Texas Legislators: Past & Present

Michael Jefferson Baker

Full Name: Michael Jefferson "Mike" Baker
Birth date: December 7, 1839
Death date: June 12, 1904

Not listed in 22nd Legislature, opening day 1/13/1891, p. 1; M.J. Baker, postoffice Cuero, nativity Mississippi, age 48, merchant, in member roster, p. 1088. M.J. Baker in 23rd Legislature. House Journal . 22nd R.S. 22nd R.S. List of Representatives

Texas State Troops, Private, Company H (also given as K), Rangers or TMV, Frontier Regiment, Col. J.M. Norris commanding; commanding officer Captain John J. Dix. Michael J. Baker, enlisted and mustered 3/8/1862 in DeWitt County, discharged 2/14/1863 at Camp Dix.
Texas State Troops, 24th Militia Brigade, Private, Company D of the 24th Battalion, transfer to Confederate States Army; commanding officer Captain John R. Borden. Mike J. Baker, age 23, enlisted 10/2/1863 at Camp Terry for 6 months. Texas, U.S., Muster Roll Index Cards, 1838-1900. Ancestry.com .
Michael Jefferson Baker, born in Madison County, Mississippi, death date 6/12/1904 in Kenedy, Karnes County. Passport application of son James Wallace Baker, born in Cuero, DeWitt County, 12/11/1876. U.S., Passport Applications, 1795-1925; Walt Family Tree. Ancestry.com .
Michael J. Baker, marriage to Lizzie H. Wallace 1/8/1867 in DeWitt County.
Census of 1870 - M.J. Baker, Precinct 2, DeWitt County, age 30, born circa 1840 in Mississippi, merchant, spouse L.H. Baker, children Nettie and Otis.
Census of 1880 - Mike Baker, Cuero, DeWitt County, age 40, merchant dry goods, spouse Lizzzie, daughter Nettie, son Otis.
Census of 1900 - Mike Baker, Cuero, DeWitt County, age 62, born December 1837 in Mississippi, cattle raiser, spouse Elizabeth, daughter Susie, sons James W. (born December 1876) and John B. FamilySearch . 1900 1880

M. Baker, burial in Hillside Cemetery, Cuero, DeWitt County. No grave marker photo, reprint of obituary in Gonzales Inquirer, 6/14/1904. Find a Grave .
Confederate States Army, entered as "volunteer on the frontier as a soldier in Norris' regiment. His term of enlistment having expired, he, upon being mustered out, joined General Magruder's army, was elected lieutenant of Borden's company, served in that capacity for six months, and was then placed in charge of a line of couriers extending from Brownsville to Houston, and from Victoria to Gonzales, with headquarters at Victoria." Personnel of the Texas State Government with Sketches of Representative Men of Texas, 22nd Legislature 1892.
Portrait and biographical sketch, Michael J. Baker, pp. 331-332. Born 12/7/1839 in Sharon, near Canton, Mississippi [Madison County]; married Lizzie H. Wallace on 1/8/1867 in Concrete, DeWitt County. Personnel of the Texas State Government with Sketches of Representative Men of Texas, 22nd Legislature 1892.
Death notice, Mike Baker of Cuero, "Col. Mike Baker, one of the human landmarks of this part of Texas, a well known resident of Cuero, died suddenly of heart failure at his ranch near Kenedy Monday and the remains were taken to Cuero for burial Tuesday." The Yoakum Weekly Times, 6/18/1904, p. 3, crediting Carl and Mary Welhausen Library. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries) .