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In 1856, he entered business in Racine hardware supply, then worked for one year with [[Thomas Falvey (Wisconsin)|Thomas Falvey]], a [[reaper]] manufacturer. He then went to work for the {{nowrap|[[Case Corporation|J. I. Case Company]]}} in 1860 as a collecting agent.<ref name="racinehistory"/>
In 1856, he entered business in Racine hardware supply, then worked for one year with [[Thomas Falvey (Wisconsin)|Thomas Falvey]], a [[reaper]] manufacturer. He then went to work for the {{nowrap|[[Case Corporation|J. I. Case Company]]}} in 1860 as a collecting agent.<ref name="racinehistory"/>


In January 1863, Baker purchased a one quarter stake in the {{nowrap|J. I. Case Company}}, becoming one of the four major shareholders in the company, the others being {{nowrap|M. B. Erskine}}, Stephen Bull, and [[Jerome Case]] himself.<ref name="racinehistory"/>
In January 1863, Baker purchased a one quarter stake in the {{nowrap|J. I. Case Company}}, becoming one of the four major shareholders in the company, the others being {{nowrap|Massena B. Erskine}}, Stephen Bull, and [[Jerome Case]] himself.<ref name="racinehistory"/>


In Racine, Baker was elected to the City Council in 1865, and was elected school commissioner in 1867. He two more terms on the City Council in 1868 and 1871, and was elected mayor in 1874. He won election to the Wisconsin Senate in 1872, defeating Democrat [[N. D. Fratt|Nicholas D. Fratt]]. In 1873, he was the Republican candidate for [[Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin]], losing to [[Charles D. Parker]]. In 1874 he was elected to return to the Senate, defeating incumbent [[Liberal Republican Party (United States)|Liberal Republican]] [[Charles Herrick]].<ref name="racinehistory"/> Baker was chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin during the presidential campaign of [[James Garfield]], and was appointed government director of the [[Union Pacific Railroad]] by Garfield after he became president. He held this office until his death in 1882.<ref name="repsRacine"/>
In Racine, Baker was elected to the City Council in 1865, and was elected school commissioner in 1867. He two more terms on the City Council in 1868 and 1871, and was elected mayor in 1874. He won election to the Wisconsin Senate in 1872, defeating Democrat [[N. D. Fratt|Nicholas D. Fratt]]. In 1873, he was the Republican candidate for [[Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin]], losing to [[Charles D. Parker]]. In 1874 he was elected to return to the Senate, defeating incumbent [[Liberal Republican Party (United States)|Liberal Republican]] [[Charles Herrick]].<ref name="racinehistory"/> Baker was chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin during the presidential campaign of [[James Garfield]], and was appointed government director of the [[Union Pacific Railroad]] by Garfield after he became president. He held this office until his death in 1882.<ref name="repsRacine"/>
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{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = [[N. D. Fratt]]
|candidate = [[Nicholas D. Fratt]]
|votes = 1,971
|votes = 1,971
|percentage = 40.28%
|percentage = 40.28%
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{{s-bef|before = [[Philo Belden]] }}
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{{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the [[Wisconsin Senate]]}} {{nowrap|from the [[Wisconsin's 5th Senate district|5th]] district}} |years= January 6, 1873{{spnd}}January 5, 1874 }}
{{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the [[Wisconsin Senate]]}} {{nowrap|from the [[Wisconsin's 5th Senate district|5th]] district}} |years= January 6, 1873{{spnd}}September 1873 }}
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[[Category:1839 births]]
[[Category:1839 births]]
[[Category:1882 deaths]]
[[Category:1882 deaths]]
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[[Category:19th-century American legislators]]
[[Category:19th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:19th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:19th-century Wisconsin politicians]]
[[Category:Burials at Mound Cemetery (Racine, Wisconsin)]]
[[Category:19th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature]]
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[[Category:19th-century mayors of places in Wisconsin]]

Latest revision as of 10:04, 23 December 2024

For others with similar names, see Robert Baker.
Robert Hall Baker
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 5th district
In office
January 4, 1875 – January 1, 1877
Preceded byCharles Herrick
Succeeded byIsaac W. Van Schaick
In office
January 6, 1873 – September 1873
Preceded byPhilo Belden
Succeeded byCharles Herrick
Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin
In office
October 1879 – September 1881
Preceded byHorace Rublee
Succeeded byEdward Sanderson
21st Mayor of Racine, Wisconsin
In office
April 1874 – April 1875
Preceded byReuben G. Doud
Succeeded byReuben G. Doud
Member of the City Council of Racine, Wisconsin
In office
April 1871 – April 1872
In office
April 1868 – April 1869
In office
April 1865 – April 1866
Personal details
Born(1839-06-27)June 27, 1839
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedOctober 5, 1882(1882-10-05) (aged 43)
Racine, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeMound Cemetery, Racine
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Emily M. Carswell
​
​
(m. 1859⁠–⁠1882)​
Children
  • Mary Louise (Richards)
  • (b. 1862; died 1940)
  • George Carswell Baker
  • (b. 1865; died 1886)
  • Edward Larrabee Baker
  • (b. 1869; died 1949)
  • Robert Hall Baker Jr.
  • (b. 1870; died 1911)
  • Charles Henry Baker
  • (b. 1873; died 1946)
Parent
OccupationManufacturing businessman

Robert Hall Baker Sr. (June 27, 1839 – October 5, 1882) was an American businessman and Republican politician from Racine, Wisconsin. He was the 21st mayor of Racine, Wisconsin, and represented Racine County for three years in the Wisconsin Senate (1873, 1875, 1876). He also served as chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin in 1880 and 1881. In business, he was one of the four principal owners of the J. I. Case Company, an important business in the growth and development of the city of Racine.[1][2]

Biography

[edit]

Born in Geneva, Walworth County, Wisconsin Territory, to Martha Washington Larrabee and Charles Minton Baker. His father was a lawyer, judge, and politician. Baker attended Beloit College and assisted his father's law practice in Lake Geneva before moving to Racine.[2]

Robert married Emily M. Carswell in 1859 and they had five children. They resided in Racine at the corner of 6th and Main Street, now the site of the U.S. Post Office.[1]

In 1856, he entered business in Racine hardware supply, then worked for one year with Thomas Falvey, a reaper manufacturer. He then went to work for the J. I. Case Company in 1860 as a collecting agent.[1]

In January 1863, Baker purchased a one quarter stake in the J. I. Case Company, becoming one of the four major shareholders in the company, the others being Massena B. Erskine, Stephen Bull, and Jerome Case himself.[1]

In Racine, Baker was elected to the City Council in 1865, and was elected school commissioner in 1867. He two more terms on the City Council in 1868 and 1871, and was elected mayor in 1874. He won election to the Wisconsin Senate in 1872, defeating Democrat Nicholas D. Fratt. In 1873, he was the Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, losing to Charles D. Parker. In 1874 he was elected to return to the Senate, defeating incumbent Liberal Republican Charles Herrick.[1] Baker was chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin during the presidential campaign of James Garfield, and was appointed government director of the Union Pacific Railroad by Garfield after he became president. He held this office until his death in 1882.[2]

He was a director of the Racine Hardware Manufacturing Company, a director of the Manufacturers National Bank of Racine and the National Iron Company of De Pere, Wisconsin, and president of the Hampton Coal Mining Company.[1]

Electoral history

[edit]

Wisconsin Senate (1872)

[edit]
Wisconsin Senate, 5th District Election, 1872[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Robert Hall Baker 2,922 59.72% +6.91pp
Democratic Nicholas D. Fratt 1,971 40.28% −6.91pp
Total votes 4,893 100.0% +13.68%
Republican hold

Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor (1873)

[edit]
Wisconsin Lieutenant Gubernatorial Election, 1873[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Charles D. Parker 80,212 54.41%
Republican Robert Hall Baker 67,208 45.59%
Total votes 147,420 100.0%
Democratic gain from Republican

Wisconsin Senate (1874)

[edit]
Wisconsin Senate, 5th District Election, 1874[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Robert Hall Baker 2,706 55.96% +17.42pp
Liberal Republican Charles Herrick 2,130 44.04% −17.42pp
Total votes 4,836 100.0% +22.68%
Republican gain from Liberal Republican

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f "Robert Hall Baker". Racine History. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
  2. ^ a b c Commemorative Biographical Record of Prominent and Representative Men of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin. J. H. Beers and Co. 1906. pp. 23–26. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  3. ^ "Official directory". The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin (1873) (Report). Atwood and Culver, Printers and Stereotypers, 1873. p. 434. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
  4. ^ "Election statistics". The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin (1874) (Report). Atwood and Culver, Printers and Stereotypers, 1874. p. 354. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
  5. ^ "Official directory". The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin (1875) (Report). Atwood and Culver, Printers and Stereotypers, 1875. p. 311. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
[edit]
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
1873 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin
October 1879 – September 1881 		Succeeded by
Edward Sanderson
Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 5th district
January 6, 1873 – September 1873 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Charles Herrick
 Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 5th district
January 4, 1875 – January 1, 1877 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Racine, Wisconsin
April 1874 – April 1875 		Succeeded by
Reuben G. Doud
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