Genealogy of the Bryan and Martin Families

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James Baldwin

Male 1817 - 1895  (77 years)


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  • Name James Baldwin 
    Birth 9 Nov 1817  Perry Township, Muskingum County, Ohio, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3
    • After the death of James's father, Samuel Baldwin, in 1830, Adam Shoemaker was appointed guardian of his minor children. James was reported to be 13 years old on 14 Aug 1830. [1]
    Gender Male 
    Census 1860  Perry Township, Muskingum County, Ohio, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Census 1870  Perry Township, Muskingum County, Ohio, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Census 1880  Perry Township, Muskingum County, Ohio, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Death 22 Sep 1895  Perry Township, Muskingum County, Ohio, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3
    Burial Salt Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Smith Mill, Muskingum County, Ohio, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Siblings 4 brothers and 6 sisters 
    Association James H. Alexander (Relationship: Administrator of James Baldwin's estate) 
    Association Rachel ? (Relationship: James Baldwin witnessed the will of Rachel Shoemaker) 
    Notes 
    • James Baldwin went to California during the Gold Rush and reportedly returned a wealthy man. He is mentioned in a book about Muskingum County by Norris F. Schneider, entitled "Y Bridge City." The book states that "the returning forty-niners did not always tell how much gold they found. All were believed to be rich. James Baldwin came home and divided his gold with the man who furnished money for his trip. With his own share of the gold he bought a farm in Perry Township on the site of the Zanesville Airport. Many people tried to borrow money from Baldwin, thinking he had plenty and would not miss it. Baldwin was honest and did not want to lie to people. So he carried two pocketbooks. One was named 'World.' When some one asked him for money, Baldwin opened that pocket book and truthfully said, 'You see, I haven't got a cent in the World.' " At the time of the 1880 census, he was living with his sister, Nancy, in Perry Township, Muskingum County, Ohio. The birthplaces of their parents were given as Virginia. By the time of his death, he owned several tracts of land in Perry and Salt Creek Townships. His estate was valued at about $40,000. His nephew, Samuel Russell, was accused of ransacking James' personal papers on the night of his death and destroying evidence of his debts to James.

      Obituary from the Zanesville Time Recorder, Monday, September 23, 1895:
      Death of a Wealthy Landowner
      James Baldwin, one of the wealthiest land owners in Muskingum County, died at his home in Perry Township about six miles northeast of the city, yesterday afternoon of dysentery, at the age of seventy eight years. He was rather an eccentric man, having lived his life a bachelor. Until about a year ago his sister kept house for him. Since her death a distant relative has made her home with him. No arrangements have been made for the funeral.

      Obituary from The Daily Signal, Monday, September 23, 1895
      A Large Landholder
      James Baldwin, of Perry Township, died yesterday afternoon at his home six miles northeast of the city. He was sixty eight years old. He had amassed during his life a very considerable fortune, and his landholdings have been among the largest in the county. He was never married. By his neighbors he was regarded as a very eccentric person. The funeral will take place tomorrow at 1:30 o'clock from Salt Creek Baptist Church.
    • James Baldwin of Perry Township, Muskingum County, Ohio, was appointed a juror for the term commencing 5 September 1853. [4]
    Person ID I913  Private
    Last Modified 21 Jun 2024 

    Father Samuel B. Baldwin,   b. cir 1766, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 Mar 1830, Muskingum County, Ohio, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 64 years) 
    Mother Hannah Romine,   b. 23 Apr 1785, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 27 Mar 1858, Muskingum County, Ohio, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 72 years) 
    Marriage cir 1804 
    Family ID F345  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
     Birth - 9 Nov 1817 - Perry Township, Muskingum County, Ohio, USA Link to Google Earth
     Census - 1860 - Perry Township, Muskingum County, Ohio, USA Link to Google Earth
     Census - 1870 - Perry Township, Muskingum County, Ohio, USA Link to Google Earth
     Census - 1880 - Perry Township, Muskingum County, Ohio, USA Link to Google Earth
     Death - 22 Sep 1895 - Perry Township, Muskingum County, Ohio, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Salt Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Smith Mill, Muskingum County, Ohio, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend Address Cemetery Farm Town Parish City County/Shire State/Province Country Region Not Set

  • Sources 
    1. [S706] Muskingum County Probate Court Estate Records, 26 Jan 2024 (Reliability: 3).
      Book 8-E, Page 76, Case Number 954

    2. [S439] Death Record.
      Muskingum County, Ohio, Probate Court

    3. [S440] Tombstone.
      The inscription on the cemetery marker states that he died on 22 September 1895 aged 77 years, 10 months, and 13 days, the same age that's stated on his death record.

    4. [S725] Records of Early Jurors, (Zanesville, Ohio: Muskingum County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, 1985), Ohio, 977.1, MUSKINGUM, CR245r.