Joshua Baker
Encyclopedia
Joshua Baker was the 22nd Governor of Louisiana during Reconstruction.
. His father was Joshua Baker and his mother was Susan Lewis. In 1803, the Baker family moved to the Mississippi Territory and by 1811 they had settled at Oaklawn Plantation
in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana
in the Territory of Orleans.
at West Point, New York from 1817-1819. Whereupon, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant
in the U.S. Army and later briefly became a Professor of Engineering. In 1821 he moved to Litchfield, Connecticut
to study law, joining the bar in Mason County, Kentucky in 1822. Baker returned to Louisiana to practice law at the Opelousas, Louisiana
office of John Bronson during 1822-1829 and 1832-1838.
In 1825, Baker married Fanny Assherton in Opelousas. They had three children before she died on August 17, 1831. From 1826-1829 Baker was a Colonel in the Louisiana State Militia. He also worked on Engineering projects in Plaquemines Parish until 1829, when he was appointed Judge in St. Mary Parish; a position he held until 1839.
He married a second time to Catherine Patton from Fairfax, Virginia in 1832. They had two children. In 1833, he was Assistant State Engineer for the State of Louisiana until 1838. Appointed Director of Public Works for the State of Louisiana 1840- 1845.
He was made Captain of Cavalry, Louisiana State Militia 1846 until 1851 and in 1853, he was appointed to the Board of Visitors United States Military Academy, serving until 1861. Throughout this time, Baker owned three plantations: Black Bayou in Terrebonne Parish
, Grand River in St. Martin Parish, and Fairfax Plantation in St. Mary Parish. He also was enthusiastic investor in steamboat properties.
upon the resignation of Benjamin Flanders
. As Governor, Baker supported the lenient reconstruction plan of President Andrew Johnson
. His administration has little influence on the course of the Louisiana government. On March 10, 1868, Governor Baker was arrested and brought before a commissioner charged with perjury for claiming not to build a barricade across Bayou Teche
. Meanwhile, General Hancock unilaterally removes 9 New Orleans City Councilmen which results in President Ulysses S. Grant
's reversal of this order. For this, Hancock asks to be reassigned. With Hancock's departure, support for Governor Baker evaporated and in a special election Republican Henry C. Warmoth
was elected Governor.
Joshua Baker died in Lyme, Connecticut on April 16, 1885 at "Cricket Lawn" the home of his daughter Margaret Van Bergen. He was interred in The Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York on April 17, 1885, Lot 11296, Section 171.
Early life
Joshua was born March 23, 1799 in Mason County, KentuckyMason County, Kentucky
Mason County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 16,800. Its county seat is Maysville. The county is named for George Mason, a Virginia delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention, known as the "Father of the Bill of Rights"...
. His father was Joshua Baker and his mother was Susan Lewis. In 1803, the Baker family moved to the Mississippi Territory and by 1811 they had settled at Oaklawn Plantation
Oaklawn Plantation
Oaklawn Plantation was a large plantation of 5326 acres in northern Leon County in the U.S. state of Florida. It was established around 1850 by Captain William Lester of Burke County, Georgia.-Location:...
in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana
St. Mary Parish, Louisiana
St. Mary Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Franklin. As of 2000, the population was 53,500.The Morgan City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of St. Mary Parish.-Geography:...
in the Territory of Orleans.
Education and military service
Baker attended the United States Military AcademyUnited States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point, New York from 1817-1819. Whereupon, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the U.S. Army and later briefly became a Professor of Engineering. In 1821 he moved to Litchfield, Connecticut
Litchfield, Connecticut
Litchfield is a town in and former county seat of Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States, and is known as an affluent summer resort. The population was 8,316 at the 2000 census. The boroughs of Bantam and Litchfield are located within the town...
to study law, joining the bar in Mason County, Kentucky in 1822. Baker returned to Louisiana to practice law at the Opelousas, Louisiana
Opelousas, Louisiana
Opelousas is a city in and the parish seat of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies at the junction of Interstate 49 and U.S. Route 190. The population was 22,860 at the 2000 census. Although the 2006 population estimate was 23,222, a 2004 annexation should put the city's...
office of John Bronson during 1822-1829 and 1832-1838.
In 1825, Baker married Fanny Assherton in Opelousas. They had three children before she died on August 17, 1831. From 1826-1829 Baker was a Colonel in the Louisiana State Militia. He also worked on Engineering projects in Plaquemines Parish until 1829, when he was appointed Judge in St. Mary Parish; a position he held until 1839.
He married a second time to Catherine Patton from Fairfax, Virginia in 1832. They had two children. In 1833, he was Assistant State Engineer for the State of Louisiana until 1838. Appointed Director of Public Works for the State of Louisiana 1840- 1845.
He was made Captain of Cavalry, Louisiana State Militia 1846 until 1851 and in 1853, he was appointed to the Board of Visitors United States Military Academy, serving until 1861. Throughout this time, Baker owned three plantations: Black Bayou in Terrebonne Parish
Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana
Terrebonne Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Houma. Its population was 111,860...
, Grand River in St. Martin Parish, and Fairfax Plantation in St. Mary Parish. He also was enthusiastic investor in steamboat properties.
Civil War and Governorship
With secession and the Civil War, Colonel Baker retired to Franklin, Louisiana in 1861. As a Conservative Democrat who opposed secession, he chose to cooperate with the Union Army of Occupation. On January 8, 1868, Baker took the Oath of Loyalty to the Union. He was Appointed Military Governor by General Winfield Scott HancockWinfield Scott Hancock
Winfield Scott Hancock was a career U.S. Army officer and the Democratic nominee for President of the United States in 1880. He served with distinction in the Army for four decades, including service in the Mexican-American War and as a Union general in the American Civil War...
upon the resignation of Benjamin Flanders
Benjamin Flanders
Benjamin Franklin Flanders was appointed the 21st Governor of Louisiana during Reconstruction and was Mayor of New Orleans.-Early life:...
. As Governor, Baker supported the lenient reconstruction plan of President Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
. His administration has little influence on the course of the Louisiana government. On March 10, 1868, Governor Baker was arrested and brought before a commissioner charged with perjury for claiming not to build a barricade across Bayou Teche
Bayou Teche
The Bayou Teche is a waterway of great cultural significance in south central Louisiana in the United States. Bayou Teche was the Mississippi River's main course when it developed a delta about 2,800 to 4,500 years ago...
. Meanwhile, General Hancock unilaterally removes 9 New Orleans City Councilmen which results in President Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
's reversal of this order. For this, Hancock asks to be reassigned. With Hancock's departure, support for Governor Baker evaporated and in a special election Republican Henry C. Warmoth
Henry C. Warmoth
Henry Clay Warmoth was the 23rd Governor of Louisiana from 1868 until his impeachment and removal from office in December, 1872.-Early life and military career:...
was elected Governor.
Joshua Baker died in Lyme, Connecticut on April 16, 1885 at "Cricket Lawn" the home of his daughter Margaret Van Bergen. He was interred in The Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York on April 17, 1885, Lot 11296, Section 171.