Baldwin, Irving Benjamin

BALDWIN, STORM, FREEMAN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 5/1/2011 at 10:39:32

The Grinnell Herald; May 9, 1911

OBITUARY

IRVING BENJAMIN BALDWIN

Memorial services for Irving Benjamin Baldwin were held in the Baptist church of this city, Sunday afternoon, the 7th inst., which was filled by friends, the Masons, and the Grand Army.

His life of seventy-four years was begun in Chester, Vt., where he spent his first twenty-five years, during the period when the rumblings of coming war were manifest in Congress and in the nation. In 1862 he enlisted in the 16th Vermont Infantry, served in it with all fidelity, and was in the Army of the Potomac, in the battle of Gettysburg, and met Pickett's cavalry face to face in a most desperate hour of that most deadly struggle, and the Vermont boys won the honor of having rendered important service in turning the enemy to flight.

In 1867 he bought a home in Sheridan, Iowa, married Mary J. Storm in 1872, lived south of Grinnell in Chester, and in Grinnell several years.

His wife died in 1902 after thirty delightful years of married life. He could not be otherwise than happy in his home with such a woman, or in a community where they were always welcome and honored.

He returned to the East eventually, and married Mrs. Myra Freeman, a counterpart of his first wife, at Montague City, Massachusetts. There, at home and in the community he renewed his earlier life for five years longer, and about three weeks ago, on returning from a walk he "never felt better in his life." A cold was soon felt, the grippe followed, the pleuro-pneumonia resulted and the end came in a week and two days.

Early in the illness a letter came announcing the fact. The reply went quickly, to telegraph any change for the worse. A telegram came. Mr. Baldwin was dangerously sick. "Come quickly." Mr. H.B. Storm responded at once. The first train was an hour late. Mr. Baldwin was gone.

Why the call to Mr. Storm? He was no direct relative! True, yet Mr. Baldwin was more than a father to him. Mr. Storm never knew any other. Taken into the family at two, left it at about twenty-one, Mr. Storm felt the warmth of a royal son's affection for Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin. Their love was mutual and noble, honorable to both. It never waned. Here he left only friends and good words, benedictions from all who knew him. In his new home all were soon new friends whose farewell was tender and sincere, and a new wife whose care and affection was beautiful and reciprocal.

His box of laurel sent annually to the G.A.R. and W.R.C. will come no longer, but his memory will be laureled in their hearts.