Baker returned to Louisiana to practice law at the Opelousas, Louisiana, office of John Brownson during 1822–1829 and 1832–1838.
From 1826 to 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.
In 1833, he was Assistant State Engineer for the State of Louisiana until 1838. He was 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.[3]
Civil War and GovernorshipEdit
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.[4] On January 8, 1868, Baker took the Oath of Loyalty to the Union. He was Appointed Military Governor by General Winfield Scott Hancock upon the resignation of Benjamin Flanders. As Governor, Baker supported the lenient reconstruction plan of President Andrew Johnson. His administration had little influence on the course of the Louisiana government, as its orders were liable to be countermanded by the military due to the reconstruction acts. Baker removed 9 New Orleans City Councilmen which resulted in President Ulysses S. Grant's reversal of this order. For this, Governor Baker resigned and in a special election Republican Henry C. Warmoth was elected Governor.[5]
Personal lifeEdit
In 1825, Baker married Fanny Assheton Stelle in Opelousas. Before her death on August 17, 1831, they were the parents of three children, including:
He married a second time to Catherine Patton from Fairfax, Virginia in 1832. They had two children.
Baker died in Lyme, Connecticut, on April 16, 1885, at "Cricket Lawn" the home of his daughter Margaret Van Bergen.[1] He was interred at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
ReferencesEdit
^ ab"Obituary -- EX-GOV. JOSHUA BAKER". The New York Times. 17 April 1885. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
^. www.nga.org. National Governors Association. 21 May 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-05-21. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
^Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 2, Westport, Conn.; Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols.
^. www.sos.louisiana.gov. Louisiana Secretary of State. 21 February 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-02-21. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
^Genealogical Notes of New York and New England Families. Heritage Books. 2000. pp. 218–219, 300–304. ISBN978-0-7884-1956-0. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
joshua, baker, louisiana, supreme, court, justice, joshua, baker, joshua, gabriel, baker, march, 1799, april, 1885, 22nd, governor, louisiana, during, reconstruction, 22nd, governor, louisianain, office, january, 1868, june, 1868lieutenantalbert, voorhiesprece. For the Louisiana Supreme Court justice see Joshua G Baker Joshua Gabriel Baker March 23 1799 April 16 1885 1 was the 22nd Governor of Louisiana during Reconstruction Joshua Baker22nd Governor of LouisianaIn office January 8 1868 June 27 1868LieutenantAlbert VoorhiesPreceded byBenjamin FlandersSucceeded byHenry C WarmothPersonal detailsBorn 1799 03 23 March 23 1799Mason County KentuckyDiedApril 16 1885 1885 04 16 aged 86 Lyme ConnecticutPolitical partyUnionistSpouse s 1 Fanny Assherton 2 Catherine Patton Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 Civil War and Governorship 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life EditJoshua was born March 23 1799 in Mason County Kentucky 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 OrleansBaker attended the United States Military Academy at West Point New York from 1817 to 1819 Whereupon he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army Artillery Corps and served as an assistant professor at West Point before resigning in October 1820 In 1821 he moved to Litchfield Connecticut to study law joining the bar in Mason County Kentucky in 1822 2 Career EditBaker returned to Louisiana to practice law at the Opelousas Louisiana office of John Brownson during 1822 1829 and 1832 1838 From 1826 to 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 In 1833 he was Assistant State Engineer for the State of Louisiana until 1838 He was 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 3 Civil War and Governorship Edit 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 4 On January 8 1868 Baker took the Oath of Loyalty to the Union He was Appointed Military Governor by General Winfield Scott Hancock upon the resignation of Benjamin Flanders As Governor Baker supported the lenient reconstruction plan of President Andrew Johnson His administration had little influence on the course of the Louisiana government as its orders were liable to be countermanded by the military due to the reconstruction acts Baker removed 9 New Orleans City Councilmen which resulted in President Ulysses S Grant s reversal of this order For this Governor Baker resigned and in a special election Republican Henry C Warmoth was elected Governor 5 Personal life EditIn 1825 Baker married Fanny Assheton Stelle in Opelousas Before her death on August 17 1831 they were the parents of three children including Margaret Baker 1828 1893 who married John Peck Van Bergen a brother of Anthony T Van Bergen a son of New York Assemblyman Anthony Van Bergen and grandson of New York State Senator Peter A Van Bergen 6 He married a second time to Catherine Patton from Fairfax Virginia in 1832 They had two children Baker died in Lyme Connecticut on April 16 1885 at Cricket Lawn the home of his daughter Margaret Van Bergen 1 He was interred at Green Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn New York References Edit a b Obituary EX GOV JOSHUA BAKER The New York Times 17 April 1885 Retrieved 2 October 2020 Louisiana Governor Joshua Baker www nga org National Governors Association 21 May 2011 Archived from the original on 2011 05 21 Retrieved 2 October 2020 Dawson III Joseph G The Louisiana Governors From Iberville to Edwards Baton Rouge Louisiana State University Press 1990 Sobel Robert and John Raimo eds Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States 1789 1978 Vol 2 Westport Conn Meckler Books 1978 4 vols Joshua Baker www sos louisiana gov Louisiana Secretary of State 21 February 2008 Archived from the original on 2008 02 21 Retrieved 2 October 2020 Genealogical Notes of New York and New England Families Heritage Books 2000 pp 218 219 300 304 ISBN 978 0 7884 1956 0 Retrieved 1 October 2020 External links EditJoshua Baker at Find a GravePolitical officesPreceded byBenjamin Flanders Governor of Louisiana1868 Succeeded byHenry C Warmoth Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joshua Baker amp oldid 1150321785, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
