Captain James A. Baker of Houston, 1857-1941

Appendix A: Chronology of Captain Baker’s Life

349  1821 Mar. 3 James Addison Baker born in Alabama 1828 Apr. 8 Rowena Crawford born in Alabama 1835–1836 Pleasant and Ephraim Gray found Huntsville, Texas 1836–1837 Augustus Chapman and John Kirby Allen found Houston, Texas 1837 May Col. William Fairfax Gray begins practice of law 1853 Sept. 27 Rowena Crawford and James Addison Baker marry 1855 Mar. 14 Beverly Crawford Baker born (d. Jun. 13, 1856) 1857 Jan. 10 James Addison (Jimmie) Baker born in Huntsville 1858 May 13 Mary Susan (Minnie) Baker born in Huntsville (d. Jun. 26, 1947) 1860 Sept. 13 Anna Bland Baker born (d. Dec. 20, 1952) 1861 Oct. James Addison Baker enlists as private in Confederate Army (6-month tour Oct. 1861–Mar. 1862) 1862 Mar. 10 James Addison Baker elected judge, 7th District Court 1863 Jan. 26 Jane and Jeanette (“Nettie”) Baker born (Jane d. in infancy; Jeanette d. Dec. 15, 1920) 1864 Oct. 18 Alice Graham born in Waco 1865 Jun. Judge Baker removed from court by Reconstruction Government 1867 Jul. 27 Robert Lee Baker born (d. Feb. 2, 1939) 1870 Houston Population: 9,382 (3rd largest city in Texas) Houston Bar Association founded; Peter Gray, first president 1872 Judge Baker, Peter Gray, and Walter Browne Botts form Gray, Botts & Baker law firm in Houston Appendix A Chronology of Captain Baker’s Life TAM Kirkland_10_appendixes.indd 349 TAM Kirkland_10_appendixes.indd 349 6/1/12 11:51 AM 6/1/12 11:51 AM  350 appendix a 1874 Fall Cadet James A. Baker at Texas Military Institute 1875 Law firm renamed Baker & Botts 1876 Sept. Baker family moves to Houston, 1104 San Jacinto at Lamar 1877 Spring Cadet Baker graduates from Texas Military Institute Dec. 1 James A. Baker begins reading law with Judge Baker 1879 Aug. James A. Baker Captain Houston Light Guard (year appointment) Oct. 7 Rowena Crawford Baker dies Dec. Captain Baker admitted to practice law; joins Houston Bar Association 1880 Houston Population: 16,512 1881 Jul. 1 Baker, Botts & Baker formed, Captain Baker junior partner Jul. 14 Anna Bland McRobert Crawford dies 1882 Captain Baker helps organize Texas Bar Association 1883 Jan. 10 Captain Baker marries Alice Graham of Waco Oct. 18 Frank Graham Baker born 1884 May Jane Saxton Baker Croft Cobb dies Captain Baker secures Houston Electric Light & Power franchise 1886 Jun. 10 Captain Baker and others found Commercial National Bank 1887 May 13 Alice Graham Baker born (d. Mar. 26, 1978) Captain Baker, vice president, Texas Rolling Mills Corp. 1890 Houston Population: 27,557 Captain Baker, president, Texas Rolling Mills Corp. 1891 May 13–19 William Marsh Rice establishes trust; charter for Institute for the Advancement of Literature, Science, and Art 1891–1941 Captain Baker, chairman, Rice Institute Board 1892 Nov. 3 James A. Baker Jr. born (d. May 21, 1973) TAM Kirkland_10_appendixes.indd 350 TAM Kirkland_10_appendixes.indd 350 6/1/12 11:51 AM 6/1/12 11:51 AM 351  chronology of captain baker’s life Captain Baker, founder, director, president Houston Abstract Co. 1893 Jan. 1 Baker, Botts, Baker & Lovett Mar. Captain Baker writes charter for DePelchin Faith Home Association; Alice Baker volunteers 1894 Mar. 7 Col. Walter Browne Botts dies Captain Baker, president, Citizens Electric Light & Power; director, Houston Gas Light Co.; founding member, Houston Club 1895 Captain Baker, founder, Houston Business League 1896–1912 Captain Baker, director, Commercial National Bank 1896 Jul. 24 Elizabeth Baldwin (Mrs. William Marsh) Rice dies Sept.–1900 Litigation regarding Mrs. Rice’s last testament Sept. Captain Baker writes will for William Marsh Rice 1897 Captain Baker, vice president, Commercial National Bank Feb. 23 Judge Baker dies 1898 Baker family moves to 1416 Main Street 1900 Houston Population: 44,633 Jan. 23 Walter Browne Baker born (d. Nov. 17, 1968) Sept. 8 Hurricane decimates Galveston Sept. 23 William Marsh Rice murdered Sept. 23– 1910 Litigation surrounding Rice’s murder and estate 1901 Jan. 10 Spindletop inaugurates Texas oil industry 1902 Feb. 12 Graham Baker dies of influenza at the Hill School Jun. 27 NY Surrogate Court admits 1896 will of William Marsh Rice to probate 1903 Captain Baker helps Glenwood Cemetery reorganize 1904 Mar. 22 Captain Baker and friends found Houston Golf Club Apr. 29 NY Court directs distribution of William Marsh Rice estate in NY TAM Kirkland_10_appendixes.indd 351 TAM Kirkland_10_appendixes.indd 351 6/1/12 11:51 AM 6/1/12 11:51 AM  352 appendix a May 11 1896 will of William Marsh Rice admitted...