James Baker was a brother-in-law of Judge Trimble, with whom he entered into a legal partnership on his coming to Bloomfield, Iowa, from Shelbyville, Indiana, in 1852. He was a native of Gallatin County, Kentucky, where he was born in 1823. He was a brilliant and successful lawyer, and from all accounts, a noble gentleman.

On the very outbreak of the Civil War he entered the service of his country as Captain of Company G, Second Iowa Infantry. He was the first volunteer from Davis County. He served as Captain of his Company until November, 1861, when he was promoted to the Lieutenant Colonelcy of his regiment. In a few months thereafter, he became its Colonel, succeeding General Tuttle. He was killed while gallantly leading his regiment in a charge at the Battle of Corinth. In speaking of this occurrence, Major James B. Weaver--afterward General--who was in
 command of the regiment at the close of the Battle, thus reported:

In this protracted and desperate engagement, in many respects the most desperate of the war, the officers and men displayed the most laudable gallantry and heroism. Colonel Baker fell mortally wounded on the first day, at the very

time when his regiment was charging upon the retreating rebels with the greatest enthusiasm and fury. He remarked as he was being borne off the field, "Thank God! when I fell my regiment was victoriously charging."

No higher encomium could be paid that gallant patriot.

He was a fine public speaker and had few superiors as a lawyer in Southern Iowa. In personal appearance, he was highly prepossessing, and was beloved by his friends. He was of medium height and stoutly built, and had dark and lustrious eyes. His death was universally lamented.  

By EDWARD H. STILES DES MOINES THE HOMESTEAD PUBLISHING CO. 1916

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