The History of Genesee, MI, Ch. I, Gov. Henry Baldwin

GOVERNOR HENRY P. BALDWIN.

Governor Crapo's successor was Henry P. Baldwin, of Detroit, who served from 1869 to 1873. Governor Baldwin was a native of Coventry, Rhode Island, where he was born, February 22, 1814. He had been elected tot he state Senate in 1860. During his administration as governor, several matters of importance developed. One of these was the resumption of the state geological survey. He was deeply interest in philanthropic work and used his influence to ameliorate the condition of the unfortunate and the neglected. In 1871 was organized the state board of charities and corrections. The eastern insane asylum was established at Pontiac. One of the most notable events of this period was the great destruction of life and property by forest fires which swept across the state in 1871. When this great calamity became known, Governor Baldwin took prompt and energetic measures for relief of the distressed and suffering people. In 1881, almost exactly ten years later, a second visitation of fire swept through Tuscola, Lapeer, Huron and Sanilac counties, covering a considerable part of the region which suffered so severely before.

In 1871 Governor Baldwin, in his message to the Legislature, expressed the belief that the time had come for the erection of a permanent capital, and recommended that the necessary steps be taken to that end. The old building erected in 1847 was a plain frame structure, intended only as a temporary capital. Governor Baldwin appointed the building commission authorized by the Legislature and work on the new capital was begun on January 1, 1879. The day of the formal dedication of the building the commission reported that every obligation had been fully paid and that there remained in the state treasury upwards of $4,000 to the credit of the building fund.