Henry Baer
Among the well established practitioners at the bar in Cincinnati who stand high in the estimation of the people and give promise of continued usefulness for many years to come may be named Henry Baer.
He is of good German stock in both paternal and maternal lines of the family and was born in Cincinnati, November 29, 1857, being a son of Henry and Barbara (Humbert) Baer. The father was born in Hessian, Germany, May 22, 1820, and the mother in Bavaria, November 26, 1830. Mr. Baer Sr., became a mechanic and, desiring to seek more favorable conditions than he could hope to find in the old country, crossed the ocean to America in 1852, locating at Cincinnati, which was then one of the most prominent river towns and gave every promise of developing into a large and important city. At the time of the Civil War Mr. Baer responded to the call of President Lincoln for soldiers and enlisted as a member of Company A, Ninth Ohio Volunteers, under Colonel Robert L. McCook. The regiment saw considerable active service and distinguished itself in the battle of Mill Spring, having previously engaged in battle at Rich Mountain and Carmfax Ferry. Sergeant Baer proved a good soldier and was never found wanting when duty called, but he lost his health from exposure and was discharges on a surgeon’s certificate in 1862. There were four children, three sons and one daughter, in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Baer, three of whom are now living: Henry, of this review; William J., an artist who makes his home in New York City; and George A., a wholesale furrier of Cincinnati.
Henry Baer grew up under the restraining influences of a well ordered home and secured a good preliminary education in the public schools. He pursued the study of law in the Cincinnati Law School, graduating in 1878. He at once began practice in this city and has always practiced alone. He devotes his attention to general civil law and, being a man of acknowledged force of character, breadth of mind and proven ability in his profession, he is meeting with the measure of success which his merits richly deserve.
In 1882, at Cincinnati, Mr. Baer was united in marriage to Miss. Catherine R. Tucker, a daughter of James H. and Catherine (Huenfelt) Tucker, the father being a carpenter and builder. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Baer, namely: Lillian; Laura J.; Henry T.; Blanche; and Humbert. The eldest son, Henry, is an active member of the First Regiment, Ohio National Guards.
Professionally Mr. Baer is connected with the Cincinnati Bar Association and the Ohio State Bar Association, and politically he adheres to the Republican Party. He has never served in public office except as member of the city council, having been elected for two years in 1891 from the first ward. In religious belief he is a Protestant and socially he is identified with the Old Fellows and the Blaine Club. He entered upon his life work more than thirty years ago with an abundant stock of indomitable energy and a firm determination to succeed, and his early ambition has largely been realized, as he is today practically independent financially and is respected as one of the influential members of a large and growing city. In the full vigor of life and in the prime of his mental powers, he enjoys the confidence of his fellow citizens, which he has gained through years of conscientious effort in the pursuit of worthy ideals.
From Cincinnati, The Queen City, Volume III by Rev. Charles Frederic Goss, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1912