The Biographical Dictionary of America/Baker, Osmon Cleander

BAKER, Osmon Cleander, M. E. bishop, was born at Marlow, Cheshire county, N. H., July 30, 1812. He attended an academy at Wilbraham, Mass., from 1827 to 1830, and from 1830 to 1833 studied at Wesleyan university, Middletown, Conn., leaving in his senior year. From 1834 to 1839 he was instructor at, and from 1839 to 1844 principal of, Newbury seminary, Vt. In 1839 he joined on trial the New Hampshire conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, and until 1844 was employed as a local and itinerant preacher. In 1844 he decided to resign his scholastic work and to devote his time to pastoral duties. He was stationed at Rochester, N. H., in 1844; Manchester, N. H., 1845; and was presiding elder of Dover district in 1846. In 1847 he was made professor in the Methodist general biblical institute. Concord, N. H., which position he filled acceptably until 1850, when he became president of the institute. In 1852 he was elected a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal church at the general conference. In 1837 the Wesleyan university conferred upon him the degree of A. M., and in 1852 that of D. D. He published "The Last Witness" (1853); "A Guide Book in the Administration of the Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church" (1855); and a "Sketch of the Rev. Jason Lee" (1861). He died at Concord, N. H., Dec. 20, 1871.