[2] From January 9, 1880 – July 1, 1882 he served as Adjutant General of the California National Guard.

Backus was born in 1844 in Poughkeepsie, New York,[3] and moved to California in 1852, where he was educated at the public schools of Sacramento.

Retiring from the Army he entered the civil service, first in the Internal Revenue Department, and afterward in the Custom House, in 1867 he gave up the public service for private business, and became a commission merchant, and for ten years did an extensive trade.

He was appointed Adjutant-General by Governor George C. Perkins in 1880, and was a most efficient officer, reorganizing the State militia thoroughly.

[4] In 1889 he purchased the San Francisco Wasp, an illustrated weekly magazine of news and satire.