Practical Change for Midlife Lesbians

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

—

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

Interested in receiving coaching? Reach out! 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

—

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

Interested in receiving coaching? Reach out! www.Practicalchangecoaching.com

Welcome to a special series within the Practical Change for MidLife Lesbians podcast: Unraveling Ezra — a journey into the life, legacy, and contradictions of my great-great-great grandfather, Ezra Baker Jr. MD.

This arc is a departure from my usual content, but sometimes, life pulls you in an unexpected direction. This is one of those times.

In this first episode, I share how a dramatic quote from a dusty 19th-century history book led me to a quiet cemetery plot near my home—and how that small contradiction launched a full-blown research quest across U.S. history, family folklore, political scandals, and personal reckoning.

Ezra Baker Jr. was a doctor, land speculator, a merchant, an entrepreneur, a postmaster, political appointee… Definitely an opportunist, and possibly a traitor. He was also definitely not as forgotten as people would like to believe—and not nearly as ruined as the record claims.

Along the way, I'm asking questions about legacy, masculinity, white privilege, reinvention, and the stories we choose to pass down.

• Quote from the Combined History of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash Counties, Illinois (1883)

• Ezra's burial site at The Woodlands Cemetery in Philadelphia

• Family narratives (and myths) from the Minerd.com Haupt-Baker page

Do you know anything about the Bakers of Wabash County, Il? Do you love researching local history, 19th-century politics, or tracing lost archives? I'd love to hear from you. The story is much more interesting in the context of the times.

Contact me at: [email protected]

And of course -- If you want coaching, head over to PracticalChangeCoaching.com for more info.

If you enjoy this series or want more of this kind of storytelling, the best way to support it is to share it with a friend—or leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts.

#UnravelingEzra #FamilyHistory #QueerHistorian #MidLifeMystery #LegacyAndLoss #EzraBakerJr #WabashCounty #HistoricalScandal #CemeteryStories #HiddenHistory #PracticalChange #LesbianPodcaster #WomenWhoResearch #GraveyardStories #GenealogyNerd

In this inspiring and deeply personal episode, I sit down with Allison Landry to explore the transformative power of self-compassion. Allison and certified counselor Megan Welwood are offering a free 8-week online Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) course starting February 3, 2025.

In our discussion, we dive into:

• What self-compassion is—and what it isn't.
• Unique challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community and how self-compassion can help.
• Allison's own journey toward embracing self-compassion.
• Practical strategies you can start using today to be kinder to yourself.

About the Free Course: Participants will learn empirically supported techniques from the Mindful Self Compassion program focusing on mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness. This program is a fantastic opportunity to develop tools that promote emotional resilience and greater self-acceptance.

How to Sign Up: Email [email protected] to secure your spot in this life-changing course!

Tune in for a conversation full of warmth, insight, and actionable advice for midlife lesbians—and anyone looking to make practical changes to nurture themselves.

Welcome to Season 2! Unvarnished and short, it's a new dawn for Claire and Practical Change for Midlife Lesbians, but same great insights for those of us lesbians who are working on making changes we want. Visit Practical Change Coaching for more.

Did you make some resolutions or set some goals way back in January? At the midpoint of the year, it's a great time to take stock. How's it going? Claire gives an update and offers suggestions for leaning into your values and getting past barriers to help you keep moving forward.

In addition, for the months of July & August 2023, Claire is giving away coaching and a free downloadable resource, PRACTICAL CHANGE WITH DESIGN THINKING - LESBIAN EDITION. Book your free session and get your free ebooklet.

You are also invited to join the private Facebook group "A Group of Our Own." And you can follow Claire and Practical Change Coaching on these social media platforms:

TikTok

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

And at www.practicalchangecoaching.com

Episode 30: Should I stay or should I go now? Sunk Cost Fallacy and Loss Aversion: Why do we tend to stay with something maybe longer than we should? How do we decide if it really *is* time to go? Doesn't the fact that I've already devoted a lot of time, money and energy to something mean that it's worth staying? What does it say about me if I decide to change direction? Live from the back yard, this episode explains sunk cost fallacy, loss aversion, and gives some steps you can take to sort out whether to stay or go.

Last Call! If you are a midlife lesbian, you need a shirt to proclaim it! Visit midlifelesbianmerch.com and get your garb in time for Pride.

You are invited to join the private Facebook group "A Group of Our Own." And you can follow Claire and Practical Change Coaching on these social media platforms:

TikTok

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

And at www.practicalchangecoaching.com

Episode 29: Interview with award winning writer and influencer Shakira Sison, columnist for Rappler. Shakira shares what it's like to immigrate from the Philippines as a lesbian and how that experience shaped how she sees creating change in her life today.

Check out her writing at https://shakirasison.com/ and www.rappler.com/author/shakira-sison/

And here we are at our first in-person meeting!

If you are a midlife lesbian, you need a shirt to proclaim it! Visit midlifelesbianmerch.com and get your garb in time for Pride. You are also invited to join the private Facebook group "A Group of Our Own." And you can follow Claire and Practical Change Coaching on these social media platforms:

TikTok Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

And at www.practicalchangecoaching.com