The Lynching of Frazier Baker

Front: In 1898 a building here was the scene of a lynching that sparked outrage across the nation. Frazier Baker, an African American who had recently been appointed postmaster of Effingham, was appointed postmaster of Lake City in 1897. Whites who resented Baker harassed him, even burning the post office in an attempt to make him resign and leave town. An old school on this site became a temporary post office and Baker’s home. Reverse: On the night of Feb. 21-22, 1898, a mob set the house on fire and shot Baker and his family when they ran out. Baker and a baby daughter were killed, his wife and three of their children were wounded, and an editorial called it “the most horrible crime ever committed” in S.C. Local and state officials did nothing. Eleven men were tried in federal court in 1899, but a hung jury resulted in a mistrial.