Caleb Baker


Caleb Baker was an American politician and a U.S. Representative from New York.

Biography

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Baker moved to New York in 1790; studied law, was admitted to the bar and began practicing. He married Sarah Stull and they had two children, Brockholst L Baker and Ruth M Baker Hamilton. He resided in the towns of Chemung, Ashland, and Newtown, Tioga County from 1790 to 1836. These towns are now in Chemung County, due to the partitioning of Tioga County. He moved to and lived in Southport, Chemung County, from 1836 until his death.

Career

Baker served as assessor of the town of Chemung in 1791. He taught school in Wellsburg, Chemung County, in 1803 and 1804. He was appointed surrogate of Tioga County on April 7, 1806, April 13, 1825, and again in 1829. He was appointed judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 1810, and served as member of the New York State Assembly in 1814, 1815, and again in 1829. He was a Justice of the Peace of the town of Chemung in 1816.
Elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Sixteenth Congress, Baker served as U. S. Representative for the twentieth district of New York from March 4, 1819 to March 3, 1821.

Death

Baker died in Southport, Chemung County, New York, on June 26, 1849. He is interred at Fitzsimmons Cemetery, Elmira, New York.