BALDWIN, William S. (1818-1886)

BALDWIN

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 2/8/2018 at 00:35:22

William Smith Baldwin
(May 18, 1818 – October 3, 1886)

Indianola Weekly Herald, Indianola, IA, Thurs., Oct 14, 1886, p.1
An Old Settler Gone
Yes, gone to that home from whence no traveler returns, but a journey that all of us who are left must sooner or later take. Wm. Smith Baldwin, an early pioneer to this country, departed this life on Saturday morning, Oct 3d, 1886, aged 68 years, 4 months and 27 days. At the time of his death he was living in Winterset, Madison County. His health has been poor for some time before his death. His wife died at the same place last January and was brought to Linn Grove Cemetery for burial, since which time Mr. Baldwin has not seemed like himself, his wife’s death being a very severe blow to him. The death of Mr. Baldwin was somewhat unexpected to his old neighbors of Jefferson Township. The first news of his death was a telegraph dispatch to make arrangements for the burial at Linn Grove, at 3 o’clock p.m. Oct 3d. Although the notice was short there was a goodly number present at the cemetery to pay their last respects to the departed. Wm. Baldwin, the father of the subject of our sketch, was born at Stoningtonpoint, New London County, Conn., Dec 19, 1793. His ancestors were enrolled at veterans of the Revolutionary War. At the age of 12 years he moved to Mississippi, here he was brought up on a farm, but working most of the time at the carpenter and wagon-maker’s trade until he was grown; was married to Miss Almira Smith, Feb 10, 1817. During this year he emigrated to Muskingum County, Ohio. The subject of our sketch was born in this county, May 18, 1818. At the time of his birth Ohio was not what it is today. Her territory was covered with a heavy growth of timber, with no gaudy churches, no school houses, only those built by private purses, and the only of logs. Thus timber had to be cut down and then cut into what is called logging length, from 12 to 18 feet, the brush had to be piled into heaps so that it would get dry and then it was set on fire and burned; after this was done then came the log rolling. The trees were generally cut down in the winter and spring and then let lay until about the first of September before they were logged up and burnt. The ground after being cleared was sown in winter wheat, being harrowed in with a pair of cattle and a harrow. If some of our young men of Iowa were to see this done they would wonder how the cattle and harrow could be got between the stumps and roots. Such was the work that had to be done at the time our subject was in his boyhood. He says he received his education under like circumstances – in a log house, with a sapling cut and split with rough splinters hewn off for a seat, with no back to lean against. His teachers were nearly of the same material. If they could cipher as far as the single rule of the three that was all that was required of them in arithmetic. Grammar was scarcely thought of; Reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic were sufficient for the teacher to know in the days of our subject’s youth. Window glass was made of paper, and to prevent the water from spoiling it they soaked the paper in grease. Mr. Smith Baldwin worked upon a farm, helping to reclaim it from the native forest. After arriving at the age of manhood he was married to Miss Amelia Gleasom, of Holmes County, Ohio, Jan 19, 1847. Miss Gleason was a native of Pennsylvania, her parents were from New England. They remained in Ohio several years, working upon the clay farms, and through industry and economy laid by some money. Five children were born to them during this time. Whenever there was a log rolling or a chopping bee, or whatever doings were had whiskey was the usual drink, and it was carried in buckets and drank out of a tin cup, every one helped himself; but it was no such drink as we have in these days, it was the genuine stuff – not “rot gut” not “sod corn.”
In 1850 Mrs. Baldwin was called away, leaving her five children to be cared for by the hand of another person. This was a sad blow to Mr. Baldwin. In 1851 he sought and found the hand of Miss Smith, who gave her consent to become his wife and a mother to this bereaved family. And such she proved to be, a wife and mother in its true sense. The children are all dead but one. One died July, 1859. Orren, the oldest son, died April 29, 1860. Rosalia V., wife of S. W. Hutchins, died Aug 15, 1869. In 1853 he came out on an inspection tour of Iowa, and he was so taken up with the country that he bought a farm, then went back to Ohio, and in the fall of 1854 moved his family to Warren County. Like all the old settlers, he found a new country, a farm to make; but he did not have the heavy timber to cut and log as he did in Ohio. He owns a large farm and had a large farm and has it well improved. A few years since his health failed and he rented his farm and moved to Winterset, Madison County. We would be pleased to give more of the events of his life, but time and space forbid. The time of his first settlement in Warren County until the present has been much the same as those that have been previously given. Mr. and Mrs. B. have been the best of citizens, have done much toward building up society, and that of the best class. When he first came here we had no churches; meetings were held in private houses and in a log school house. They have been members of the M. E. church for nearly 40 years. He had taken a great interest in the Sabbath school.