Martin Baum (15 June 1765 – 14 December 1831) was an American businessman and politician. The son of

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

immigrants Jacob Baum and Magdalena Elizabeth Kershner, Baum fought with General

Anthony Wayne Anthony Wayne (January 1, 1745 – December 15, 1796) was an American soldier, officer, statesman, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his mil ...

at the

Battle of Fallen Timbers The Battle of Fallen Timbers (20 August 1794) was the final battle of the Northwest Indian War, a struggle between Native American tribes affiliated with the Northwestern Confederacy and their British allies, against the nascent United States ...

. After settling in Cincinnati, Baum became active in civic affairs, and was elected mayor in 1807 and 1812. Through his agents in

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New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans
Merriam-Webster. ; french: La Nouvelle-Orléans , es, Nuev ...

and

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

, Baum attracted a great number of German immigrants to work in his various enterprises —

steamboat A steamboat is a boat that is marine propulsion, propelled primarily by marine steam engine, steam power, typically driving propellers or Paddle steamer, paddlewheels. Steamboats sometimes use the ship prefix, prefix designation SS, S.S. or S/S ...

s, a sugar refinery, a foundry, and real estate. Baum founded the Western Museum, was active in the first

public library A public library is a library that is accessible by the general public and is usually funded from public sources, such as taxes. It is operated by librarians and library paraprofessionals, who are also Civil service, civil servants. There are ...

in 1802, and was one of the main pillars of the First Presbyterian Church. He married Anna Somerville Wallace in 1804. He bought the property on Pike Street in 1812, to build his home. Benjamin Henry Latrobe, architect of the

United States Capitol The United States Capitol, often called The Capitol or the Capitol Building, is the seat of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, which is formally known as the United States Congress. It is located on Capitol Hill ...

designed Baum's home, named the "Belmont". Baum completed construction in about 1820; the building, once lived in by Nicholas Longworth (the first) and

David Sinton David Sinton (26 June 1808 – 31 August 1900) was an Irish-born American pig-iron industrialist, born in County Armagh, Ireland, who became one of the wealthiest people in America. Early life Sinton was the son of linen manufacturer John Sinton ...

, is now the Taft Museum. The building is the best example of the Federal style in Cincinnati. Baum was caught in the financial upheaval of 1819–20, and he was eventually forced to deed his home back to the Bank of the United States in 1825. Baum's leadership was instrumental, along with William Oliver, and Micajah T. Williams in developing the Maumee Valley and Port Lawrence, modern day, Toledo, Ohio. Baum died during an influenza epidemic. He was buried in the First Presbyterian Ground. On 6 June 1853 his body was moved to

Spring Grove Cemetery Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum () is a nonprofit rural cemetery and arboretum located at 4521 Spring Grove Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio. It is the third largest cemetery in the United States, after the Calverton National Cemetery and Abraham L ...

. One of the cars of the Mount Adams Incline was named in his honor.

References and notes

1765 births 1831 deaths Mayors of Cincinnati American people of the Northwest Indian War Burials at Spring Grove Cemetery Politicians from Hagerstown, Maryland American people of German descent Deaths from influenza Infectious disease deaths in Ohio {{Ohio-mayor-stub