baldwina
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
ANSEL BALDWIN is one of the men
to whom Lincoln county may point with pride, as he has not only gained
a nice competence for himself and family, but has so conducted himself
in his pilgrim way that he has the confidence and good will of all who
know him. He is now in the golden years of his life and is spending
them amid the surroundings which he has seen built up and with friends
and relatives who made the journey a pleasant one.
Ansel Baldwin was born in Chautauqua county,
New York, on April 21, 1835, the son of Aaron and Permelia (Chamberland)
Baldwin, natives of Warren county, New York, and Litchfield, Connecticut,
respectively. The father died in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, in
1882 and the mother died in the same county in 1873. Ansel was educated
in the public schools and when twenty we find him in Iowa operating a blacksmith
shop. In 1857, he went to Kansas as a freeman, and in 1859, took
the dangerous and trying trip across the plains, to California. Learning
of the discovery of oil in Pennsylvania, he returned thither and began
the business of manufacturing drilling tools which he continued until 1870,
when he became an oil producer himself. In1880, he came to Walla
Walla and seven years later he journeyed to Lincoln county and bought his
present home ranch. It lies about five miles west from Sprague and
consists of four hundred acres. For a time he operated it as a dairy
ranch, and then turned his attention to raising wheat. In this labor
he has been very successful and has accumulated a fine property.
In addition to the home place, he has a farm in Adams county and also another
in Lincoln county. At the present time, Mr. Baldwin is more retired
from the activities of life and is enjoying the competence that his labor
has
provided.
On September 3, 1874, in Pennsylvania, Mr.
Baldwin married Miss Adelia A. Cauvel. Her father, John Cauvel, was
born in Center county, Pennsylvania, and there followed farming until retired
from more active life. He is now residing there. He has served several
terms as commissioner and assessor. He is aged seventy-seven.
His wife is still living, aged seventy-four and she, also, is a native
of that county. To Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin four children have been born,
Howard S., John A., and Orvin C., all deceased, Arthur A., who is now at
home. He has taken a course in the college in Pullman. Mr.
Baldwin came to this country with very little means and has gained his
property by care and labor, always guided with excellent wisdom.
He has won and retains the esteem and confidence of his fellows, and is
a man of good qualities. He is a member of the I. 0. 0. F. and the
K. P. Mrs. Baldwin is a member of the Rathbone Sisters.
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