He worked with the more famous architect Samuel Sloan and helped him build the Executive Mansion in Raleigh.
[2] Bauer struggled to find business after the death of his partner Samuel Sloan and left Raleigh for some time.
While he was working on the Pullen Building [3] in 1884, he met his wife-to-be, Cherokee Indian Rachel Blythe.
He survived, but the trauma gave him continuing psychological issues which ruined his reputation.
[5] Shortly after completing this last project, Bauer committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.