted
to the bar.
Engages in Law Practice.
With but 50 cents in his pocket ne
90 int
partnership with Fl. J. B. Cummings
then congressman from the seventh
Iowa. district. From that time on his
advance was rapid.
When the civil war began in 1861 he
organized q company Of the Seven
.teenth Iowa infantry and until 1863
served in the company as first heuten-
ant. Immediately following his leaving
the army, he located at-Lancaster, Mo-,
and in 1867 he was elected county at
torney Of Scanlon county. and the next
year was chosen as representative in
the Missouri legislature. In the re-
publican split which occurred IN 1870
he joined the B, Crate Brown wing of
the party and was elected attorney
general by 10000 majority.
/ Following the close Of his term as
attorney general ne removed 10 NeAlSC>
Vile, Iowa, where he afterward made
his home and where he was q partner
of the late General Drake in the law
business.
lowa's Attorney General.
. In 1884 he was elected attorney gen.
eral of Iowa and served two terms. He
was author of the liquor injunction and
abatement laws and also was author Of
Bakers Annotated Constitution OF the
United States" issued in 1891. While
attorney general he formed the law
firm OF Baker. Bishop & Hasl<ins in
Des Moines, which continued for two
years.
General Baker was active In the Odd
Fellows order and held many of the
highest offices. The local order Of Odd
Fellows. assisted by members Of the
local bar and G. A. r. organization.
will have charge of the funeral, which
will be held Tuesday afternoon at the
residence.