William R. Baker
Encyclopedia
William Robinson Baker was a U.S.
politician who was a Texas State Senator
and Mayor of Houston, Texas
.
Baker was born 21 May 1820 in Onondaga County, New York
to Asa Baker and the former Hannah Robinson. He lived in New York until age 17 at which time he moved to Houston
in the Republic of Texas
. There he was a bookkeeper for the Houston Town Company for about two years and ran a general store for two years after that. In 1841, Baker successfully ran for County Clerk of Harris County
, a position he held for 16 years.
Baker married Hester E. Runnels, niece of former Mississippi Governor Hiram Runnels
, in December 1845.
In 1852, Baker became the Secretary of the Texas Central Railroad, and in 1856, Secretary of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad. He eventually became Director and the Vice President of the line. From 1868 to 1871 was President of the railroad, and from 1873 to 1875, served as Vice-President and Manager. He sold his interests and retired from the railroad business in 1877.
In 1874, Baker was elected to the Texas Senate
from the 16th District
and served one term.
Baker was elected mayor of Houston and served for six years, from 1880 to 1886. Baker died in 1890.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician who was a Texas State Senator
Texas Senate
The Texas Senate is the upper house of the Texas Legislature. There are 31 members of the Senate, representing 31 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 672,000 per constituency. There are no term limits, and each term is four years long. The Senate meets at the...
and Mayor of Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Baker was born 21 May 1820 in Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 467,026. The county seat is Syracuse.Onondaga County is part of the Syracuse, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area....
to Asa Baker and the former Hannah Robinson. He lived in New York until age 17 at which time he moved to Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
in the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
. There he was a bookkeeper for the Houston Town Company for about two years and ran a general store for two years after that. In 1841, Baker successfully ran for County Clerk of Harris County
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
, a position he held for 16 years.
Baker married Hester E. Runnels, niece of former Mississippi Governor Hiram Runnels
Hiram Runnels
Hiram George Runnels was a U.S. politician from the state of Mississippi.He was a Democrat who served as governor of Mississippi from November 20, 1833 to December 3, 1835....
, in December 1845.
In 1852, Baker became the Secretary of the Texas Central Railroad, and in 1856, Secretary of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad. He eventually became Director and the Vice President of the line. From 1868 to 1871 was President of the railroad, and from 1873 to 1875, served as Vice-President and Manager. He sold his interests and retired from the railroad business in 1877.
In 1874, Baker was elected to the Texas Senate
Texas Senate
The Texas Senate is the upper house of the Texas Legislature. There are 31 members of the Senate, representing 31 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 672,000 per constituency. There are no term limits, and each term is four years long. The Senate meets at the...
from the 16th District
Texas Senate, District 16
District 16 of the Texas Senate is a senatorial district that currently serves a portion of Dallas county in the U.S. state of Texas. The current Senator from District 16 is John J. Carona.-2008:-2004:-2004:-2002:-1998:...
and served one term.
Baker was elected mayor of Houston and served for six years, from 1880 to 1886. Baker died in 1890.