William B. Baker | |
|---|---|
.jpg) From Volume I of 1899'sAutobiographies and portraits of the President, cabinet, Supreme court, and Fifty-fifth Congress | |
| Member of theMaryland Senate | |
| In office 1894–1895 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas H. Robinson |
| Succeeded by | Charles W. Michael |
| Constituency | Harford County |
| In office 1906–1909 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas H. Robinson |
| Succeeded by | Charles A. Andrew |
| Constituency | Harford County |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's2nd district | |
| In office March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1901 | |
| Preceded by | Joshua Frederick Cockey Talbott |
| Succeeded by | Albert Alexander Blakeney |
| Member of theMaryland House of Delegates from theHarford County district | |
| In office 1882–1884 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1840-07-22)July 22, 1840 Aberdeen, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | May 17, 1911(1911-05-17) (aged 70) Aberdeen, Maryland, U.S. |
| Resting place | Baker's Cemetery Aberdeen, Maryland, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | John H. Baker (uncle) Frank E. Baker (nephew) |
| Occupation |
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| Signature | .png) |
William Benjamin Baker (July 22, 1840 – May 17, 1911) was aU.S. Congressman who represented thesecond Congressional district ofMaryland from 1895 to 1901. He was considered the father of rural mail delivery in the United States.
William Benjamin Baker was born on July 22, 1840, nearAberdeen, Maryland to Elizabeth (née Greenland) and George W. Baker. He was one of fifteen children, including Sarah R., George A., Lydia C., James B., Charles W., John H., Susie E., Alice C. and George A.[1][2] His father was a canner in Aberdeen. He attended the common schools and was privately tutored. He remained on the family's homestead until he was 32 years old.[1][3][4][5] His nephewFrank E. Baker was a state delegate.[6] His uncle wasJohn H. Baker, a state delegate and preacher.[7]
In 1872, Baker and his brother Charles W. started a canning factory in Aberdeen. They ran the factory until 1876, when the building was destroyed by a fire. He then erected another cannery on a farm in Aberdeen and a cannery inOdessa, Delaware.[1][3][2] He was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Aberdeen and served as its first president from 1891 to 1911. He also served as president of the Harford County Telephone Company.[3][2] He helped organize the First National Bank of Aberdeen and was an organizer and director of the First National Bank of Havre de Grace.[2][8]
He served as a delegate to several state and congressional conventions. He first ran for theMaryland House of Delegates in 1875, but was defeated byMurray Vandiver. He became a member of the House of Delegates in 1881, defeating Vandiver. He served in 1882 and in 1883, he was defeated for re-election. In 1889, he ran forMaryland Senate, but lost by a margin of 550 votes. He was elected to the Maryland Senate in 1893, after his brother John H. Baker withdrew his nomination and defeatingThomas H. Robinson, but only served from 1894 to 1895.[1][4][2][9][10][11]
Baker was elected as aRepublican to theFifty-fourth,Fifty-fifth, andFifty-sixthCongresses, serving from March 4, 1895, to March 3, 1901.[1] He represented the Second Maryland Congressional District which included, at that time,Harford,Baltimore, andCarroll Counties.
He was the father of rural mail delivery. When the matter of rural mail delivery was spoken of in Congress, no one was willing to assume the responsibility, for it was considered controversial to have rural merchants serve aspostmasters. Baker, however, was willing for the experiment to be made in his district, and the first rural route of the country was started in Carroll County, from theWestminster post office.[4][10][12][citation needed]
He was not a candidate for renomination in 1900, and resumed the canning business.[1] In 1905, he was elected again to the Maryland Senate. He served from 1906 to 1908. He was defeated for re-election in 1909 byCharles A. Andrew. In 1910, he ran for Congress, but was defeated byJoshua Frederick Cockey Talbott.[4][9]
In 1868, Baker married Olivia Wells, of Aberdeen, who died after 16 months. In 1872 he married again to Mary C. Hollis, of Bush Chapel. They had three children: Jessie M., Nettie F. (later Mrs. Phineas Morris) and Hollis R. Baker.[3][2][5]
Baker earned the nickname "the Grand Old Man of Harford" for his service in politics.[4] In March 1911, Baker suffered a stroke.[9][13] He died on May 17, 1911, in Aberdeen, following a fall a few days prior. He was interred in Baker's Cemetery, the family burial ground, in Aberdeen.[1][9][4]
Johnson, Rossiter, ed. (1906). "Baker, William Benjamin".The Biographical Dictionary of America. Vol. 1. Boston: American Biographical Society. p. 193.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | U.S. Congressman from the 2nd district of Maryland 1895–1901 | Succeeded by |
