James H. Baker

Who was James H. Baker?

James Heaton Baker was a Republican politician who was Ohio Secretary of State from 1856-1858, Minnesota Secretary of State, 1860-1862, and served in the American Civil War.

James H. Baker was born May 6, 1829 in Monroe, Butler County, Ohio. He was educated in common schools, and graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University. He became a teacher, and had charge of the Female Seminary at Richmond, Indiana. In 1853 he purchased the Scioto Gazette in Chillicothe, Ohio. In 1855 he was elected to a single term as Ohio Secretary of State. Later in life, he would be Minnesota Secretary of State 1860-1862.

During the American Civil War, Baker served as Colonel of the 10th Minnesota Infantry Regiment in the Union Army in 1862–1863. He was appointed Provost Marshal for the Department of Missouri, and served till the close of the war. He was mustered out of the volunteers on October 21, 1865. In recognition of Baker's service, on January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Baker for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general to rank from March 13, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on March 12, 1866.