A. H. Baldwin

 

SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887

SURNAMES: BALDWIN, COOK, FAIRCHILD, STURGES

A. H. BALDWIN, engaged in general husbandry on section 18 in Pesotum Township, is a native of the Empire State, born near Rochester, May 31, 1850. He is the fourth child of Samuel S. and Mary E. (FAIRCHILD) BALDWIN, who were married in that State, and located on a farm, where they remained until 1857. Mr. Baldwin then came to Illinois and purchased 320 acres of wild land in Pesotum Township. The task before himn seemed an Herculean one, but he set himself industriously to work, fencing his purchase and breaking the sod, and in the course of a few years had transformed the prairie land into a good farm. He put up suitable buildings, and by purchase and breeding finally had his farm well stocked with good grades of cattle and horses.

Upon the homestead thus established the parents of our subject lived for many years and reaped the result of their labors in due time by finding themselves surrounded with all the comforts of life. The father passed away on the 3d of October, 1874. Mrs. Baldwin survived her husband for two years, her death occurring Dec. 28, 1876, at the old homestead. This is now occupied by their son, the subject of this sketch, although there now remains but 130 acres of the original purchase. Whatever is lacking in quantity, however, is fully made up in quality, as our subject has worked upon the theory of Horace Greeley, namely, that a few acres well tilled were more valuable than a larger area partially neglected.

Our subject remained under the parental roof until several years after reaching his majority, and when twenty-seven years of age was married to Miss Melissa J., daughter of John and Mary (STURGES) COOK. The parents of Mrs. B were residents of Montgomery County, Ill., where the father owned and operated a good farm. Of the union of our subject and wife there have been born two children—Theodore H., Oct. 15, 1880, and Herbert E., Feb. 1, 1884.

Mr. Baldwin, although a continuous resident on his father's farm since his first recollection, is the owner of a large tract of land in Crawford County, Kan., to which he has decided to remove and develop it. He has always given his strict attention to his own concerns, never meddling with politics or desiring office. His land has been chiefly devoted to the raising of grain, in which he has been very successful, and which has yielded him the larger part of his income