Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/222

196 tiones Confessariorum in India vel America," "De Miseria et Brevitate Vitæ," and "Platicas Morales de los Indios."

BAUTISTA, Juan. Mexican linguist, b. in the city of Mexico in 1555; d. about 1012. He entered the Franciscan oi'der, soon mastered philosophy and theology, and became superior of the convents of Texcoco and Tlaltelolco. Bautista, being of Spanish parentage, did not know the Mexican language; but he undertook its study, and, having become 'thoroughly acquainted with it, wrote many books in JMexiean, and translated others from the Spanish. His writings make a great number of volumes, all intended to enlighten the Indians and teach them religion and moral philosophy. Bautista is considered as having no equal as a writer in Mexican for elegance and purity of style.

BAXTER, Elisha, governor, b. in Rutherford co., N. C. 1 Sept., 1827; d. in Batesville, Ark., 2 June, 1899. He was educated in his native county, and moved to Arkansas, where he was mayor of Batesville in 1853. He was a member of the legislature in 1854 and 1858, and in 1868 served as colonel of the 4th Arkansas mounted infantry in the national army. He was elected U. S. senator in 1864, but not allowed to take his seat, on the ground that the state had not been legally reconstructed. Prom 1868 till 1872 he was judge of the third judicial district court of Arkansas. In the spring of 1872 Mr. Baxter was nominated for governor by the wing of the republican party that approved President Grant's administration, the liberal, or Greeley wing, nominating Joseph Brooks. The democrats made no nomination, but favored Brooks. On 6 Jan., 1873, the vote was canvassed by the general assembly, and Baxter was declared elected. Meanwhile Brooks had alleged fraud at the polls, and after unsuccessfully applying to the U. S. circuit court, the legislature, and the state supreme court, brought suit against Baxter in a state circuit court, and on 15 April, 1874, Baxter's counsel being absent, obtained judgment in his favor, and proceeded at once forcibly to eject Baxter from office. It was claimed by Baxter that the taking up of the case in the absence of his counsel was in violation of an express agreement. Both Brooks and Baxter now issued proclamations and each had armed adherents. There was some bloodshed, and more was prevented only by the presence of federal troops. Both parties appealed to the president, but he refused to interfere until 15 May, when, acting on an elaborate opinion of Attorney-General Williams, he recognized Baxter as governor, and Brooks immediately disbanded his forces. In a message to congress on 8 Feb., 1875, however. President Grant expressed the opinion that Brooks had been legally elected. Baxter continued to hold the governorship until the adoption of a new state constitution in the autumn of 1874. By this the term of office was reduced from four to two years, and the Republicans condemned Baxter for giving up his office before the expiration of the term for which he had been elected. — His brother, John, judge of the U. S. circuit court for the sixth judicial circuit, died in Hot Springs, Ark., 2 March, 1866.

BAXTER, Henry, soldier, b. in Sidney Plains, Delaware co., N. Y., 8 Sept., 1821; d. in Jonesville, Hillsdale co., Mich., 30 Dec, 1873. He received an academic education, and in 1849 went to California with a company of thirty men, with ox-teams, and was chosen as their captain. He volunteered as a private early in 1861, and was active in raising a company, of which he was elected captain, and which was mustered into the 7th Michigan infantry in August. He was made lieutenant-colonel 22 May, 1862, and while in command of his regiment, at Fredericksburg, volunteered to cross the river and dislodge a company of confederate sharp-shooters. Col. Baxter was shot through the lung in the attempt to cross, but the movement was successful, and he was promoted to brigadier- general on 12 March, 1863. He participated in most of the battles of the Army of the Potomac, and was wounded at Antietam, and again in the Wilderness, where two horses were killed under him. For gallantry at the Wilderness, Dabney's Mills, and Five Forks, he was brevetted major- general 1 April, 1865. From 1866 till 1869 Gen. Baxter was U. S. minister to Honduras.

BAXTER, Lydia, poet, b. in Petersburg, Rensselaer CO., N. Y'.. 2 Sept., 1809 ; d. in New York city, 23 Jan., 1874. She was the author of many popular Sunday-school hymns, and published a collection of religious and domestic verses called "Gems by the Wayside" (New York, 1855). She wrote the well-known hymn " The Gates Ajar."

BAXTER, William, clergyman, b. in Leeds, England, about 1823. He came to the United States with his parents in 1828, was graduated at Bethany college in 1845, entered the Christian (Disciple) church and preached in various places in Mississippi and Arkansas, until he became president of Arkansas college, in Fayetteville. During the civil war the college was destroyed. In 1863 he removed to Cincinnati and devoted himself to preaching and literary work. He published a volume of poems in 1852, contributed largely to periodical literature, and has also aided in the preparation of several books, one of the most important being a large volume, "The Loyal West in the Times of the Rebellion." Of his "Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove, or Scenes and Incidents of the War in Arkansas," several editions were issued. His "War Lyrics," appearing originally in "Harper's Weekly," became widely known and were recited at mass meetings by Murdoch and other popular elocutionists. His hymn "Let Me Go" appeared in many hymn-books and collections of sacred music.

BAYARD, George Dashiell, soldier, b. in Seneca Falls, N. Y., 18 Dec, 1835 ; d. 14 Dec, 1862. His parents removed to Iowa in his early youth, and he attended a military school kept by Maj. Dorn. He learned fencing from Col. Korponay, an exiled Hungarian soldier, and from him acquired the military spirit that led him to seek an appointment as a cadet. After graduation at the U. S. military academy in 1856 he was assigned to the 1st cavalry. Four years were passed in frontier and garrison duty. He was severely wounded in a fight with the Kiowa Indians. In 1861 he was cavalry instructor at West Point, and on 16 March of that year was promoted to first lieutenant in the 3d cavalry; captain 4th cavalry, 20 Aug., and was granted leave of absence, to become colonel of the 1st Pennsylvania cavalry volunteers, 14 Sept., 1861. He became brigadier-general of volunteers 28 April, 1862, and served in the arduous campaigns of the Shenandoah, northern Virginia, and on the Rappahannock, distinguishing himself by the dash and bravery of his reconnoissances. He was mortally wounded at Fredericksburg, 13 Dec, 1862, and died the following day. He was buried with military honors at Princeton, N. J. A memorial volume by his father, Samuel J. Bayard, was published in New York in 1874.

BAYARD, James Asheton, statesman, b. in Philadelphia, 28 July, 1767; d. in Wilmington, Del., 6 Aug., 1815. He was the son of Dr. James