In this episode, we follow Ezra Baker Jr.'s final chapters: from his desperate appeals to Abraham Lincoln after losing his Indian Agent post, through the infamous Norfolk "trading with the enemy" affair, and back to Philadelphia where his life quietly ended. Along the way, we confront the reality behind the myths: Ezra wasn't a hero, nor a tragic figure—he was an opportunist, a schemer, and a man chasing adventure and money until the very end. Join me as I untangle the facts from the legend and reflect on what Ezra's story tells us about ambition, morality, and the messy middle of history.

I'm also a life coach—you can find me at www.PracticalChangeCoaching.com or on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook at @practicalchangecoaching.

1. Letter from William P. Dole to Abraham Lincoln (March 26, 1863)

• Context: Dole requests that Lincoln meet with Ezra Baker, recently dismissed as Indian Agent in Washington Territory.

• Citation: Dole, William P. Letter to Abraham Lincoln, March 26, 1863. Abraham Lincoln Papers, Series 1: General Correspondence, 1833–1916. Library of Congress.Link

2. Letter from Ezra Baker to Abraham Lincoln (March 26, 1863)

• Context: Ezra Baker asks Lincoln for an audience after being demoted; included in Dole's note.

• Citation: Baker, Ezra. Letter to Abraham Lincoln, March 26, 1863. Abraham Lincoln Papers, Series 1: General Correspondence, 1833–1916. Library of Congress. Link

3. Letter from Ezra Baker to Abraham Lincoln (April 13, 1863)

• Context: Ezra expresses concern over his reputation, requests redress, and mentions moving to Philadelphia.

• Citation: Baker, Ezra. Letter to Abraham Lincoln, April 13, 1863. Abraham Lincoln Papers, Series 1: General Correspondence, 1833–1916. Library of Congress. Link

4. Telegram from Abraham Lincoln to Brig. Gen. G. H. Gordon (April 9, 1865)

• Context: Lincoln orders a full report on why Ezra Baker and others were detained in Norfolk, VA; issued three days before his assassination.

• Citation: Lincoln, Abraham. Telegram to Brig. Gen. G. H. Gordon, April 9, 1865. The Writings of Abraham Lincoln. Library of Congress. Link

5. Speech of Brig. Gen. George H. Gordon (October 28, 1868)

• Context: Gordon recounts events related to Norfolk detentions and the "trading with the enemy" suspicions.

• Citation: Gordon, George H. Speech of Gen. George H. Gordon, delivered at Newburyport, Mass., October 28, 1868. Open Library. Link

6. Trade with Rebellious States Congressional Document (1865)

• Context: Legislative report including Ezra Baker's name, documenting alleged trade with Confederate states.

• Citation: United States Congress. Trade with Rebellious States, 1865. Library of Congress. Link

In part 3 of this arc of Unraveling Ezra, a sub-podcast of Practical Change for Midlife Lesbians, Ezra Baker Jr. rose from Illinois banking commissioner to river-trade entrepreneur, catching the eye of Abraham Lincoln along the way. But ambition and risk brought financial ruin, desperate appeals to his son Dorsey, and partnerships with figures like Ephraim Bishop. This episode traces his bold schemes, costly missteps, and the clever escape that kept him in the game.

References & Sources:

• 1835: Ezra appointed commissioner of the Bank of Illinois – Papers of Abraham Lincoln

• 1837: Lincoln mentions Ezra from the floor of the Illinois legislature – Gutenberg

• 1842: Dorsey Syng Baker moves goods for his father at age 19 – Forty Years a Pioneer, HathiTrust

• 1855: Announcement of Ezra's land auction – Mount Carmel Register, Newspapers.com

• Ephraim B. Bishop's papers, Yale Archives – Yale Library Special Collections

• 1859: Ezra asks Dorsey for financial help – Forty Years a Pioneer, HathiTrust

• Narrative from the Haupt family – Minerd.com

• 1861: Ezra appointed Indian Agent, Washington Territory – National Archives, Bureau of Indian Affairs

This is a production of Practical Change for Midlife Lesbians/Practical Change Coaching. Learn more about Practical Change Coaching at www.practicalchangecoaching.com.

In part two of this multipart arc of Unraveling Ezra, a sub-podcast of Practical Change for Midlife Lesbians, we continue our historical detour to follow the messy, fascinating life of Dr. Ezra Baker Jr. Before he ever got tangled in scandal or made his final landing in Philadelphia, he was a young man heading west with his extended family in search of cheap land and new opportunity.

We rewind to the early 1800s, when a newly independent nation was expanding fast, the Midwest was still the Northwest Territory, and capitalism was overtaking a fading mercantile economy. Ezra's family—two households strong—packed up everything and moved to the frontier of Illinois. We explore what brought them there, who they traveled with (including a baby girl who would one day play a pivotal role in Ezra's life and legacy), and what he did once he arrived. And yes, I promise we'll get to the Lincoln connection… just not quite yet.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Historic context of Ezra's dad's involvement in a young United States

• The Missouri Compromise and the politics shaping Ezra's era

• Ezra Jr.'s role as a town-maker and mover and shaker

• A small baby named Kate who later becomes a key player in Ezra's story

• Why The Woodlands was right to keep me from messing with his grave

You can follow Ezra's known and less known story on this page (which I refer to but sometimes dispute):
🔗 https://www.minerd.com/bio-haupt_elisabethbaker.htm

🔗 A wee bit of info about Ezra Baker Sr: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezra_Baker

🔗 Learn more about Dr. Dorsey S. Baker—the "famous Baker"—in this overview:
HistoryLink.org — "Baker Boyer Bank opens in Walla Walla on November 10, 1869"
⠀⠀(covers his career from doctor and merchant to banker and railroad-builder)

https://www.historylink.org/File/8333

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#EzraBakerJr #MidwestHistory #FrontierLife #IllinoisHistory #BankingScandals #FamilySecrets #QueerPodcaster #LesbianHistorian #WomenWhoPodcast #PracticalChange #HistoryNerd #MidlifePivot #WabashIllinois #DorseySyngBaker #woodlandcemetary #Philadelphiagraves #hauptfamily

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