Baker, Jehu, 1822-1903

Belleville, Illinois, lawyer; member. U.S. House of Representatives, 1865-1869, 1887-1889, 1897-1899; U.S. consul to Venezuela, 1878-1885.

Lawyer, U.S. Representative from Illinois, and U.S. minister to Venezuela.

Jehu Baker was born near Lexington, Ky., on 4 Nov. 1822. He moved with his father to Lebanon, Ill., in 1829; attended the common schools and McKendree College at Lebanon; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1846, and commenced practice at Belleville, St. Clair County, Ill.. He was elected as a Republican to the Thirty-ninth and Fortieth Congresses (4 Mar. 1865-3 Mar. 1869). He served as U.S. minister to Venezuela 1878-1881 and 1882-1885, being Minister Resident and consul general for a time during the latter portion of his service. He was elected as a Republican to the Fiftieth Congress (4 Mar.1887-3 Mar. 1889) and was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1888 to the Fifty-first Congress. He continued the practice of law. He was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-fifth Congress (4 Mar. 1897-3 Mar. 1899), but declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1898 to the Fifty-sixth Congress. He then resumed the practice of law and died in Belleville, Ill., on 1 Mar. 1903.