The Biographical Dictionary of America/Baker, William Mumford

BAKER, William Mumford, author, was born in Washington, D. C. , June 27, 1825, son of Daniel Baker, clergyman. In 1846 he was graduated at Princeton, and pursued a theological course under his father at Princeton seminary. He held pastoral charges in Presbyterian churches at Galveston and Austin, Texas, from 1850 to 1865; at Zanesville, Ohio, and Newburyport, Mass., and in South Boston, Mass., from 1874 to his death. He wrote much for contemporary Literature, and in 1858 published the "Life and Labors of Rev. Daniel Baker," and in 1866, under the pen-name of G. F. Harrington, "Inside: a Chronicle of Secession." This book, which vividly portrayed southern life and sentiment, was written from actual observation during his residence in Austin, attained a wide circulation and was followed by "Oak Mot" (1868); "Mose Evans" (1874); "Carter Quarterman" (1876); "A year Worth Living" (1878); "Colonel Dunwoodie" (1878); "The Virginians in Texas" (1878); "Thirlmore" and "The New Timothy" (1879); "His Majesty, Myself" (1879); "Blessed Saint Certainty" (1881); "The Ten Theophanies: or, the Manifestations of Christ before His Birth in Bethlehem" (1883); "The Making of a Man" was published in 1884. He died in South Boston, Mass., Aug, 20. 1883.