NATHAN A. BAKER PAPERS

Nathan A. Baker was born in Lockport, New York August 3, 1843, the son of Addison E. and Charlotte Baker. When he was six years old, the family moved to Racine, Wisconsin, where Nathan's father built and operated a hotel. Nathan graduated from Racine High School at age sixteen. The Baker House hotel failed during the economic panic of 1857, and the family moved to Omaha, Nebraska Territory in 1859. They departed Omaha February 22, 1860 and reached Denver, Colorado (then Kansas Territory) on March 20, 1860.

During his early years in Denver, Baker worked numerous jobs such as hauling lumber and cutting fence posts. In April 1862, he opened the Ferry Street School, Denver's first private school. Baker operated the school for less than a year, when the opening of Denver's first public school forced him to close. In 1863, Baker served with a local fire brigade and as a member of the Governor's Guard. During the Indian conflicts of 1864-1865, he enlisted in the Third Regiment, Colorado Cavalry. In December 1865, Baker married Clarrissa Moyn (1844-1926) of Venango County, Pennsylvania. Clarrissa was the daughter of John Moyn and Catherine Axtell.

Baker began his newspaper career as a bookkeeper for the Rocky Mountain Herald. He soon joined William Byers as business manager for the Rocky Mountain News, where he risked his life to save many valuable papers during the 1864 flood. Baker remained with the Rocky Mountain News while studying law until 1867.

Baker soon resigned from the Rocky Mountain News to start his own newspaper, the Colorado Leader. Almost immediately, he moved his venture to Wyoming Territory, and on September 19, 1867, he published the first issue of the Cheyenne Leader, Wyoming's first newspaper. Shortly thereafter, Baker began publishing the Laramie Sentinel and the South Pass News. He operated all three newspapers for several years.

When Baker returned to Colorado in 1872, he established himself as a job printer and worked with several newspapers in various capacities. He built a successful fish hatchery for Rocky Mountain trout on his father's property at Baker's Springs, near Denver. During the late 1870s he also developed a bottled water business. In 1879, Baker became a charter member of the State Historical Society of Colorado and later served as vice president.

Baker worked briefly for Horace Tabor in the 1890s as business manager for the Denver, Apex and Western Railroad. Eventually, Baker purchased Tabor's interest in the railroad. From 1906 until his retirement in 1921, Baker worked at the Denver Mint providing valuations for gold bullion. Baker was a member of the Masons, Knights Templar, Society of Colorado Pioneers, Denver Chamber of Commerce and several historical societies. As a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, he was influential in arranging the organization's national encampment, which was held in Denver in 1905. He also started a beautification project by planting the first trees along Cherry Creek in Denver.

Baker died May 27, 1934 in Denver. He is buried at Denver's Fairmont Cemetery.