Baldwin, Judge William H.

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Submitted by Martha J. Martin

Judge William H. Baldwin of Rockport, is honored as an upright judge and able attorney, and esteemed in the highest degree for all those qualities which make the strong citizen of the southwest. Enterprising, brave and broad-minded, he is descended from sturdy, faithful southern blood, and is especially indebted to a noble and somewhat remarkable father for some of the salient traits of his character.

Judge Baldwin was born in Ohio, July 23, 1849, reared to farm pursuits, and received his higher education at Lebanon, a popular old school of Virginia. He is a son of William M. and Jeston (Young) Baldwin, and father being a native of North Carolina and the mother of Virginia. William M. Baldwin, so long a leading figure in the Missionary Baptist church, was the son of Enoch Baldwin of Virginia and later of North Carolina, where for many years he was a prominent farmer.

Later he removed to Kingsport, Tennessee, engaging there in the hotel business. He was thus engaged during the Civil War, and afterward died at the remarkable ago of one hundred years.

In his capacity of landlord and good citizen, he became widely known and highly respected, and died a consistent and worthy member of the Missionary Baptist church in which two of his sons were to obtain so high a standing.

The children of Enoch Baldwin and his wife were as follows:

• Rev. Noah C., a noted Baptist minister who died in VA. in 1895
• Rev. William M. who once lost by only one vote, the chaplainry of the US Senate. 
• Wiley G., a popular and competent accountant and bookkeeper. 

Rev. William M., the father of William H. Baldwin, was born and reared in NC, assisting his father on the farm and by persistent industry obtaining a liberal education, being especially proficient in the dead languages. He remained on the family homestead until his marriage, then settled on a farm in VA and later entered the ministry.

In the performance of his work connected with the different charges to which he was assigned in the Missionary Baptist church, he traveled over many sections of VA and KY, ministering to his congregations with great zeal and success.

Later he removed to Ironton, Ohio where he continued his pulpit work with earnestness and effective ability and subsequently settled on a farm near Ashland, KY, combining.

Source: History of Southwest Texas, Vol. 1 by The Lewis Publishing Company, page 449