Member Biography

Jesse Matlack Baker 

Member
Sessions Office Position District Party
1893-1894       9 Republican
1895-1896       9 Republican

COUNTIES: Delaware  


Biography

03/01/1855 - 07/30/1913


Major Jesse Matlack Baker (R9) Delaware County 1893-1896

Early Life: 

Major Jesse Matlack Baker, born March 1, 1854, Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania; son of John Mitchell Baker and Phebe Ann Matlack Baker; attended, Hyatt’s Military Academy (now Pennsylvania Military Academy); attended, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York; captain, Company H, 6th Regiment, Pennsylvania National Guard, 1877-1898; major, United States Army, Spanish American War, 1898; teacher, five years, Chester Delaware Counties; admitted, Delaware County bar, lawyer, 1880-1913; engaged, real estate; elected, District Attorney, Delaware County, 1881-1886; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1888-1892; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1893-1896; married, Courtenay Wallace, 1882; died, July 30, 1913, (59 years, 151 days), Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania; interment, Media Cemetery, Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Teacher, five years, Chester Delaware Counties; Captain, Company H, 6th Regiment, Pennsylvania National Guard, 1877-1898; major, United States Army Spanish American War, 1898.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, District Attorney, Delaware County, 1881-1886. 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1888-1892; not a candidate for reelection 1892. 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 9th district, Delaware County, 1893-1896; committee assignments, Judiciary General, Judiciary Special, Mines and Mining. 

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us) 

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members B"Wilkes University Election Statistics ProjectWilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1896). Cochran, T.B., (Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 1053, 1061-1064, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 1014.

Jesse Matlack Baker (1854-1913) - Find a Grave Memorial