Archie E. Baxter facts for kids

Archibald "Archie" Easton Baxter (December 16, 1844 – October 6, 1925) was a Scottish-American lawyer and politician from New York. He had an interesting life, serving in the military, working in law, and holding important political positions.

Early Life and Military Service

Archie Baxter was born on December 16, 1844, in Port Glasgow, Scotland. When he was about six years old, in 1850, his father Duncan moved the family to America. They settled in a town called Corning, New York. Young Archie worked on a farm and went to school at the Corning Academy. Before the American Civil War began, he worked as a clerk in the village post office.

When the Civil War started, Archie joined the army in August 1862. He became a private in Company E of the 141st New York Volunteer Infantry. He quickly showed his skills and was promoted several times. By September 1862, he was a sergeant. In April 1863, he became a first sergeant, and in August 1863, a first lieutenant. During the Battle of Resaca in May 1864, he was wounded, but he kept serving. On January 1, 1865, he was promoted to captain. He left the army in June 1865, near Washington D.C., with the honorary rank of brevet-major. After the war, he also served as an adjutant and lieutenant-colonel in the National Guard of New York.

Career in Law and Politics

After the war, Archie Baxter returned to Corning. From 1865 to 1872, he worked for the Tioga Railroad Company. In 1874, he was elected as the clerk for Steuben County. This job meant he was in charge of keeping official records for the county. He moved to Bath for this role and began studying law with Judge William Rumsey. He then went to Albany Law School and graduated in 1879. After finishing law school, he moved to Elmira and started his own law practice. He was also a very active speaker for the Republican Party.

In 1882, Baxter ran for a seat in the U.S. Congress, representing New York's 29th congressional district. He did not win that election, losing to John Arnot Jr.. However, in 1889, President Benjamin Harrison appointed him as a United States Marshal for the Northern District of New York. A U.S. Marshal is a federal law enforcement officer. He also served as a delegate at the 1896 Republican National Convention, which is where the Republican Party chooses its candidate for president.

In 1895, Archie Baxter was elected as the Clerk of the New York State Assembly. This was a very important job in the state government. He served in this role for many years, from 1895 all the way through 1907. This shows how much trust and respect he had from the state legislature.

Personal Life and Later Years

Archie Baxter was a member of several important groups, including the Freemasons (a fraternal organization), the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Grand Army of the Republic (a group for Union Civil War veterans). He was also a member of the Episcopal Church. In 1873, he married Rosemund E. Wheeler. They had three children: Charles, Louise, and Maud.

In 1913, Baxter moved to New York City. He passed away there on October 6, 1925. He was buried in Sylvan Lawn Cemetery in Greene, New York.