Frank Baldwin

As printed in 1902

FRANK BALDWIN. Frank Baldwin, who is filling the position of justice of the peace for Moorefield township, is a public officer in whom his fellow townsmen have every reason to place their trust and confidence for his loyalty and fidelity to duty and his promptness in the execution of public obligations have been many times demonstrated. He is a native of the township in which he still lives, his birth having occurred September 3, 1841, just across the Big Four Railroad from his present farm on the old family homestead which is now occupied by his brother, William Baldwin. His parents were Samuel Vance and Catherine (Van Meter) Baldwin. The father was a native of Gerrardstown, Berkeley county, West Virginia, and was about nineteen years of age when he came to Ohio with his father, Joseph Baldwin, who settled in Moorefield township, Clark county, then a part of Champaign county. Here the grandfather spent his remaining days and became the owner of a large tract of land. He had owned a tannery in Virginia but traded it for property in this state, and in addition to three hundred acres which he purchased, he inherited considerable land which came to him from his eldest son, William Baldwin, who had secured a fortune in New York which he had invested in the Ohio real estate and as he died unmarried, at the age of forty-eight years, his property therefore reverted to the family. Samuel V. Baldwin, the father of our subject, spent his boyhood days on the old family homestead, assisting in the arduous task of developing a new farm. His early education acquired in the common schools was supplemented by study in Oxford, Ohio, and when his literary course was completed he took up the study of the law and was admitted to the bar. He had also studied to some extent in Indianapolis, but completed his course in Urbana, Ohio. Throughout his remaining days he was engaged in the practice of law except during the period when he served as probate judge. He was called to that office at the time it was created and acted in that capacity until his death, covering a period of twelve or fourteen years. This fact indicates in an unmistakable manner his fidelity to the duties of the profession and his fairness in rendering decisions, In Union township, Champaign county, he wedded Catherine Van Meter and they became the parents of seven children: William, who is now residing in Moorefield township, married Enuly Reed, and has four children. He, too, prepared lor the bar and engaged in the practice of law for a number of years, but is now living retired on the old home place. Joseph H., who married Lyda Skillman, by whom he has one child, is living retired in Springfield. Caroline is the wife of J. W. Anderson, a druggist of Urbana. John R,, who joined the service in the Civil war as a private of Company G, Sixty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was promoted to the rank of sergeant and died of pneumonia in a hospital at Washington. He had wedded - Mary M. McCorkle and left one son. Frank is the next of the family. Jennie died in 1863, at the age of seventeen years; and Mary, who complete the family, has also passed away.

Frank Baldwin spent his boyhood days in Urbana, his people having removed to that city when he was only about a year sold. At the usual age he entered the public schools there and was graduated in the high school. The question of slavery and the attitude of the south regarding 1t was one largely discussed in the family and the spirit of patriotism was dominant. On the twentieth anniversary of his birth Frank Baldwin offered his services to the government, joining the boys in blue of Company G, Sixty-sixth Ohio Infantry, was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant of Company I, of the same regiment, and was acting quartermaster of the regiment at the close of the war. In the meantime he had veteranized and remained with his command until the cessation of hostilities. He had participated in the engagement of Port Republic, in the battles of the Shenandoah valley, of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, and went with Sherman when the Union troops marched with that gallant leader from Atlanta to the sea coast. He never missed an engagement in which his regiment participated and was in many of the hardest fought battles of the war, including the last one, at Bentonville, North Carolina. He afterward took part in the grand review in Washington, a military pageant which has been unequaled in the western hemisphere. On several occasions he was struck by spent balls, and he sustained a slight wound at Peach Tree Creek, but was never disabled nor left his command. Many times he narrowly escaped death, his clothing being pierced by rebel bullets. Tiwice he was in the hospital at Washington, the first time about a week, after which he came home for a short visit. He could not obtain a furlough, but his colonel took him down town and told him to go home and stay until he had recovered his health, and that he would take care of his record,

In 1867 Mr. Baldwin went to Macoupin county, Illinois, where he remained for several years engaged in harding cattle. Returning to Springfield, he was married in that city in 1872 to Miss J. S. Nagley, a native daughter of this county, her parents being Henry B. and Mary J. (Wright) Nagley. After their marriage the young couple spent two years in Indiana, and in 1872 returned to Clark county, where they have since made their home. Their marriage has been blessed with six children: Laura C., the wife of J. W. ‘Anderson, of Springfield, by whom she has two sons; Helen, at home; Mary Janette, who is teaching school; Ruth, who is a graduate of the Urbana high school; Frances L., a student in Urbana; and Pauline. E

In 1864 Mr. Baldwin cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln and has ever been an earnest Republican. In 1876 he was elected justice of the peace and has served in that office altogether for about eighteen years. During this time he has tried many cases and his rulings have never been reversed. He has also compromised many cases, for he always advises such a course rather than bring the differences into court. Without fear or favor he has discharged the duties of his office and that he has the entire confidence of the public is indicated by his long continuance in that position. Throughout his business career he has carried on farming and stock raising and is today the owner of a valuable property in Moorefield township.

Frank Erter, who carries on general farming in Moorefield township, was born within its borders October 3, 1856, his parents being John and Nancy (Grube) Erter. The father was probably a native of Maryland, and in early life came to Ohio with his parents who located on Urbana pike, in Clark county, where the grandfather rented land for a time. Later he removed to Logan county, where he purchased a farm and there resided until his life's labors were ended in death. John Erter was probably married before his people removed to Logan county. He, too, made farming his life work and became the owner of about three hundred and eighty acres of rich land, in the cultivation of which he manifested marked industry and enterprise so that he won a very gratifying competence. In his political views he was a Republican and served as a trustee of Moorefield township. His death occurred in 1876, while his wife, who was born in 1818, still survives him and now resides with her daughter, Mrs. John Hare, on the Urbana pike, in Champain county.

Frank Erter, who was the sixth of their family of seven children, spent his boyhood days upon the home farm and attained a common-school education. He assisted his father not only in the work of the fields, but also in paying off the indebtedness upon the place, and when he had attained his majority he took charge of the home farm which he operated for a number of years. On the Ist of May, 1890, in the home of the bride at No. 981 Lagonda avenue, in Springfield, he married Miss Laura J. Cowan, who was born near Pitchin, in Springfield township, Clark county, November 7, 1858, a daughter of Hugh and Marjorie (Elder) Cowan. Her father passed away in February, 1898, but her mother survives and is still living on Lagonda avenue. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Erter has been blessed with two sons, Harry J., who was born on Lagonda avenue in Springfield, April 10, 1892, and Stanley, whose birth occurred on the home farm, July 20, 1897.

Mr, Erter purchased his present farm in 1892 with money which he had himself earned, and now has one hundred and four acres of rich land. The house is one of the old landmarks of this portion of the county, but is in a good state of preservation. His fields are well tilled and he annually harvests good crops which result from the care and labor he bestow upon his place. Keeping well informed on the political issues of the day, as every true American citizen should do, he votes with the Repubiican party which he has supported since casting his first presidential vote for Garfield in 1880. He has never been an office seeker, however, preferring to give his entire time and attention to his business affairs in which he is meeting with creditable and gratifying success.

It will be interesting in this connection to note something of the family history of Mrs. Erter. Her father, Hugh Cowan, was born

-on the Selma pike, three and one-half miles south of the county seat in Springfield township, March 27, 1824, his parents being David and Jane (Steele) Cowan. David Cowan was a native of Pennsylvania and during his boyhood removed with his parents to Kentucky, where he was reared and married, coming thence to Ohio. He took up his above on the farm where his son Hugh was born in Green township, eight miles as the David Cowan farm. There Hugh Cowan was reared and in the district schools of the neighborhood attained a fair education. He married Miss Marjorie Elder, who was born in Green township, eight miles south of Springfield, April 17, 1834, a daughter of Robert and Nancy (Elder) Elder. Her father was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, in 1803, and was a son of Robert and Ann Elder. Mrs. Erter's maternal grandmother was Nancy Elder and her family name in maidenhood was the same, she being a distant relative of her husband. She was also born in Pennsylvania, but it is not definitely known whether in Dauphin or in Indiana county. After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Cowan they made their home on the old home farm, living there up to the time of the death of Mr. Cowan with the exception of one year which they spent in Cass county, Missouri. Not liking that locality, however, they returned to Ohio and Mr. Cowan passed away on the 26th of January, 1898. In the family of this worthy couple were seven children of whom Mrs. Erter is the eldest; David S., a farmer of Springfield township, who was born June 7, 1861, and married Minnie Haley; Agnes, who died at the age of nineteen years; Mary, wife of Bert Sellers, a resident of Daytom; Elder, who married Katie Prindle, of Ashtabula, Ohio, where they are living with their one child, Jane; Harriet B., born January 27, 1872; and

‚Grace A., who died at the age of twenty-two years.

Mr. Cowan was a Republican, believing firmly in the principles of the party. At the time of the Civil war he became a member of the state militia, joining the “Squirrel Hunters,” and went out on the raid against General Morgan. He held membership in the United Presbyterian church and his was an upright, honorable life in which his fidelity to the duties of citizenship and to home relations and family ties gained him the warm regard and respect of those with whom he was associated.

As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.