Morris Seminary in Illinois and at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania.

[2][3] For lack of money he had to drop out of college and go to work as a carpenter, painter, and teacher.

[1] Baker next moved into government service as a U.S. consul, first in Copenhagen, Denmark (1893-94) and then Sydney, Australia (1900-08).

[1][3] In 1913, as he was on his way back to the United States on leave, he died on board the U.S. transport Thomas in the harbor at Nagasaki, Japan.

[2][3] Baker married Mary Catherine Ridley in 1858; she died in 1890 and he remarried, to Rachel Halton Beach.