San Francisco County
Biographies
G.W. BAKER
G.W. BAKER, a talented member of the bar of San Francisco
was born at Geneva Lake, Wisconsin, where he spent the early years of his life
on his father’s farm. In his home life he received excellent training, and he
also had good educational advantages. After completing his literary studies he
took up the legal profession with the idea of making it his life work. He was
admitted to the bar in Wisconsin,
and practiced there a number of years. In addition to his regular practice he
was the attorney for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad for a
period of three years, and subsequently he was attorney for the McGregor &
Western Road.
In
1870 Mr. Baker decided to go to Nevada.
He was young, ambitious and energetic, and although the bar of Nevada even then
had many brilliant members, men well known all over the coast for their
learning, he was not daunted by the competition he was to meet; the fact that
he had established a large and successful practice is proof that he possesses
ability of a high order. He settled in Eureka, gained the
good will and respect of the people there, and in 1873 was elected District
Attorney, being the first officer to hold that position in Eureka.
In 1876 he was sent to the State Senate, and in 1878 he was nominated
by his party for the more important position of Secretary of State; although he
received a large vote, the Democratic Party was then in the minority and he was
defeated. In September. 1880, he formed a partnership
with Mr. Wines, and Mr. Dorsey has since been admitted to the firm, the title
being Baker, Wines & Dorsey. It is safe to say that for the past fifteen
years there has not been a case of importance tried in Nevada
with which Mr. Baker has not been connected. For eleven years his firm has been
counsel for the Southern Pacific Company in Nevada,
and he has established a high reputation by the success he has had in mining
cases.
Until
1884 Mr. Baker was identified with the Democratic Party, but he has since
affiliated with the Republicans, believing that the principles of that party
are best for the country, especially the section in which he resides. He is
connected with few clubs or Societies, but is a thirty-second-degree Mason. And a member of the Eureka Commandery, K.
T. He is a courteous, liberal-minded gentleman, enjoying the highest
esteem of all who know him both in professional and social circles. Although
not a Californian until recently, he has been a very close neighbor, and San
Francisco is to be congratulated upon the acquisition
of so eminent a member of the legal profession and so loyal a citizen.
Transcribed by Kim Buck.
Source: "The Bay of San
Francisco," Vol. 2, Page 515, Lewis
Publishing Co, 1892.
© 2006 Kim Buck.
California
Biography Project
San
Francisco County
California
Statewide
Golden
Nugget Library