Monroe Baker (born 1821 or 1823) was an American politician who served as mayor of St. Martinville, Louisiana, one of the earliest if not the first African-American mayor in the United States.
Monroe Baker | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of St. Martinville, Louisiana | |
| In office October 1867 – February 1868 | |
| Preceded by | Pierre Gary |
| Succeeded by | A.L. Tertron |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1821 or 1823 |
| Spouse(s) | Mary L. Barrier Clotide Baker |
| Children | 12 |
Biography
editBaker was born in either 1821 (per the 1870 U.S. Census) or 1823 (per the 1850 U.S. Census) in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana and moved to St. Martinville, Louisiana.[1] He is listed as a free black[2] of mixed race descent, and farmer was listed as his occupation.[1]
In October 1867, Governor Benjamin Flanders appointed him mayor of St. Martinville after the death of Mayor Pierre Gary.[3][4] In response, an editorial printed in an Alexandria newspaper called Baker a slur and said it was unnatural for a black person to be mayor over white residents.[5] Baker served until February 1868 when A.L. Tertron succeeded him as mayor.[6]
In 1875, Baker ran in the election for the four seats for trustees of St. Martinsville; he came in fifth place.[7]
In the 1870 census, Baker was listed as a "livery stable keeper", and by 1891, he was listed as "an enterprising citizen and successful planter".[1]
In 1845, he married Mary L. Barrier, and they had 12 children.[1] Sources indicate that he had a second wife named Clotide with whom he had five children, and it is surmised that he had twelve children between his two wives.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Grissom, Ken (July 12, 2006). "Baker First Black Mayor". Teche News – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Monroe Baker, Mayor of St. Martinsville, he was a Free colored before emancipation". The Weekly Iberville South. November 9, 1867.
- ^ "Military Items". The Daily Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana). October 28, 1867. p. 2.
- ^ "A Colored Mayor". The Weekly Iberville South (Plaquemine, Louisiana). November 9, 1867. p. 2.
- ^ General Mower". The Louisiana Democrat (Alexandria, Louisiana). November 27, 1867. p. 2.
- ^ "Military Items". The Times-Picayune. February 21, 1868. p. 1.
- ^ "Official: Compiled Returns of an Election Held in the town of St. Martinsville". New Orleans Republican. April 15, 1875. p. 3.