Robert Hall Baker, Sr.
Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 5th district
In office January 13, 1875 – January 10, 1877
Preceded by	Charles Herrick
Succeeded by	Isaac W. Van Schaick
In office January 8, 1873 – January 15, 1874
Preceded by	Philo Belden
Succeeded by	Charles Herrick
Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin
In office 1880–1881
21st Mayor of Racine, Wisconsin
In office 1874–1875
Preceded by	Reuben G. Doud
Succeeded by	Reuben G. Doud
Member of the Racine City Council
In office 1871–1872
In office 1868–1869
In office 1865–1866
Personal details
Born	(1839-06-27)June 27, 1839 Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Died	October 5, 1882(1882-10-05) (aged 43) Racine, Wisconsin
Resting place	Mound Cemetery, Racine
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Emily M. Carswell (m. 1859; died 1894)
Children	Mary Louise (Richards) (b. 1862; died 1940) George Carswell Baker (b. 1865; died 1886) Edward Larrabee Baker (b. 1869; died 1949) Robert Hall Baker, Jr. (b. 1870; died 1911) Charles Henry Baker (b. 1873; died 1946)
Parent	Charles Minton Baker (father)
Occupation	Manufacturer

Robert Hall Baker, Sr., (June 27, 1839 – October 5, 1882) was an American businessman and politician. He served three years in the Wisconsin State Senate (1873, 1875, 1876), one year as Mayor of Racine, Wisconsin (1874), and was Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin. In business, he was one of the four principal owners of the J.I. Case Company.^[1][2]

Biography

Born in Geneva, Walworth County, Wisconsin Territory, to Martha Washington Larrabee and Charles Minton Baker. His father was a lawyer, judge, and politician. Baker attended Beloit College and assisted his father's law practice in Lake Geneva before moving to Racine.^[2]

Robert married Emily M. Carswell in 1859 and they had five children. They resided in Racine at the corner of 6th and Main Street, now the site of the U.S. Post Office.^[1]

In 1856, he entered business in Racine hardware supply, then worked for one year with Thomas Falvey, a reaper manufacturer. He then went to work for the J.I. Case Company in 1860 as a collecting agent.^[1]

In January 1863, Baker purchased a one quarter stake in the J.I. Case Company, becoming one of the four major shareholders in the company, the others being M.B. Erskine, Stephen Bull, and Jerome Case himself.^[1]

In Racine, Baker was elected as school commissioner in 1867, alderman in 1868 and 1871, and mayor in 1874. He won election to the Wisconsin Senate in 1872, defeating Democrat Nicholas D. Fratt. In 1873, he was the Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, losing to Charles D. Parker. In 1874 he was elected to return to the Senate, defeating incumbent Liberal Republican Charles Herrick.^[1] Baker was chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin during the presidential campaign of James Garfield, and was appointed government director of the Union Pacific Railroad by Garfield after he became president. He held this office until his death in 1882.^[2]

He was a director of the Racine Hardware Manufacturing Company, a director of the Manufacturers National Bank of Racine and the National Iron Company of De Pere, Wisconsin, and president of the Hampton Coal Mining Company.^[1]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Senate (1872)

Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor (1873)

Wisconsin Senate (1874)