Born in Brown county, Indiana, Jan. 26, 1842, and when but a boy moved with his parents to Iowa, where he grew to manhood. Before attaining his majority, he returned to Indiana where he was educated in the Indiana State University. Upon returning to Iowa, he took up the practice of law, but later quit his profession to take up the newspaper work. He was the editor of the Chariton, Iowa, Leader, and remained at the helm until his removal to this city in 1883. In 1874 he was elected to the Iowa State Legislature, being elected from county that gave a normal Republican majority of 500. He purchased the Standard of this city upon his arrival, and was proprietor and editor until 1898, when desiring to take a rest from active work, sold the paper to other parties. Mr. Baker was a man of unusual genius and ability. as a writer, and for almost twenty years has been a very prominent figure in Democratic politics of Southern California. Until within less than three years he held the position of chairman of the Democratic central committee for many years and was looked up to by all of his political faith as an advisor whose ideas were always worth listening to and whose reputation was without a blemish.