W. C. BALDWIN, long and favorably known as a thorough-going wide-awake business man, was born January 12,1858, in the village of Amity, Amwell township, Washington county. In 1860 his father, Rev. John Sealey Baldwin, removed to Brookville, Penn., where he was pastor of the M. P. Church. In 1862 he returned to his native county, and was stationed at Washington at the time of his death, which occurred March 16, 1863. His wife, Jane E., who was a daughter of William Iams, of Amity, died February 22, 1878. The family consisted of two sons and one daughter: Samuel F., born July 8, 1860, died December 8, 1862; Florella E., born July 8, 1854, married to W. L. Milne, of Washington, Penn., and William C., who was about four years old when he lost his father. Our subject attended public school until ten years of age, and then entered the dry-goods store of William Smith, where he remained several years. In 1873 he went to Bellaire, Ohio, where he clerked in the dry-goods store of George R. Taylor, remaining there until 1875, in which year he returned to Washington and opened a confectionery store in the room now occupied by R. W. Hallam. In 1876 Mr. Baldwin sold out to John Brown, and entered the employ of W. S. Kammerer, who was then in the dry-goods business in the Montgomery building. In 1879 Mr. Kammerer, being in poor health, closed out his store. Mr. Baldwin, then twenty years of age, had spent ten years in stores, and had made up his mind to continue in it. He formed a partnership with Frank H. Judson in the furnishing goods business. In 1882 our subject bought out Mr. Judson, he wishing to engage in the printing business, this being his trade. Mr. Baldwin continued in business until 1890, when he sold out to E. G. Cundall & Sons; at the time he sold he was doing the largest business in his line in the city. Our subject was also one of the founders of the Ethanmont stock farm. In 1889 he, with others, organized the Willow Grove Oil Co., operating in Washington and Greene counties, Penn. On January 1, 1893, the New York Life Insurance Company appointed Mr. Baldwin general agent of southwestern Pennsylvania. In 1879 Mr. Baldwin married Miss Josie E. McCormick, daughter of William and Sarah McCormick, of Clarksburg, W. Va. Mr. Baldwin's office is in the Donnan Law building; his residence is on College street.

Text taken from page 989 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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