James H. Baldwin

    James H. Baldwin, Sparta Township, retired, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, September 8, 1814. His parents, Samuel and Flora (Woodruff) Baldwin, were both natives of Connecticut and of English extraction, and were born as follows: the former in 1777, and the latter in 1780. They were married at Avon, Connecticut, in 1799, and afterward settled at Branford, where they remained until 1814, at which time they, in company with several other families, immigrated to Worthington, Franklin County, Ohio, and from thence in 1827, to Cincinnati, Ohio, where they remained until their deaths. He died in 1840, and his widow in 1862. They were the parents of thirteen children, viz.: Almon, Sarah, Joseph, Serene, Emily, Libanius, Serenna, Arden W., James H., Nancy M., Samuel D., Lysander and Abel.

    James H., our subject, was educated at Cincinnati, Ohio. He was a student in the first public school of the city, which was taught by Thomas Jennings of this county. He completed a classic course in the old college building of Cincinnati, Ohio, after which he engaged in painting for some time, and also reading medicine. He then attended the Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio, after which he traveled for a few years, returning to Cincinnati again in 1838, resuming the study of medicine, which he completed, but has never engaged in practice. He was united in marriage at Cincinnati, Ohio, May 13, 1847, to Rhoda L., daughter of John and Huldah (Townsend) Spencer. She was born in Switzerland County, Indiana, February 1, 1823. Her father was born at Providence, Rhode Island in 1775, and her mother in Duchess County, New York in 1776. They were married in New York, and from thence in a very early day moved to Pennsylvania, and from there to Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 1819, to Switzerland County, Indiana. They were the parents of twelve children, viz.: Millicent, John W., Daniel, Miriam, Almira, Miranda, Lawnton, Huldah, Eli, Emily, Peter L., and Rhoda L.

     In 1865, Mr. Baldwin moved to Dearborn County, Indiana, purchased and settled on the same property where he now resides, and has since remained. They have had born to them three children, viz.: Samuel S., Henriette L., and Jeannette D. Mr. Baldwin is a man of good general information, and is highly esteemed by all who know him.

Source: History of Dearborn and Ohio Counties, Indiana by F.E. Weakley & Co., 1885.