Nathaniel B. Baker
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Bradley Baker was born in Henniker, NH. He "read" law under Franklin Pierce before Pierce became president. Baker passed the bar in 1842.
Baker's father, Abel J. Baker, Jr., owned a lumber mill and built a 2 1/2 story home for his family in the village of West Concord, NH in 1821 with lumber from his own mill. His son, Nathaniel, established a newspaper called the "Patriot" with a co-owner. He served as Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in 1845. The following year, he was County Clerk for Merrimack County. In 1851, he assumed the position of Chief Fire Engineer for the city of Concord's Fire Department. Active as a politician from Concord, New Hampshire
, he served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives
and as Governor of the state
from 1854-1855 (one term).
After Baker's term as governor, he moved to Iowa
to support the free state and was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives
in 1859. He was Iowa's Adjutant General throughout the Civil War
serving from 1861 until his death in Des Moines
in 1876. A photo of a grave monument in his honor is posted online.
Baker's father, Abel J. Baker, Jr., owned a lumber mill and built a 2 1/2 story home for his family in the village of West Concord, NH in 1821 with lumber from his own mill. His son, Nathaniel, established a newspaper called the "Patriot" with a co-owner. He served as Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in 1845. The following year, he was County Clerk for Merrimack County. In 1851, he assumed the position of Chief Fire Engineer for the city of Concord's Fire Department. Active as a politician from Concord, New Hampshire
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
, he served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives
New Hampshire House of Representatives
The New Hampshire House of Representatives is the lower house in the New Hampshire General Court. The House of Representatives consists of 400 members coming from 103 districts across the state, created from divisions of the state's counties. On average, each legislator represents about 3,300...
and as Governor of the state
Governor of New Hampshire
The Governor of the State of New Hampshire is the supreme executive magistrate of the U.S. state of New Hampshire.The governor is elected at the biennial state general election in November of even-numbered years. New Hampshire is one of only two states, along with bordering Vermont, to hold...
from 1854-1855 (one term).
After Baker's term as governor, he moved to Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
to support the free state and was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives
Iowa House of Representatives
The Iowa House of Representatives is the lower house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 100 members of the House of Representatives, representing 100 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 29,750 for each constituency...
in 1859. He was Iowa's Adjutant General throughout the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
serving from 1861 until his death in Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
in 1876. A photo of a grave monument in his honor is posted online.