D.W. Baldwin
BALDWIN, WAGNER, WHITSON
Posted By: P. Bergmeier (email)
Date: 11/13/2004 at 19:16:23
Not only is D.W. Baldwin well known in agricultural and business circles of Frankville township, Winneshiek county, but the deep interest which has has always taken in community affairs, both in a private and public capacity, has given him rank among the prominent and influential citizens of the district in which almost his entire life has been passed. He was born on the farm which is yet his home, on the 28th of October, 1855, a son of George and Eleanor (Wagner) Baldwin. The parents were natives of Vermont and Ontario, Canada, respectively, and were married in the latter place. They came to Iowa in 1852, locating upon the farm on which their son now resides, and here their remaining days were passed. The father's first purchase of land consisted of one hundred and sixty acres to which he later added a tract of similar size, and he retained the ownership of this three hundred and twenty acres to the time of his death. He died in 1880 at the age of sixty-four years, while his widow survived for ten years, passing away in 1891 in her sixty-ninth year. Their family consisted of ten children, as follows: Silas J., who enlisted for service in the Civil war as a member of the Thirty-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, his death occurring during his service, on August, 1863; William H., who served throughout the period of hostilities as a member of the Sixteenth Iowa and now makes his home near Beaumont, Texas; Sarah, a school teacher in early life, who in her later years kept house for her brother D.W., until her death on the 6th of January, 1912, when she was sixty-six years of age; George N., of Marble Rock, Iowa; Mary, the wife of J.W. Whitson, of St. Thomas, North Dakota; D.W., of this review; T.J., of Beaumont, Texas; Bethsheba, a school teacher, deceased; and Edith and Nellie, both of whom passed away.
Spending his boyhood and youth on the old homestead D.W. Baldwin acquired a good common-school education which was later supplemented by a course of study in Upper Iowa University, which well prepared him for the practical and responsible duties of life. He was reared to farm work and his life has practically been devoted to agriculture although for several years he gave his attention to other interests. He was employed in a bank at Clark, Nebraska, for a year and a half, and was also engaged in buying and shipping horses in Postville for a time. He now resides on the old farm upon which he was born and always considered his home, although it was operated by a renter during the eight years of his absence from the place. He owns two hundred and fifteen acres of the homestead, located on section 27 and the northeast quarter of section 34. He carries on general farming to some extent but the greater part of his attention is given to his stock-raising interests which have grown extensive and of an important character. He possesses much business ability, keen discernment and an abundance of energy, and, following progressive and up-to-date methods, has been highly successful in his business enterprises.
Mr. Baldwin supports the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his parents were members, and his political allegiance was always given to the republican party until 1912, when he took up the cause of the progressives, to which he has since been loyal. At an early day he was tax collector and is now serving his fifth term as township trustee of Frankville township. He has served as treasurer of the school district for twelve years, and the cause of education finds in him a strong advocate. Indeed he is deeply interested in all phases of public life and does all in his power to further the material, political, intellectual and moral growth of the community. His general knowledge has been greatly broadened by much travel, principally through the western and southwestern states, and he has a wide acquaintance and a large circle of friends who find in him a congenial companion and a gentleman worthy of their respect, confidence and good-will.
source: History of Winneshiek County Vol. II
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