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Monroe Baker (born 1821 or 1823) was an American politician who served as mayor of St. Martinville, Louisiana, one of the earliest if not the first African-American mayor in the United States.

Biography

Baker was born in either 1821 (per the 1870 U.S. Census) or 1823 (per the 1850 U.S. Census) in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana and moved to St. Martinville, Louisiana. He is listed as a free black of mixed race descent, and farmer was listed as his occupation.

In October 1867, Governor Benjamin Flanders appointed him mayor of St. Martinville after the death of Mayor Pierre Gary. In response, an editorial printed in an Alexandria newspaper called Baker a slur and said it was unnatural for a black person to be mayor over white residents. Baker served until February 1868 when A.L. Tertron succeeded him as mayor.

In 1875, Baker ran in the election for the four seats for trustees of St. Martinsville; he came in fifth place.

In the 1870 census, Baker was listed as a "livery stable keeper", and by 1891, he was listed as "an enterprising citizen and successful planter".

In 1845, he married Mary L. Barrier, and they had 12 children. Sources indicate that he had a second wife named Clotide with whom he had five children, and it is surmised that he had twelve children between his two wives.

References

1. ^ Grissom, Ken (July 12, 2006). "Baker First Black Mayor". Teche News – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Monroe Baker, Mayor of St. Martinsville, he was a Free colored before emancipation". The Weekly Iberville South. November 9, 1867.
3. "Military Items". The Daily Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana). October 28, 1867. p. 2.
4. "A Colored Mayor". The Weekly Iberville South (Plaquemine, Louisiana). November 9, 1867. p. 2.
5. General Mower". The Louisiana Democrat (Alexandria, Louisiana). November 27, 1867. p. 2.
6. "Military Items". The Times-Picayune. February 21, 1868. p. 1.
7. "Official: Compiled Returns of an Election Held in the town of St. Martinsville". New Orleans Republican. April 15, 1875. p. 3.

• 1820s births
• African-American mayors in Louisiana
• 19th-century African-American politicians
• 19th-century mayors of places in Louisiana