Biographical Sketch of Caleb BALDWIN (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsylvania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Philadelphia, PA, 1893, pp. 819-821. "CALEB BALDWIN, who was a prominent and influential citizen of East Caln township, well known throughout the county and greatly esteemed for his many sterling qualities, his benevolence and business capacity, was born November 1, 1825, in that township, where his widow still resides. He was of English descent, his direct paternal ancestors having emigrated to this country in 1638, and settled in the colony of New Haven. At that time a family of five - father and four sons - started for America, with the purpose of creating homes for themselves in this then new and strange country; but only the sons - John, George, Richard and Joshua - reached it in safety; the father, Sylvester Baldwin, having died during the voyage. One of their descendants, Jonathan Baldwin, was among the early pioneers of Chester county, owning a fine farm of two hundred acres, which has been in the Baldwin family from the time of the grants made by John Penn, being a part of the original tract of one thou- sand acres taken up in 1753, the deeds bearing that date and the signature of John Penn. Caleb Baldwin was a man of good common school education, and he early engaged in his life-long pursuit of farming. Later he was also occupied in the quarrying of lime on his father's farm. Although primarily his inter- ests were agricultural, he held many public positions of trust and prominence in various fields, having been a director of the Downingtown National bank for many years, and president of the Northwood Cemetery association until his death, being the originator of the idea of a burying ground at that place. During the Centennial exposition of 1876, he acted in the capacity of superin- tendent of the dairy department, under the supervision of the Dairy associa- tion, which was one of the most extensive displays of the exposition. He was a firm believer in the principles of the Republican party (having previously been a whig), and was a man of considerable political influence. In 1879 he was elected director of the poor of Chester county, but only served one year, being obliged to resign before the completion of his term, owing to a stroke of paralysis, which incapacitated him for the position. Mr. Baldwin was a strong abolitionist, and although a member of the Orthodox Society of Friends, was so stanch a patriot that he contributed liberally toward a substitute fee in support of the late war. For this he was disowned by this religious body, one of whose fundamental doctrines is that of peace. This was one of the most trying circumstances of his life, and one to which he never became fully recon- ciled. He felt, however, fully justified in taking this step toward the support of his country in a time of its direst need, without being at all prompted by any antagonism to the doctrines of his religious faith. While taking so active and pronounced a part in business and public matters, he was also deeply interested in all things pertaining to the culture of the useful and ornamental adjuncts of the farm. His father, Jonathan C. Baldwin, served as president of the County Horticultural association and was a member of the Pennsylvania Pomological society, acting in the latter as a representative for Chester county. Caleb Baldwin was a man of many estimable qualities and characteristics, an affectionate father and husband, a kind neighbor, a true friend, a genial and hospitable host, and a patriotic citizen of sterling integrity, frank, decided and very determined in his own ideas of right and justice. He was strong yet candid in his convictions, and was man greatly loved in his domestic and social relations, while he was universally respected wherever he was known. "In 1866 he was married to Emma A. Lewis, by whom he had two sons, John Bald- win, born June 23, 1868, and J. Lewis Baldwin, born July 6, 1872. Caleb Baldwin died January 3, 1888. "J. Lewis Baldwin, youngest son, was born July 6, 1872, at Hanover Home, East Caln township, this county. He received his education in various institutions - in the model department of the West Chester Normal, Friends' Graded school at West Chester, one year in the Biological department of the university of Pennsylvania, and is now a student in a medical department of the same insti- tution, which department he entered in October, 1890, and from which he will be graduated in 1893. During the summer vacations he superintends the farming operations on the homestead place, which consists of one hundred and fifty acres. On this farm is situated a fine marble quarry, which furnishes a superior quality of blue marble. The stone was obtained at this quarry for the Catholic church at Villanova, and several fine residences at Haverford. J. Lewis Baldwin is also a partner with his brother, John Baldwin, in a steam laundry at Downingtown. In politics he is a republican."