Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/249

BAUGHER, Henry L., educator, was born in Abbottstown, Pa., about 1805. In 1825 he was graduated from Dickinson college, Carlisle. He became a Lutheran preacher and held a pastorate at Boonesboro, Md. In 1830 he was principal of a classical school at Gettysburg. The school was made a college in 1833, and he was given the chair of Greek and belles lettres. In 1850 he was made president of the college, and so remained till his death, April 14, 1868.

BAUSMON, Benjamin, clergyman, was born at Lancaster, Pa., Jan. 28, 1824. He was educated at Marshall college. Pa., and studied theology at the seminary at Mercersburg, Pa., leaving the latter in 1852. His first pastorate was at Lewisburg, Pa. In 1858 he became editor of the Reformed Messenger. He subsequently held pastorates at Chambersburg and Reading. He was delegated by his denomination to the Reformed diet at Lubeck in 1856, and to the council of the alliance of Reformed churches at Belfast in 1884. He published: "Sinai and Zion" (1860); "Wayside Gleanings in Europe" (1876), and "Bible Character" (1893).

BAXTER, Annie White, county clerk, was born in Pittsburg, Pa., March 2, 1864. Her education was commenced in Newark, Ohio, and completed in the High school at Carthage, Mo., where she was graduated in 1882, and in the autum of the same year became assistant clerk in the county clerk's office. Her efficient services were so well appreciated that in November, 1885, she was sworn and appointed a regular deputy clerk of the county court. She was married to Mr. C.W. Baxter of Carthage in 1888. and withdrew for a time into private life. In 1890 she was nominated by the Democrats for county clerk, the farmers of the county casting their votes for her regardless of party, and the miners at Joplin flocking to the polls singing "Little Annie Rooney" and voting for their favorite, and she was elected with a majority of 463 votes, being the first woman in the United States elected as county clerk. Her election was contested, but was confirmed by the courts, and she served the full term of four years.

BAXTER, Elisha, governor of Arkansas, was born in Rutherford county, N.C., Sept. 1, 1827. After receiving a common-school education he removed to Batesville, Ark., and in 1853 became mayor of that town. He was a state legislator in 1854 and in 1858; a colonel in the Federal army in 1863, commanding the 4th Arkansas mounted infantry, and a judge of the third district court of Arkansas from 1868 to 1872. He was elected a United States senator in 1867, but was not permitted to take his seat, Arkansas not having been re-admitted into the Union. In 1872 he was declared the successful candidate for governor of the state and entered upon the duties of his office when his opponent, Joseph Brooks, contested the election, and applied in turn to the United States circuit court, the state legislature and the state supreme court for redress, and being unsuccessful, brought suit in the circuit court of the state in 1874, and obtained a judgment in the absence of Governor Baxter's counsel. Brooks then undertook to forcibly take possession of the office. An armed encounter between the adherents of the the claimants took place, and blood was shed before the United States troops arrived on the scene and put an end to the disturbance. After a legal opinion from Attorney-General Williams, the Baxter government was recognized by President Grant. Although he had been elected for four years he relinquished his office when, at the end of his second year, a change in the state constitution reduced the term of the governor's tenure of office from four years to two years. He died at Batesville, Ark., June 2, 1899.

BAXTER, Henry, soldier, was born at Sidney Plains, N.Y., Sept. 8, 1821. He received a district school education, went to California in 1848, crossing the plains with a party of thirty men and ox-teams, being captain of the pioneers. He afterwards settled in Michigan, where, at the opening of the civil war, he raised a company, was assigned to the 7th Michigan infantry, made captain, and in the following year was promoted lieutenant-colonel. At Fredericksburg he was wounded while making a sortie to dislodge Confederate sharpshooters, and was promoted brigadier-general of volunteers, March 12, 1863. He was afterward wounded at Antietam and in the Wilderness, had two horses shot under him, and many times distinguished himself for bravery in action. At the end of the war was brevetted major-general of volunteers. President Johnson appointed him United States minister to Honduras in 1866, and he returned to the United States in 1869. He died Dec. 30, 1873.

BAXTER, James Phinney, philanthropist, was born at Gorham, Me., March 23, 1831. He received his early education in the schools of Portland, at an academy at Lynn, Mass., and finished his studies under private tutors. Abandoning his intention to enter the legal profession, he engaged in mercantile enterprises which proved successful, and his wealth enabled him to gratify his philanthropic spirit. He organized and was the first president of the associated charities of Portland, of the Portland society of art, and of the Gorges publication society; and he built and donated to the city its public library building, in which the Maine historical society has accommodations for its library and collections. He accepted many offices of trust, including trustee of the Portland savings bank, vice-president of the Portland trust company, president of