If you copy this information, please cite this as your source:

Betsy Mills and Ron Brothers. The Death and Cemetery Records of Lamar County, Texas, ReBroMa Press, 2008, http://www.lamarcountytx.org/cemetery. (12/16/2025)

THE PARIS NEWS, Monday, April 30, 1934, p. 1, 3: “PHIL E. BAER DIES SUNDAY; SERVICES SET FOR MONDAY. U. S. Marshal For 17 Years Would Have Quit Post Monday. [photo - PHIL E. BAER The above picture was taken for The Paris News as Mr. Baer sat at his desk in the Marshal’s office in the Federal building in Paris less than a month before his death.] Phil E. Baer, 65, for 17 years United States marshal for the Eastern District of Texas, was found dead in bed at his apartment, 241 South Main street, Sunday morning. His beside clock had stopped at 10 minutes before midnight; it may have been the hour of his death. Mr. Baer had been trouble with a weak heart and had several times recently been in a hospital for treatment, but gave no indication Saturday night that his condition was serious. His physician who was called Sunday morning after his death was discovered gave the opinion that he had been dead several hours, the end coming as he slept. Funeral services were arranged for 3 o’clock Monday afternoon at the Church of Our Lady of Victory, conducted by Fras. Schiessi, pastor of the church and P. Molloy of Dallas, a former pastor. The casket will be taken to Texarkana afterwards by Manton-Fry and from there by train to Peru, Indiana, for burial Wednesday morning. Phil Baer was born in Miami county, Indiana, April 24, 1866. the grandson of a sturdy German emigrant who had come to this country soon after the turn of the century. His father made his home in Peru, Indiana , where he was employed in the shops of the I P. and C. railroad, and where he lost his life in an accident in 1870. The boy attended the public schools in Peru for a few years before entering the employ of the Wabash railroad as a call boy. Here he picked up telegraphy and becoming proficient he came to Texas when still a youth and was employed by the I. and G. N. railroad as operator at Round Rock. From there he was sent to Austin and later to Texarkana, each move being a promotion, and in the latter city, where he lived several years, he was made ticket agent in the Union station. In 1904 he was sent to Paris as a station agent and this city had since been his home. The first vote Phil Baer cast was for Ben Harrison for president, and he was a member of the Republican party all his adult life, though his father had been a Democrat. Young Baer had given some thought to parties and their principles and decided that the Republican theory of protection was best for the country and he aligned himself with that party. In Texarkana he served as chairman of the Bowie county Republican committee and later was chairman of the congressional district and for several years the chairman of the state executive committee. He was the candidate of his party for congress in 1904 when he was defeated by Morris Sheppard, and in 1908 and 1912 was a delegate from Texas to the national Republican conventions, giving his support in the latter to William H. Taft, the successful nominee. While a resident of Texarkana he had been elected a member of the city council and his popularity was attested by t he fact that he lacked only two votes of defeating his opponent two to one, and was made mayor pro tem during his term. In 1912 President Taft nominated Mr. Baer to the marshal of the Eastern Texas district and he was confirmed and served five years. So highly were his services with the Texas and Pacific railroad appreciated that he was given indefinite leave of absence with his seniority retained should he wish to resume that service. he held the office of marshal until 1917 when President Wilson named J. S. Sherrill to the post and Mr. Baer returned to the railroad service at Paris. He was again appointed to the marshal’s office by President Harding in 1921 and reappointed by Presidents Coolidge and Hoover at the end of each of his four-year terms. His tenure of office would have expired Monday when John B. Ponder was to be sworn in and it had been stated that Mr. Baer was to be made clerk of the Eastern District court by Judge Randolph Bryant at that time, the spring term of the court being scheduled to convene in Paris, April 30. Phil Baer’s only fraternal affiliation was with the B. P. O. E. when that order existed in Paris, but his circle of friends was not confined to the lodge. He was universally popular and respected not only in Paris but all over the state, by his fellows in the railroad service and his associates in any position he filled. He was never married and was the last member of his immediate family, the surviving relatives being his nieces, Mrs. E. R. Ginney of Peru, Indiana and Mrs. Albert Faust of Texarkana, and the latter’s son Fred Faust of Fort Worth. Mr. and Mrs. Faust come to Paris from Texarkana Sunday morning, answering an invitation of Mr. Baer to spend the day with him, only to learn on their arrival that death had called him. Federal court officials here for the regular term which was adjourned Monday morning by Judge Randolph Bryant of Sherman, on account of the death of Mr. Baer, remained over for the funeral Monday afternoon. John B. Ponder was to have assumed his duties at the opening of the court term, but had not arrived at noon Monday. It is probable he will take over the office Tuesday. Court officials here included Judge Bryant, S. D. Bennett, United States district attorney, Charles S Pipkin, assistant attorney and their secretary, Mrs. A. Will Hynes of Beaumont; Clerk F. A. King, Oscar S. Gresham, probation officer, Howard Wieh, deputy marshal and F. Z. Edwards, deputy clerk, all from Sherman.

THE WENTZVILLE UNION, Wentzville, Missouri, Friday, March 25, 1921: “PERSONAL. The recess appointment of Phil. E. Baer, of Paris, Tex., as marshal of the Eastern District of Texas, has been announced at the White House.”

FAIRBANKS DAILY NEWS-MINER, (Fairbanks, Alaska), Tuesday, May 20, 1930, p. 2: “Phil E. Baer of Paris, Tex. has been United States marshall under four of the last five presidents.”

Information from Texas Death Certificate:
Name: Phil E Baer
Sex: Male
Age: 68
Death Date: 29 Apr 1934
Death Place: Paris, Lamar, Texas, United States
Marital Status: Single
Father’s Name: Severn Baer
Mother’s Name: Katherine Widener
Birth Date: 24 Apr 1866
Birthplace: Peru, Indiana
Record Number: 18942
GS Film Number: 2116050
Digital Folder Number: 005145476
Image Number: 02537
Citing this Record: “Texas Deaths, 1890-1976,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K34N-Z2D : 7 August 2021), Phil E Baer, 29 Apr 1934; citing certificate number 18942, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,116,050.

Information from Sandi Vaught, Vaught2@cableone.net, 23 Sep 2010:  This Phil E. Baer/Phillip E. Baer was born April 24, 1866 in Peru, Miami County, Indiana to Seborne? (unreadable) Baer and Katherine Videner.  His body was removed for burial on April 30 1934 to Peru, Miami County, Indiana for burial. So therefore is not buried in any Lamar County, Texas cemetery.  Source Phil E Baer death certificate (familysearch.org).  Informant of the death certificate was Mrs. A. B. Foust of Texarkana, Texas.