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- BAKER, WILLIAM ROBINSON (1820-1890). William Robinson Baker, Houston mayor, Texas state legislator, and railroad official, the son of Asa and Hannah (Robinson) Baker, was born in Baldwinsville, New York, on May 21, 1820. He moved to Texas in 1837, worked as a bookkeeper for the Houston Town Company, and in 1841 was elected Harris county clerk, a position he filled for the next sixteen years. Baker made his considerable fortune as a land dealer. He married Hester Eleanor Runnels on December 15, 1845, and the couple had one child. Between 1852 and 1877 Baker served as secretary, vice president, general manager, president, and board member of the Houston and Texas Central Railway. In 1860 he had real property valued at $300,000, personal property worth $75,000, and twenty-three slaves, but by 1870 the value of his assets had declined to real property valued at $218,000 and personal property valued at $8,000. In 1874 he was elected as a Democrat to the state Senate and from 1880 to 1886 served as mayor of Houston. He purchased an interest in the Houston Postqv in 1883 and was president of the City Bank of Houston. He was a Mason. He died on April 30, 1890.
bibliography: Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas (New York: Southern, 1880). History of Texas, Together with a Biographical History of the Cities of Houston and Galveston (Chicago: Lewis, 1895). William S. Speer and John H. Brown, eds., Encyclopedia of the New West (Marshall, Texas: United States Biographical Publishing, 1881; rpt., Easley, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, 1978). Ralph A. Wooster, "Wealthy Texans, 1860," Southwestern Historical Quarterly 71 (October 1967)
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from "The Gazette and Farmers' Journal", 12 Jun 1890 (fultonhistory.com)
Hon. W. R. Baker, son of Asa Baker, and in early life a resident of this village, died suddenly at his home in Houston, Texas, April 80th, of paralysis, in the 70th year of his age. Deceased was a cousin of E. M. Robinson, of this village. He was a man of unusual business capacity and had won a place in the hearts of his fellow citizens that caused universal mourning at his sudden death. Of a kindly and generous disposition, his was always a helping hand in times of need. When the committee here was seeking contributions for the erection of the soldiers' monument, Mr. Baker sent them $50 as a reminder that he still felt an interest in his boyhood's home. He is kindly remembered by many of our people, who sincerely mourn his departure. Editorially the Honston Post has these kind words for him: "Houston lost one of its best men and citizens yesterday when the generous spirit of William Robinson Baker took its flight from earth. Mr. Baker in many respects was a remarkable man. He had neared the allotted three-score-and-ten, and yet op to the very moment that be was stricken, on Tuesday night, was regarded as a perfect specimen of physical development and preservation. He was on the streets Tuesday afternoon, apparently in his usual good health, and those who saw him had no kind of intimation of the approaching, end. Mr. Baker's life has been an unusually busy one. Beginning life a poor young man, by indomitable energy, perseverance and business tact he accumulated a handsome fortune. He was among tne pioneers of Texas, and some of the grand enterprises of the State are indebted in part to his fine judgment-and business energy for their success. The growth and progress of Houston have been materially aided by his enterprise and liberality, and the Post can think of no other man to whom the city is more indebted in this respect. During several years past he lost a great deal of money in bad speculations, but, when payingdebts that he was not morally at least responsible for, never complained. In this respect he was a philosopher, and took the world about as he found it, Mr. Baker was a man of generous disposition; he rarely if ever treasured up a personal in jury. He was liberal hearted in the extreme; his gifts in charity, though done quietly and without ostentation, amounted to thousands during the course of a year and many poor people in Houston will miss and sincerely mourn him. As a friend he was true as steel, devoted, always faithful; he was not, strictly speaking, a church man - that is, he was not connected with any religious denomination - his religion appearing to be friendship and charity. As an exponent of these two noblest attributes he was a shining example. The city of Houston will sincerely mourn his sad death, while hundreds of friends throughout Texas will join the Post in tendering condolence to to the bereaved relatives."
- DEATH OF WM. R. BAKER
ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT CITIZENS OF HOUSTON GONE
A Blow that Will Be Severely Felt - He Expires After a Brief Illness- Sketch of R's Long, Useful and Hononable Life.
HOUSTON, Tex., April 30 - This evening at 7:00 o'clock Houston sustained a loss that cannot be repaired in the death of Hon. Wm. Robinson Baker, one of our oldest and most highly esteemed citizens. It was a shock to the entire community, and when generally know will cause perhps more sorrow than the death of any other one man. He seemed in perfect health yesterday afternoon and evening. He was at the game of base-ball, of which sport he was very fond, between Houston and Galveston, and last evening participated in a card party at the home of his sister, Mrs. Clarke, where he was attacked with paralysis a little after 10 o'clock, and was at once conveyed to this home, where Dr. Perl attended him. Mr. Baker himself did not seem to regard his condition as dangerous and was rational at 4 o'clock this morning for short time, after which he seemed to suffer a renewed stroke and never recovered consciousness. Everything that the best medical skill could suggest was done, but of no avail. It was the second or third time he had been attacked by paralysis, and hence a much greater apprehension prevailed than he himself seemed to feel.
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1820 - 1890 (69 years)
