James H. Baker was born in 1839 in Ohio, and moved to Lansing, Michigan, a short time thereafter. In 1861, Baker joined the 1st Regiment of United States Sharp Shooters under Hiram Berdan, and on August 31, 1862, was promoted to captain of Company C. The regiment participated in several pivotal battles during the war, including the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Chancellorsville, and the Battle of Gettysburg. Baker was wounded during the Battle of Fredericksburg in 1863, and received an honorable discharge from the army on November 21 of that year. After the war, Baker became a detective, but left for a position as a timber broker for Lansing Spoke Works. Baker and his wife Ednah had two daughters. Baker died in 1909.
From the guide to the James H. Baker collection, Baker, James H. collection, 1861-1956, 1861-1863, (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)
