John I. Baker

John Israel Baker (August 16, 1812[1] – February 17, 1897) was an American politician and historian from Beverly, Massachusetts.

[5] William Morgan, the city editor for the Beverly Daily Evening Times,[6] suggests the motivating reason for the change from a Board of Selectmen to a mayoral form of government was that the New England Town Meeting had outgrown its usefulness[5] for the new city.

[5] Baker's major political concerns and positions were anti-slavery, pro-temperance, pro-women's suffrage, and anything that could improve Beverly.

In a September 12, 1876, address at the Women's-Suffrage State Convention of Massachusetts, the delegates issued a statement condemning Baker's political opposition, writing that "..neither the Republican nor Democratic party cares for the cause of women's-suffrage" and urging like minded allies to vote for Baker based on his pro-suffrage views.

Specifically, Beverly Farms residents stoked by wealthy summer visitors from Boston complained of high taxes, lengthy commutes between their village neighborhood and Beverly's downtown, poor representation, and the undesirable extension of public transportation into the village.