Andrew Jackson Baker (1911)ALTERNATE

BAKER, LEONHARD, MASON, MILLER, MOORE, PARKER, THOMPSON

Posted By: Kathi Kuhl
Date: 3/12/2025 at 10:20:13

Des Moines Register
Des Moines, Iowa
April 24, 1911
Page 3

ANDREW J. BAKER, IOWA PIONEER, IS DEAD

Man Who Has Been Attorney General of Two States, Dies at Centerville

ILL FOR MANY MONTHS

Took Prominent Part in Making Early History of State and in Work of Reconstruction in Missouri

CENTERVILLE, Ia. April 22—Special: General Andrew Jackson Baker, Pioneer, Iowa law maker and law enforcer of two states, died at his home here this afternoon after an illness of many months. He was 79 years of age at the time of his death.

For years General Baker was a central figure in the political life, not only of Iowa, but also Missouri, having had the distinction of serving terms as attorney general of both states. With his death passes one of the great men who aided in the making of history of the state in the early days, and the building of Missouri in the stormy days of the reconstruction period which followed the civil war.

The life story of General Baker is similar in many respects to that of many men whose records are now enrolled in the “Who's Who” of Iowa. His early life was a struggle with poverty and the hardships of wild days of the state.

Born in Virginia

General Baker was born in Ohio county, Va., near Moundsville, now in Marshall county, West Va. He received his early education in the schools of Butler county, O., where his father removed soon after General Baker's birth, and afterward at Furman's academy. When he was only in his teens, and the country was still young, the family moved to Des Moines county.

At the age of 16, young Baker went to work in a store in Burlington with a view of obtaining an education. He was there but a short time, when he was compelled to return to the farm to aid his father. However, he did not surrender the idea of better fitting himself for life in educational lines, and in 1849? he entered the first class of Wesleyan Academy seminary, which is now Iowa Wesleyan College, at Mount Pleasant

Here he remained but a short time, as in 1850 and 1851 he taught school in Des Moines and Henry counties, still continuing his studies, however, and reciting to Professor Gunnison of the Burlington Collegiate Institute. This he continued for some time, but in 1863 he began reading law with C. B. Darwin at Burlington, continuing in this work until 1865, when he was admitted to the bar.

Opens Land Office

With but 50 cents in his pocket, he opened a law office at Winterset in partnership with H. J. B. Cummings, then congressman from the Seventh Iowa district. From that time on, his advance was rapid.

When the civil war began in 1861, he organized a company of Seventeenth Iowa infantry and until 1863 served in the company as first lieutenant. Immediately following his leaving the army, he located at Lancaster, Missouri and in 1867, he was elected county attorney of Scanlon county, and the next year was chosen as representative in the Missouri legislature. In the republicans split, which occurred in 1870 he joined the B. Grantz Brown wing of the party and was elected Attorney General by 40,000 majority.

Following the close of his term as attorney general, he removed to Centerville, Iowa, where he afterward made his home and where he was a partner of the late General Drake in the law business.

In 1884 he was elected attorney general of Iowa and served two terms. He was author of the liquor injunction and abatement laws and also was author of “Baker's Annotated Constitution of the United States” issued in 1891. While attorney general, he formed the law firm of Baker, Bishop and Haskins in Des Moines, which continued for two years.

General Baker was active in the Odd Fellow order and held many of the highest offices.

Leaves Eight Children

General Baker married Sophia Parker at Winterset, Ia., August 19, 1858. They celebrated their golden wedding with all the family present three years ago. Mrs. Baker survives with the following children: Mrs. Frances Mason, San Francisco; Mrs. W. G. Moore, Carthage, Mo.; Margaret, Tonkawa, Okla.; Clarence A, attorney, Centerville; Grace, Tacoma, Wash.; Mrs. S. Miller, Boynton, Okla.; Mrs. P. J. Leonhard, Sapulpa, Okla.; Mrs. Ralph B. Thompson, Denison, Ia.

Funeral arrangements await word from absent children.