The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-05-30

II
Ohio to the first national convention
held by that organization in Phila-
delphia This was in June, 1856. On |
June II he assisted in making John
c. Fremont the party's candidate for
president. In 1908 he attended the
national republican convention in Chi |
cago being one of the two only win
ming delegates who were of the Phil
adelphia convention in 1856. He was
accorded signal honors on that occa-
sion
In 1890 General Baker broke away
from the party which he helned to
o-ganize. became a member OF the
farmers alliance. was nominated for
congress in the second Minnesota dis
triat nv that new and fast growing
org ni7ation. received the endorse
nrent Of the democrats and was de-
so1te6 nv John Lind. hut the latters
rluralitv was cnlv 4S2. 1t always
has been claimed hvtthose who were
acquainted with the situation that
oh'eane..v and trickery on the part
Of several democrats in this city
and in Faribau't county served to
defeat tho general in his cherished
ambition to represent this district in
Icnrgrers The general was a, candi-
date long before tho days of the
| Australian ballot system and pa~tv
cr0ari~atinna suprlied til" hPliots 1t
| is said that many democratic ballots
sent into Faribault county did not
-ortain his name end thus he was
deprived of several hundred votes
IN 1894 the general was a candidate
for congress against James t. Nc
Cleary on tariff revision platform
and was defeated
uaterDay CanIidacics.
In 1896 General Rakor returned to
the republicPn fold He could not
rtand for BRYAN and free silyerism.
He again became an active worker
in the republican ranks and was an
attendant at party conventions, either
as a delegate or an interested spec
tator. Six years ago his party hon
ored him with the nomination for
state senator. He was defeated, the
county option issue having had much
to do with his failing to achieve a
victory. The general took his defeat
philosophically and good-naturedly. He
retained his cheerful disposition un
der all circumstances and lived UP
to the full measure of his glorious
| manhood His last vote was cast at
the recent municipal election, April l
Was Conspicuous Figure.
General Baker was conspicuous
! figure in all things that meant fol
the betterment of mankind. Socially
he was prince among men. He
was prominent in gatherings of the
old settlers, and long before there
was an organization of pioneers, he
gathered around him annually at his
farm, Oak Lawn" the men anC
women who came to this count.
when it was in its infancy and en-
joyed with them the festivities il
which they INDUCED on such occa
sions. He was active in the forma
tom of the Blue Earth County Oh
Settlers Historical, society. and seS
! eral times addressed their annua
gatherings. The last time he pei
formed this service was in 1908
when the society met at Sibley park
The general was one of the organ
: izers of the State Historical society
/ and was the means of inducing cap
2 italists to probe into the bowels o
$ the earth and extract therefrom TIN
S iron ore which has made the north
! east corner of the state storehous
: lof wealth. AS soldier he perform
4 ed his duty well. His services dun
e ing the Indian troubles were invalU
\ able. He participated in many bal
t ties against the redskins. So val
; antly did he conduct himself in thes
S encounters, General Sibley paid tn
J then Colonel Baker and his regimen
: this fitting tribute, following the ba
tie at Stone Lake: This was til
t largest body of Indians that eve
n confronted an American army Th
l. brunt of the conflict was borne b
= the Tenth regiment. Colonel Baker |
y front, where the Indian assault wa
most CALAMITY met and broken"
l. His Church Affiliations.
O In his church affiliations, Gener;
If Baker was a Methodist and for man
J. years was a member of the offici;
If board of Centenary Methodist churc
e in this city. 80
/; General Baker was a Mason. a
r. Elk, a member of the Grand Arm
h of the Republic and the Loyal Leg
l. on, of which organization he serve
% as commander. His last attendant
a, at a meeting of the Loyal Legio
IL as in December, 1912.
a General Baker was married to Ros
IS Lucia Thurston, September 25. 1851,
is Delaware, Ohio. To this union tw
is sons were born. viz: DIR. Arthl
,e Heaton Baker. born December
lie 1852, and died at Washington. d. {
m and Harry Edgar Baker. born
IS Chillicothe. O.. August 81, 1854. Mr.
TO Baker died at Washington. Marc
Of 20. 1873. She was most estimab
lady, and died lamented by vic
y circle of friends December %, 1877
/: General Baker married his presel
nj wife, Miss ZuIa Bartlett. daughter
e, George W. Bartlett. of Paris. iii. 81
In is graduate of the normal schot