BALDWIN, BENONI S.
Benoni S. Baldwin, a retired contractor and manufacturer of Davenport, whose persistent labor has constituted for him the key that has unlocked the portals of success, was born in Harrison county, Ohio, November 8, 1834, and is a son of Joseph D. and Sarah S. (Shields) Baldwin. The father was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in 1801 and removed westward to Ohio about 1828, accompanied by his wife. He settled in Harrison county and there followed the stonemason's trade, which he had previously learned in the Keystone state. He died in 1876 and his wife, who was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in 1808, passed away in 1844. She was the mother of four children: Thomas H., now deceased; Benoni S.; George W., who is living in Hopedale, Harrison county, Ohio; and William, a resident of Sheridan, Iowa.
Benoni S. Baldwin was a pupil in the district schools of his native county and therein became familiar with those branches of learning which are necessary to advancement in any line of life as well as to business success. He left school early, however, and in 1851, when a youth of sixteen years, left home in order to learn the carpenter's trade. He applied himself diligently to the tasks assigned him and became an expert workman. Thinking to find better business opportunities in the new but rapidly growing and developing west, he came to Iowa in 1856, arriving at Davenport on the 24th of April of that year. He first began to work at his trade in the employ of others but later felt that his experience and skill justified him in engaging in business on his own account and turned his attention to contracting, in which connection he has erected a large number of buildings. He also assisted in building the old Christian chapel in 1889. Further extending the field of his activities, he bought a half interest in the Davenport Ladder Company and acted as superintendent of the plant for about fourteen years, at the end of which time he sold out to W. C. Hayward and since that time has lived retired. The years brought him substantial success as the reward of persistent and indefatigable labor and he is now in possession of a comfortable competence.
At the time of the Civil war Mr. Baldwin put aside business and personal considerations in 1864 and enlisted as a member of Company C, Fourteenth Iowa Infantry. His company was detailed for service at Camp McClellan on guard duty and there Mr. Baldwin remained until mustered out in 1865. He maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic.
On the 6th of December, 1866, Mr. Baldwin was married to Miss Mary A. Jenkins, who was born in Rockingham township, this county, a daughter of Richard R. and Mary (Blackman) Jenkins. Her parents were early settlers here, coming to this county from Canada in 1842. They were farming people and the father took up raw land which he converted into rich and productive fields. Both he and his wife died in Davenport. In their family were eight children: Hiram H., now living in Nebraska; Mrs. Maria J. Carpenter, who is a widow and lives in South Omaha; Mary A., now Mrs. Baldwin; James, whose home is in South Dakota; George W., of Minneapolis; Frank, who is living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Etta, who is the wife of John A. Wheeler and resides in Davenport; and Annie L., deceased. Sarah Eleanor, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin, died when but seven months old. They are members of the Old Settlers Society of Scott county, composed of people who came here in 1846 or before and have lived here since the admission of the state into the Union. Mr. Baldwin also belongs to the Fremont Club, composed of those who voted for John C. Fremont in 1856. He is now treasurer of that society. He built his present residence about thirty years ago, set out trees and has in other ways adorned the place. He has also built a number of other houses for himself and from his property interests has derived a good income. His has been an active and useful life and his fellow townsmen have naught to say of him except in terms of good will and high regard. Great have been the changes which have occurred during the period of his residence in Iowa. In the decades which have since been added to the centuries he has seen Iowa transformed from a frontier state into one of the thickly populated regions of the middle west, leading the entire country in the matter of corn production, in the number and efficiency of its public schools and in other fields of activity of a most creditable nature. Mr. Baldwin has always done his full share of public work as a citizen, giving loyal support to every movement calculated to benefit and upbuild the city and county.
This bio was extracted from the History of Davenport and Scott County, Vol. I and II, by Harry E. Downer, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago. It was transcribed by Debbie Clough Gerischer.