My Genealogy Hound

DANIEL C. BALDWIN, a leading merchant of Holden, was born in Darke County, Ohio, April 8, 1834, and is a son of William and Mary (McKenzie) Baldwin. His parents moved across the line into Jay County, Ind., when he was but an infant, and there he grew to manhood on a farm, receiving his primary education in the country schools, which he attended a few months in the winter, while at other times he assisted in the farm work. He remained at home until seventeen years of age, when he began life for himself, having lost his mother at the age of fifteen. His father was a carpenter by trade, and our subject learned that business with him. On leaving home he worked at his trade as a journeyman in the summer months and attended school during the winter, traveling in various parts of the West. He early had an inclination to study medicine, and began to read in the office of Dr. James Marquis, with whom he made his home for six years.

In Jay County, Ind., in February, 1858, Mr. Baldwin was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Matheny, a native of Pennsylvania. After their marriage he removed to Marshall County, Ind., where he followed his trade during the summer season, and in the winter kept up his reading of medicine. In 1863 he went to Coffey County, Kan., where he dealt in land and stock, and also continued his studies. In the summer of 1864 he enlisted in the Kansas State Militia and served as Orderly-Sergeant of Company I, under Capt. Curt Phillips. He was on duty from Coffey County eastward to the Missouri line, and as far south as Ft. Scott, helping to rid the state of Price and his followers. On the march our subject was detailed to gather up recruits and stragglers, in which he did good service for his country. He remained in the army until the close of the war. While absent his father remained with his family in Coffey County and took care of them.

After returning home our subject gave his attention to trading in stock and land, still studying under Dr. William McMullen, formerly of Auglaize, Mercer County, Ohio, but who was then living in Burlington, Kan. In the winter of 1871-72 he attended lectures at the Cincinnati Eclectic Institute, from which he was graduated in June, 1872. He then began practice in Burlington, Kan., but only remained there for a few months, then removing to Chautauqua County, Kan., where he practiced until 1894, when he removed to Holden. He had been extensively engaged in the land business, but in the summer of 1893 he bought out the hardware business of A. O. Bettes, to whom he traded farm land in Chautauqua County.

Since his removal to Holden Dr. Baldwin has not given attention to the practice of his profession, but has confined it exclusively to trade. He is a self-made man in both his education and his successful financial career. He is a stanch Republican, but has neither sought nor accepted public office. He has always taken a deep interest in the development of the country in which he lived, and for sixteen years served on the Agricultural Board while residing in Kansas. He also served as Vice-President of the State Horticultural Association, representing Chautauqua County for fifteen years.

Five children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Baldwin: W. Worth, who received a good mercantile education, and is now a successful farmer of Chautauqua County, Kan., where he has an interesting family; Mary E., who married Arthur H. Hockett, who lives in Gypsum, Colo., where he is engaged in the stock business; Orange P., who has two children, and now resides near Cleveland, Okla., where he is engaged in farming; and Charles M. and Alice May, both residing at home, the latter engaged as a bookkeeper in her father’s store.

The paternal ancestors of our subject were of Welsh descent, coming to this country at an early date and settling in Georgia, and then working north until reaching Preble County, Ohio, where his grandfather was reared. His father was a man of strong anti-slavery sentiments and in early life was a Whig. His mother’s ancestors were from Scotland, but she was born near Lexington, Ky. Her people settled in America before the Revolutionary War, in which they took an active part. His father’s people were in the War of 1812, one of his uncles enlisting at the age of seventeen. His father was born in Preble County, Ohio, in 1809.

When the parents of Dr. Baldwin removed to Jay County, Ind., there were only two families living in the county north of the county seat of Portland, which was then only a trading-post. Removing as he did to Kansas at an early day, it will be seen that he has lived much of his life on the frontier, but he has at all times been an active man and influential in the community in which he has resided. Success has crowned his efforts in life. In addition to his property in Holden he has a one-fourth interest in the town site of Hewins, Chautauqua County, Kan., together with one hundred and sixty acres of good land in Clark County, the same state. Socially he is a member of Cedarville Post, G. A. R. Religiously he has been connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1856, in which body he has served as Recording Steward, and in other official positions for many years. He is now on the Official Board in the church at Holden. While a resident of this city for a comparatively short time, he has won many warm friends and is greatly esteemed by all who know him.