Biographical Sketch of James Baker, Springfield, Greene County, MO

>From "History of Greene County, Missouri," St. Louis: Western
Historical Company, 1883.

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Judge James Baker is the son of M. and Margaret (Waters) Baker, and was
born April 1st, 1819 in Mason county, Kentucky.  He was educated at the
Indiana State University, at Bloomington.  In the fall of 1838 he moved
to Davenport, Iowa where he studied law in the office of Judge James
Grant.  He remained there until 1843, when he moved to Ottumwa, Iowa,
and practiced law in that city for ten years.  In 1853 he was appointed
by President Pierce as register of the land office, at Chariton, Iowa.
In 1861 the Legislature of Iowa created an executive commission to 
raise money and equip troops for the army, and he was appointed as one
of the commissioners.  In the fall of 1861 he recruited the 13th Iowa
infantry, and was its lieutenant colonel.  He was at the battles of 
Shiloh, Iuka and Corinth.  He resigned because of sickness, and in the
spring of 1864 came to Springfield, Mo., where he was for a time assoc-
iated in law with Capt. A. M. Julian and Col. Fazan.  In 1868 he was
appointed attorney for the Atlantic and Pacific railroad, and was the
attorney for both roads until 1876.  He has been attorney, vice presi-
dent and president of the St. Louis and San Francisco railway.  He was
appointed as one of the judges of the Supreme Court by Gov. Fletcher in
1868.

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