Charles H. Baker
Encyclopedia
Charles H. Baker was a Massachusetts state senator
(1892–1894) and state representative
(1883–1884, 1890–1892). He was a Republican
from Lynn, Massachusetts
.
. As a child he moved with his parents to South Weymouth, Massachusetts. During the Civil War
he served as a military drummer boy
in the 4th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Heavy Artillery. After the war he moved to Lynn
, where he began working at a shoe factory. After some time he set out on his own, and by the 1890s was a partner in Baker & Creighton, a large-scale manufacturer of shoes. He was a member of the fraternal organization Grand Army of the Republic
, and served as commander of the organization in 1883.
In 1880 Baker was elected to the Lynn Common Council, and in 1881 and 1882 he was elected to the Lynn Board of Aldermen. He served a term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from 1883 to 1884, representing the 10th Essex
district. He was again elected as a Lynn aldermen in 1888, then served two more terms in the House from 1890 to 1892, where he served on the Joint Committee on Manufactures.
He was then elected to the Massachusetts Senate
, where he represented the 1st Essex district for two terms (1892–1894). For both terms he was chairman of the Joint Committee on Manufactures. He was also a member of the Committee on Labor and Public Service during his first term and the Committee on Drainage and Rapid Transit during his second term.
Massachusetts Senate
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
(1892–1894) and state representative
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
(1883–1884, 1890–1892). He was a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
from Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
.
Biography
Baker was born February 2, 1847 in Solon, MaineSolon, Maine
Solon is a town in Somerset County, Maine, United States. The population was 940 at the 2000 census. Solon is a picturesque village containing historic architecture.-History:...
. As a child he moved with his parents to South Weymouth, Massachusetts. During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
he served as a military drummer boy
Drummer boy (military)
Drummer boys were children recruited as military drummers for use on the battlefield.Armies regularly recruited young boys for this service, well into the nineteenth century...
in the 4th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Heavy Artillery. After the war he moved to Lynn
Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
, where he began working at a shoe factory. After some time he set out on his own, and by the 1890s was a partner in Baker & Creighton, a large-scale manufacturer of shoes. He was a member of the fraternal organization Grand Army of the Republic
Grand Army of the Republic
The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, US Marines and US Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, it was dissolved in 1956 when its last member died...
, and served as commander of the organization in 1883.
In 1880 Baker was elected to the Lynn Common Council, and in 1881 and 1882 he was elected to the Lynn Board of Aldermen. He served a term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
from 1883 to 1884, representing the 10th Essex
Essex County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Parker River National Wildlife Refuge* Salem Maritime National Historic Site* Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site* Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:...
district. He was again elected as a Lynn aldermen in 1888, then served two more terms in the House from 1890 to 1892, where he served on the Joint Committee on Manufactures.
He was then elected to the Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts Senate
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
, where he represented the 1st Essex district for two terms (1892–1894). For both terms he was chairman of the Joint Committee on Manufactures. He was also a member of the Committee on Labor and Public Service during his first term and the Committee on Drainage and Rapid Transit during his second term.