26 Facts About Conrad Baker

Conrad Baker was an American attorney, military officer, and politician who served as state representative, 15th lieutenant governor, and the 15th governor of the US state of Indiana from 1867 to 1873.

Conrad Baker served as acting-governor for five months during the illness of Governor Oliver Morton, and was elevated to Governor following Morton's resignation from office.

Conrad Baker championed the post-war federal constitutional amendments, and was able to successfully advocate their acceptance.

Conrad Baker was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, on February 12,1817, the son of Conrad Baker, a Presbyterian minister, and Mary Winternheimer Baker.

Conrad Baker worked on the family farm until age fifteen and attended common school.

Conrad Baker continued to study law in the office of Thaddeus Stevens.

Conrad Baker met Matilda Escon Sommers and the couple married in 1838.

Conrad Baker opened a new law office there, and took an interest in the city's civics.

Conrad Baker served one one-year term before returning to his practice.

Conrad Baker was elected to serve on a county court in 1852 but resigned in 1854.

Conrad Baker was outspokenly anti-slavery, and following the break-up of the Whig party, he joined the newly formed Republican Party in 1854.

Conrad Baker was in Evansville when the American Civil War began, and was part of a large crowd that gathered to discuss the event.

Conrad Baker then called on all the able-bodied men to follow him to war.

Conrad Baker led his regiment in defensive and garrison duty across the western theater of the war, and remained in regular communication with Governor Oliver Morton, who had become governor a few months earlier.

Conrad Baker was most involved in coordinating supplies, and became a valuable organizer.

Conrad Baker left the army in 1864 to run again as Lieutenant Governor on the ticket with Oliver Morton and was elected with a 20,000-vote majority.

Conrad Baker continued his duties briefly, but decided to attempt to seek a cure to the paralysis.

Conrad Baker left the state and left Baker to serve as acting governor for five months until his health recovered.

When Morton was elected to the Senate in 1866, Conrad Baker succeeded him as governor.

In 1868, Conrad Baker was reelected to the position of governor, defeating Thomas Hendricks by 961 votes, the closest in state history.

Conrad Baker signed the law to create the school in 1869, and it opened just after his term ended.

Conrad Baker then hired painters and sought out the families of the former governors to procure photos and paintings from which official portraits could be created.

Conrad Baker advocated for African American rights through additional school reform.

Conrad Baker remained active in public affairs and urged the state schools to grant equal opportunities.

Conrad Baker became fairly active in the woman's suffrage movement and delivered an address to one of their meetings.

Conrad Baker died on April 28,1885, and was buried in Evansville, Indiana.