BAKER, OBADIAH ETHELBERT PAPERS 1856-1923

Processed by Olga Tsapina

Manuscripts Department

The Huntington Library

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Phone: (626) 405-2203

Fax: (626) 449-5720

Email: lgarcia@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org/huntingtonlibrary.aspx?id=554

2002

BAKER, OBADIAH ETHELBERT PAPERS 1856-1923

The Huntington Library

> >

>San Marino, California

Contact Information:

Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2203
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: lgarcia@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org/huntingtonlibrary.aspx?id=554

Processed by:: Olga Tsapina
Date Completed:: October 31, 2000
Encoded by:: Pacific Data Conversion Corp.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Baker, Obadiah Ethelbert Papers

Date (inclusive): 1856-1923

Creator: Baker, Obadiah E., (1856-1923)

Extent: 350 pieces 2 boxes

Repository: The Huntington Library

San Marino, California 91108

Language: English.

Administrative Information

Access

Collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information please go to following URL .

Publication Rights

In order to quote from, publish, or reproduce any of the manuscripts or visual materials, researchers must obtain formal permission from the office of the Library Director. In most instances, permission is given by the Huntington as owner of the physical property rights only, and researchers must also obtain permission from the holder of the literary rights. In some instances, the Huntington owns the literary rights, as well as the physical property rights. Researchers may contact the appropriate curator for further information.

Preferred Citation

Baker, Obadiah Ethelbert Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Acquisition Information

The collection was purchased from Argonaut Book Shop in June 1966.

The collection numbers approximately 350 pieces and is contained in 2 boxes.

Inclusive dates: 1856-1923.

Historical Note

Obadiah Ethelbert Baker, native of Eden, N.Y., moved to Iowa with his parents, settling in Strawberry Point in 1856. At 21, he began teaching a class of 72 students the local district school. In 1860, he married Melissa Dalton (1844-1918). In 1860's, Melissa, formerly a student of his, later taught school in the same district.

In Sept. 1862, Baker enlisted in the Second Iowa Cavalry Regiment. The regiment was organized at Davenport August and September 1861, and was posted at Benton Barracks, Mo. until February 1862, and then moved to New Madrid. The regiment took part in the operations at New Madrid, Island No. 10, and advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., action at Iuka, battle of Corinth, Miss., Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign, operations in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee. In 1863, Baker spent several months in various hospitals in Missouri and Tennessee. He was honorably discharged in Washington, D.C. in Apr. 1865.

After the war Obadiah E. Baker taught school in Mississippi and then returned to Iowa. In 1874, the Bakers left Iowa for Shasta Co., California. In Shasta and Modoc Counties, Baker taught school, sold farm implements and medicines. In 1900 the Bakers moved to Kenwood. Obadiah E. Baker active in Civil War veteran affairs.

Obadiah and Melissa Baker had four children: a son who died in infancy, daughters Grace Amelia (1870-1876) and Caroline Melissa (1866-1896), and son Milo Samuel (1868-1961), a renowned botanist. In 1881-1887 Caroline and Milo attended San Jose Normal School.

During the war, Baker and his wife exchanged journals containing daily letters to each other. In 1870-1880's, while working on a book of memoirs, Obadiah E. Baker made fair copies of some of these letter books.

Scope and Content Note

Civil War: Military operations of the 2 nd Cavalry Regiment on the Western front. Camp life of a Civil War soldier: payments, foraging; drills and inspections, picket duty; roads, recreations, hospitals, medical care; doctors and nurses, especially work of Catholic Sisters of Charity, and Confederate prisoners. Civil War experience and memory as reflected in poetry and reminiscences created in 1860' s-1900.

Baker family: family news; business and financial affairs; Baker's teaching experience.

Organization and Arrangement

The consists of correspondence and individual manuscript volumes and is organized in the following manner:

Box 1: Baker, Obadiah Ethelbert, Journals. 13 pieces.

Box 2 (oversize): Baker, Melissa Dalton, Journal (1862); Baker, Obadiah Ethelbert, Notebooks, Poems, Essays, (1893-1923); Correspondence, 1880- 9 envelopes;

Indexing: Subjects

Baker, Obadiah Ethelbert

Baker, Melissa Dalton

Baker family.

United States. Army - Iowa Cavalry Regiments, 2 nd.

Schools - Iowa - 19 th century.

Corinth, Battle of, 1862.

United States - History - Civil War, 1861 - 1865 - Personal narratives.

United States - History - Civil War, 1861 - 1865 - Medical care.

United States - History - Civil War, 1861 - 1865 - Literature and the war.

Iowa - Social life and customs.

Mississippi - Description and travel - Civil War, 1861 - 1865.

Tennessee - Description and travel - Civil War, 1861 - 1865.

Missouri - Description and travel - Civil War, 1861 - 1865.

California - Description and travel.

California - Social life and customs.

Diaries

Letters (correspondence)

Memoirs

Newspaper clippings

Photographs

Poems

Collection Contents

Box 1

Journal No. 11859, Dec. 6 - 1860, Apr. 13, Strawberry Point, Iowa. (ff. 1016) 1862, Apr. 4-7. Manchester, Ten. 1874 1

Physical Description: 29 leaves. Fills half of an 1814cm notebook. The portion of the army diary was added later.

Scope and Content Note

Life in Strawberry Point, Iowa: teaching district school; Meetings at Methodist Church; Temperance lecture; Courting Melissa and troubles at school. (ff. 1-26)

Camp at Manchester, Ten.

Expenses

Box 1

Journal No. 2 1862, Sept. 19 - Nov. 5 1A

Physical Description: Fair copy. 74 leaves; fills a 24 20 cm. Notebook.

Scope and Content Note

Iuka, Sept. 19-20. Battle of Corinth, Oct. 3-4; pursuit to Ripley, Oct. 5-12; Capture of Ripley and Orizaba, Nov. 2.

Contains poems Battle of Corinth and After the Battle.

Box 1

Journal No. 2A 1862, Sept. 16-28 2

Physical Description: Original pocket diary. 15 9 cm.

Box 1

Journal No. 3 1862, Nov. 6 - Dec. 24 2A

Physical Description: Fair copy 84 leaves 22 18 cm. notebook

Scope and Content Note

Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign: LaGrange, Coldwater, Hudsonville, reconnaissance to Holly Springs, Holly Springs, expedition to Ripley, Waterford, Tallahatchie River, Oxford, expedition against Mobile & Ohio RR, Ripley.

Box 1

Journal No. 3A 1862, Dec. 16-30 3

Physical Description: 18 leaves Original pocket diary

Box 1

Journal No. 3B 1862, Nov. 5 - Dec. 17 4

Physical Description: 56 leaves 21 17 cm. Composition book.

Box 1

Journal No. 4 1863, Jan. 23-Mar 17 4A

Physical Description: Fair copy. 41 leaves 21 19 notebook

Scope and Content Note

Camp life; hospital in Germantown, Ten.

Box 1

Journal No. 5A 1863, May 18 - July 16 5

Physical Description: Original pocket diary.

Box 1

Journal No. 5 1863, Mar. 18 - June 2 4B

Physical Description: 124 pages 21 17 notebook

Scope and Content Note

Overton hospital, Memphis, Ten. Catholic Sisters of Charity.

Lawson hospital, St. Louis, Mo.

Box 1

Journal No. 6 1863, June 3 - Sept. 8 6

Physical Description: Fair copy 152 pages, 21 7 notebook

Scope and Content Note

Lawson Hospital, St. Louis, Mo.

Box 1

Journal No. 7 1863, July 26 - Sept. 7 7

Physical Description: Original pocket diary

Box 1

Journal No. 8 1864, Mar 7 - 31 8

Physical Description: Original pocket diary

Box 1

Journal No. 9A 1864, May 3 - 30 9

Physical Description: Original pocket diary

Box 1

Journal No. 9 1864, May 3 - Aug. 28 10

Physical Description: Fair copy 21 7 notebook

Scope and Content Note

Furlough

Camp at Washington, D.C.

Box 1

Journal No. 10 1864, Aug. 3 Sept. 16 11

Physical Description: Original pocket diary

Scope and Content Note

Giesboro Point, Va. Washington, D.C.

Box 1

Journal No. 10A 1864, Aug. 29 - Dec. 4 12

Physical Description: Fair copy

Box 1

Journal No. 11 1865, Feb. 26 - Apr. 7 13

Physical Description: Original pocket diary.

Scope and Content Note

Giesboro Pt. Washington, D.C.

Box 2, Env.# 22

Baker, Melissa Dalton 1862, Aug. 6-12

Scope and Content Note

Journal/Letters to Obadiah E. Baker

Civil War

Box 2, Env.# 18

1876

Scope and Content Note

Notebook

Trip to California

Box 2, Env.# 21

Baker, Obadiah E. 1878-1910

Scope and Content Note

Misc. tax receipts

Box 2, Env.# 14

Baker, Obadiah E. 1891-1897

Scope and Content Note

Notebook containing poetry and drafts of a Civil War memoir.

Civil War

Box 2, Env.# 15 - Missing!!!

Baker, Obadiah E. 1900, not after

Scope and Content Note

Notebook

Box 2, Env.# 19

Baker, Obadiah E. 1900, not after

Scope and Content Note

Notebook

Accounts

Box 2, Env.# 17

Baker, Obadiah E. 1900-1923

Scope and Content Note

Notebook containing poetry and drafts of a Civil War memoir.

Civil War

Box 2, Env.# 16

Baker, Obadiah E. 1903

Scope and Content Note

Notebook containing poetry and drafts of a Civil War memoir.

Civil War

Box 2, Env.# 20

Baker, Obadiah e. 1914, not after

Scope and Content Note

Notebook

Box 2, Env.# 23

Photographs

Box 2, Folder# 25

Baker, Samuel K. CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS 1852, Oct. 25

Scope and Content Note

To John Baker

Estate of John Baker

Box 2, Folder# 15

Baker, Obadiah E. CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS 1863-1865

Scope and Content Note

Journal fragments; contains letter to Melissa Baker (6 pieces)

Civil War

Box 2, Folder# 5

Baker, John CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS 1877, Jan. 25

Scope and Content Note

To Obadiah and Melissa Baker

Family news

Box 2, Folder# 6

Baker, John CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS 1877, Apr. 15

Scope and Content Note

To Obadiah and Melissa Baker

Family news

Box 2, Folder# 14

Baker, Obadiah E. CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS 1879, May 4

Scope and Content Note

To Caroline and Melissa Baker

Family news

Box 2, Folder# 27

Clark, Mary A. CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS 1879, May 11

Scope and Content Note

To John Baker and Ruth Baker

Family news

Box 2, Folder# 4

Baker, David CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS 1880, Sept. 17

Scope and Content Note

To Obadiah E. Baker

Estate of John Baker

Box 2, Folder# 8

Baker, Melissa Dalton CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS 1881, Dec. 11

Scope and Content Note

To Obadiah E. Baker

Family news

Box 2, Folder# 3

Baker, Caroline Melissa & Baker, Milo Samuel. 3 ALS CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS1882-1883

Scope and Content Note

To Obadiah E. Baker

San Jose Normal School

Box 2, Folder# 12

Baker, Caroline Melissa, Baker, Milo Samuel, and Baker, Melissa Dalton. 6 ALS CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS1882-1883

Scope and Content Note

To Obadiah E. Baker

San Jose Normal School

Box 2, Folder# 9

Baker, Melissa Dalton & Baker, Caroline Melissa, 21 ALS. CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS1882-1897

Scope and Content Note

To Obadiah E. Baker

San Jose Normal School Family news

Box 2, Folder# 1

Baker, Caroline Melissa. 9 A.L.S. CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS1882-1887

Scope and Content Note

Obadiah E. Baker

San Jose Normal School

Box 2, Folder# 29

Morley, A.E. CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS 1883, May 7

Scope and Content Note

To Obadiah E. Baker (?)

Box 2, Folder# 13

Baker, Milo Samuel & Baker, Melissa Dalton. 4 A.L.S. CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS1883-1886

Scope and Content Note

To Obadiah E. Baker

San Jose Normal School

Box 2, Folder# 11

Baker, Milo Samuel. 5 A.L.S. CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS1883-1886

Scope and Content Note

To Obadiah E. Baker

San Jose Normal School

Box 2, Folder# 2

Baker, Caroline Melissa & Baker, Melissa Dalton CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS1886, Aug. 16

Scope and Content Note

To Obadiah E. Baker

San Jose Norman School

Box 2, Folder# 10

Baker, Milo Samuel CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS 1889, Feb. 3

Scope and Content Note

To Melissa Dalton Baker

Box 2, Folder# 30

Willard, Frances Elizabeth CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS 1889, July 1

Scope and Content Note

To Sarah J. Churchill

Woman's Christian Temperance Union

Box 2, Folder# 26

Bell, S.G. CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS 1899, Jan. 20

Scope and Content Note

To Obadiah E. Baker

Box 2, Folder# 28

Haylin, N.L. CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS 1899, June 21

Scope and Content Note

To Obadiah E. Baker

Veterans

Box 2, Folder# 31

Willard, Frances Elizabeth CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS 1890(?) Apr. 9

Scope and Content Note

To Sarah J. Churchill

Woman's Christian Temperance Union

Box 2, Folder# 17

Baker, Obadiah E. CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS Ca. 1900

Scope and Content Note

Memoir fragments

Civil War

Box 2, Folder# 16

Baker, Obadiah E. CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS 1900, not after (1874?)

Scope and Content Note

Fragment of journal

Arkansas

Box 2, Folder# 7

Baker, Obadiah E. CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS 1900-1918

Scope and Content Note

To Milo Samuel Baker

Box 2, Folder# 33

Baker, Obadiah E. CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS 1877-1910

Scope and Content Note

Misc. documents

Pension certificates, etc

Box 2, Folder# No#

Newspaper clipping re: provenance of the Baker papers

Box 2, Folder# 18

Baker, Obadiah E. POEMS AND ESSAYS 1859-1900 (?)

Scope and Content Note

Poems

Box 2, Folder# 32