Born in Madison County, Alabama, James Baker trained in the law before moving to Huntsville in 1852. After a brief marriage to Caroline Hightower -- that ended with her tragic death -- Baker married Rowena Crawford, the principal of the Huntsville Female Academy. In time, Baker became a prominent lawyer in East Texas and was selected as a state legislator and judge. He served as a member of Forrest Lodge No. 19 in 1855 and helped to establish the first law school in Texas at Huntsville's Austin College. Although the school was short-lived, Baker went on to serve as an attorney and co-founder of the firm now known as Bake-Bots in Houston. Baker was the father of Captain James A. Baker -- associated with Rice University -- and the great-grandfather of James A. Baker III, a cabinet member under Ronald Reagan and George Bush. | Source: Walker County Historical CommissionDownload Original File
