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28-499: Governor Baxter may refer to: Elisha Baxter (1827–1899), 10th Governor of Arkansas George W. Baxter (1855–1929), territorial governor of Wyoming Percival P. Baxter (1876–1969), 53rd Governor of Maine Governor Baxter School for the Deaf , named for Percival Proctor Baxter Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with

56-471: A budget surplus. It had started with no funds. With no initiatives passed by the Reconstruction legislature to provide for public welfare and education, as well as investment in infrastructure, this surplus was diverted to public projects. Murphy returned to Huntsville and took up farming and practicing law. He lived a quiet life with his family. On September 8, 1882, Murphy died unexpectedly at his home. He

84-418: A fortunate combination of circumstances I escaped from prison before my trial came on and lived for eighteen days in the forist(sic) and fields near Little Rock without a morsil(sic) of food except such raw corn and berries as I could gather in my lone wanderings. While a prisoner I felt that I was ungenerously treated by the harsh criticisms of the press and individuals not only in regard to my want of loyalty to

112-536: A judge, he was elected to the U.S. Senate by the legislature along with Rev. Andrew Hunter , but they were not seated in the Senate as the senate did not recognize the Murphy Administration. In 1867, he was appointed by Governor Clayton judge of the 3rd Judicial circuit. In 1868 he was appointed the 1st Congressional district of Arkansas. He held these two positions until he was nominated for governor in 1872. Baxter

140-587: A law partnership in Little Rock with future U.S. Congressman and fellow Unionist James M. Hinds . In 1868 the Reconstruction-era state legislature elected him and Andrew Hunter to the US Senate, but his appointment was blocked once again by Congress because of the southern states' refusal to extend the franchise to freedmen. From 1868 to 1872, Baxter served as a judge on the 3rd Circuit Court. In 1872, Baxter

168-571: A mercantile business with his brother, Taylor. It soon failed. Baxter joined the Whig party and was elected mayor of Batesville in 1853. One year later he was elected as state representative from Independence County to the tenth general assembly. He studied law and, in 1856, was admitted to the Arkansas bar. He was reelected to the House in 1858 and served two terms from Independence County , leaving in 1860. At

196-588: A revival there. After leaving office, Baxter returned to his farm near Batesville. He ran for a position in the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1878 but was unsuccessful. He died in Batesville, Arkansas and is buried at Oaklawn Cemetery there. Baxter County was named after him. In 1849 Baxter married Harriet Patton, also from Rutherford County, and together they had six children: Milliard P., Edward A., Catherine M., George E., Hattie O., and Fannie E. Baxter

224-528: The 14th Amendment , granting full citizenship, rights and due process to freedmen, and the Reconstruction Acts of 1867 . The rebel states were divided into military districts, to be controlled by US Army forces until the states passed new state constitutions protecting the civil rights of former slaves and accepting the 14th Amendment. Murphy was allowed to stay in office, but he was criticized by both sides. When Murphy left office, his administration had

252-695: The California Gold Rush . Among the many who did not succeed, he returned to Arkansas in 1854 with nothing to show for his efforts. Upon his return he moved to Huntsville in Madison County , Arkansas. His daughter Mrs. Mary Lowe Pierson of Washington County had been hired to teach at a new female seminary in Huntsville, the Pleasant View Female Seminary. Murphy and two more daughters were hired to assist in its operations. In 1856, Murphy

280-785: The Reconstruction Acts were passed by Congress in 1867. Murphy was known for his fiscal restraint and a conciliatory attitude toward former Confederates. Murphy was born near Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania to a wealthy paper manufacturer and his wife. He was educated locally and at Washington College (now Washington & Jefferson College ) in Washington , Pennsylvania. He was admitted to the bar in Allegheny County , Pennsylvania on April 29, 1825. In 1830, Murphy moved to Clarksville, Tennessee , where he taught school. There he met and wed Angelina Lockhart on July 31, 1830. Her father so opposed

308-558: The Secession Convention; his county voted to remain in the Union. When Fort Sumter , South Carolina , was fired on and President Abraham Lincoln called for troops from Arkansas, the delegates of the Secession Convention were recalled, before the planned statewide referendum on secession could be held. The convention voted to take Arkansas out of the Union, but Murphy and four other delegates opposed this step. The convention chair called on

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336-592: The Union in 1863, Arkansas' Confederate government, led by Governor Harris Flanagin , went into exile. In a special election, held with the approval of President Lincoln, Isaac Murphy was elected as governor of Arkansas in 1863. Murphy worked to try to heal the war wounds in Arkansas, even as the war continued in the southern parts of the state. He worked for balance and said publicly that "We have all done wrong." The 4th of July celebrations in Little Rock were led by pro-Union speakers who refrained from anti-Southern speeches or actions. After Lincoln's assassination and

364-455: The actions of numerous state legislatures to control freedmen and limit their rights, Republicans in Congress began advocating stricter Reconstruction for the former Confederate states. In 1866, pro-Confederate legislators won majorities in several southern states. That same year, white violence against former slaves broke out in several states. In response, Republicans in Congress pushed through

392-591: The building was destroyed by fire on February 17, 1845, putting him in debt, as he had invested in the school. In 1846 Murphy was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives for Washington County, and re-elected in 1848. With assignment to the Banking Committee, he attempted to introduce reforms but was stymied by the powerful political cabal known as " The Family ". Murphy ran into financial difficulties about 1849 and left for California to seek wealth in

420-415: The five to switch their votes. All four of the other "nay" delegates changed their votes, but Murphy refused. Initially his position was popular in Huntsville, but as the war went on, Confederate sentiment increased. As war broke out, Murphy fled his home in Huntsville; he spent much of the war traveling with the Union army in northwestern Arkansas. Following the fall of the capital city of Little Rock to

448-464: The franchise to ex-Confederates. Baxter declined to accept the 1874 nomination for governor. Due to the disenfranchisement of most blacks in the 1890s, the Republican Party was reduced in Arkansas. Democrats established a one-party state that survived into the 1960s. Baxter was the last Republican governor to be elected in Arkansas until Winthrop Rockefeller in 1966, after the Republican Party began

476-597: The marriage when he learned that Murphy favored the abolition of slavery that he disinherited Angelina. In 1834, the Murphys, with their newborn daughter, moved west to Fayetteville in the Arkansas Territory . In Fayetteville, Murphy established himself as a school teacher, surveyor, and lawyer. The territory was admitted as a state in 1836. Murphy became active in politics, elected as the first county treasurer of Washington County in 1836, and serving for two years. He

504-515: The only delegate to have repeatedly voted against secession at the second Arkansas Secession Convention in 1861. Having served in local offices and the State House, Murphy was elected as governor in a special election after the US Army occupied Arkansas in 1863 under President Abraham Lincoln . He is considered the first Reconstruction governor of Arkansas, as he was allowed to stay in office after

532-744: The outbreak of the Civil War, he had been conflicted about which side he supported. When General Samuel Curtis and the 2nd Iowa Infantry occupied Batesville in the Spring of 1862, the General recognized Baxter as a loyal Unionist, and tried to bestow upon him the title of "Regt. of loyal Arkansians" which he refused. When Curtis left Batesville, Baxter was forced to flee to Missouri . He was captured, brought back to Little Rock, and charged with treason, only to escape later before his trial could take place. He describes this episode in his life in his autobiography: Through

560-457: The southern caus(sic) but also with regard to my supposed want of courage. I therefore resolved if God would grant me deliverance I would at once enter the Federal Army. When Baxter returned to Batesville, he organized the 4th Arkansas Mounted Infantry for the Union and commanded it until he was named a State Supreme Court judge by Governor Murphy in the Spring 1864. Shortly after being named

588-512: The title Governor Baxter . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Governor_Baxter&oldid=1235949062 " Categories : Disambiguation pages Title and name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Elisha Baxter Baxter

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616-408: Was a brother of federal judge John Baxter , and an uncle of Wyoming territorial governor George W. Baxter . Isaac Murphy Isaac Murphy (October 16, 1799 or 1802 – September 8, 1882) was a native of Pennsylvania, a teacher and lawyer who moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas with his wife and child in 1834. He continued to teach and also became active in politics. Murphy is best known as

644-576: Was appointed as Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court , but he did not serve in that position. He and William Meade Fishback were chosen by the new legislature in May 1864 as the two U.S. senators from Arkansas, but in February 1865, their admission was denied by congressional Republicans displeased with Lincoln for trying to restore Southern representation in Congress so easily. In mid-1865, Baxter formed

672-533: Was appointed as a master in chancery in 1841. From 1837 to 1838, Murphy ran the original government land lines for Franklin County , Arkansas. On November 30, 1844, the noted Indian Missionary Cephas Washburn , along with Murphy and other leaders, secured a charter for a college known as the Far West Seminary. Murphy taught both whites and Indians at the seminary, intended for young men. Murphy taught here until

700-624: Was born in Rutherford County, North Carolina . He sought and obtained an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point . Baxter's father, William, strongly opposed his appointment, and Baxter resigned it. He returned home and became a businessman. He ran a successful mercantile business in Rutherford County with his brother-in-law Spenser Eaves. In 1852, Baxter moved to Batesville, Arkansas , and opened

728-477: Was elected as a Republican Governor of Arkansas over Joseph Brooks in a controversial election that resulted in the Brooks-Baxter War . Baxter was physically removed from the governor's office by Brooks and state militia loyal to him. Baxter was not restored to the governorship until a month later. During his term, state delegates passed a new constitution that shortened the term of the governor and restored

756-523: Was elected to the State Senate representing Madison and Benton counties, to succeed the late senator John Berry. Murphy's eldest daughter Malilla married James R. Berry, one of the senator's sons. Northwest Arkansas was a Unionist stronghold in the years before the Civil War. When the secession crisis swept the State in February 1861, Murphy was elected by 85% on a Unionist platform to represent Madison County at

784-467: Was virtually unknown and privately clean of scandals, unlike most of the Minstrels. They believed he could attract votes from Unionists and Northerners, their core base, as well as natives of the state. He was captured and tried for treason . He escaped north and joined the 4th Arkansas Mounted Infantry (Union), serving as colonel of the regiment. In 1864, after Arkansas was occupied by Union troops, Baxter

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