| Baldwin, Benjamin Joseph, Jr. 149931 |
| Birth: 04/28/1850 Death: 05/10/1914 Marriage: 10/17/1882 |
| Cemetery: Evergreen (C3-13-02) |
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If you copy this information, please cite this as your source: Betsy Mills and Ron Brothers. The Death and Cemetery Records of Lamar County, Texas, ReBroMa Press, 2008, http://www.lamarcountytx.org/cemetery. (12/16/2025) |
| Notes From an undated-unnamed newspaper obituary clipping from 'The Paris Scrapbook' donated by Skipper Steely, handwritten date, May 11th, 1914: 'B. J. Baldwin died at 7:10 o'clock last night at his home, corner Graham and 15th streets, from appendicitis and a complication of kidney trouble. The funeral services will be held at the First Presbyterian church this afternoon at 4 o'clock by Rev. T. M. Lemly and burial will be made at Evergreen cemetery. His death will come as a profound shock to the entire citizenship of Paris and to his many friends throughout the county and state, for he had been ill just a week and only his most intimate friends realized the gravity of his malady. The public schools will be dismissed at noon as a mark of respect to his memory. Benjamin Joseph Baldwin was born in northern Georgia April 28, 1850, and came to Paris in 1874 with his father's family. He was the oldest son of Dr. B. J. Baldwin, then a Methodist minister and for a number of years one of the leading physician in Paris. Soon after coming here Mr. Baldwin read law in the office of Hale and Scott and in 1875 was admitted to the bar. On the dissocultion of this firm when Judge Scott was elected district Judge, he formed a partnership with Capt. Hale under the name of Hale and Baldwin, and in 1887, after Judge Scott's retirement from the bench, the firm of Scott and Baldwin, real estate dealers and investment bankers was formed and continued to the day of his death. October 17, 1882, Mr. Baldwin married Miss Addie Davenport, of Americus, GA, and he is survived by her, his three daughters, Mesdames Charles Webb of Houston, K. H. Bywaters of Roxton and Miss Addie Baldwin; his sister, Mrs. J. F. Clark, and his two brothers, George I. Baldwin and Dr. William S. Baldwin, all of whom, and his sons-in-law, were with him during his illness and at his death. His only son and oldest child, Fred, died several years ago, the result of an accident while riding his pony. No man in Paris stood higher as a man and citizen than Ben Baldwin. Quiet and unassuming, he had those qualities which make a man liked for what he is rather than what he has. He possessed the unbounded confidence of all who had dealings with him and the respect of all who knew him. His word was his bond and once given could be relied on. He did not decide hastily, and his opinions were always asked and listened to with respect by his associates. His home life was ideal and he held his family his dearest possession, providing bountifully for them in every material way. His life was irreproachable. For years he had been an elder in the Presbyterian church, and was not only a liberal contributor to its support but gave his time in its work, at the same time giving to all worthy charities. He had been a member of the board of trustees of the Paris public schools and its secretary for twenty-one years, the only office he ever held and it was given him unsolicited term after term. As a member and director of the Board of Trade, he interested himself in all the projects for making Paris a bigger and better city, and in this organization, as well as in his church and home, his loss will be felt.' Tombstone is inscribed 11 May 1914 as death date. Information from THE HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS IN WEST PARIS 1884-1984, by Debbie Burks, 1984, Page 28: 'Benjamin Joseph Baldwin, Jr., was born April 28, 1850. The son of a doctor, Mr. Baldwin was a law partner of Captain V. W. Hale. Afterward he formed the abstract and investment banking firm of Scott and Baldwin with Judge D. H. Scott. Having a great interest in education, Mr. Baldwin served as secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Paris school system for more than twenty years. He was devoted to the schools of Paris and untiring in his efforts to up build them. Around 1910, Third Ward Colored School was renamed Baldwin in his honor. Mr. Baldwin died May 11, 1914. Tribute was paid to him in the 1914 Owl. 'In his death the teachers, pupils, and patrons have lost the inestimable services of a true and tried friend.' Mr. Baldwin was buried at Evergreen Cemetery. Page 10: Third Ward Colored School was a public Negro school in West Paris. This school opened around 1900 and was probably the school listed as the Campbell Street Colored School in the 'Report of the Paris Public Schools 1902-03.' Third Ward Colored was listed in the 1902-03 city directory as being located on West Garrett Street just northeast of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad track, between the present Ninth N.W. and Eleventh N.W. streets. However, Campbell and Garrett streets exchanged names in the early 1900's. The school probably dropped the name Campbell when it ceased to be located on Campbell Street, becoming Third Ward Colored. An earlier report written by Superintendent J. G. Wooten in 1895-96 gives the only reference which has been found to the Chisum Colored School. --Last January we established this school on 'Chisum's ranch' in the southwest portion of the city. About 75 pupils were enrolled and I am satisfied with the work done. I hope for this school to be continued. I can easily place 150 pupils here, but if no suitable house can be secured, it will be stopped or changed to another portion of the city and the name changed. Teaching in a church is not satisfactory at all.-- Although the records are incomplete, the Campbell Street School may have been a relocation of the Chisum School. Between 1909-11, Third Ward Colored was renamed Baldwin Graded School in honor of attorney and school board member, B. J. Baldwin, Jr. The address of the school was 244 West Garrett, changing to 934 West Garrett after the street-name revisions. The building was a two-story frame. Plans for a new school began in 1947. It was to be a frame building with asbestos siding. The school board passed a motion 'that materials obtained from the [2] Camp Maxey buildings be used as far as possible.' The site selected was on the south side of Campbell Street and immediately west of the Frisco Railroad tracks. Deciding the best site had not been selected, the board then chose the northwest corner of Henderson and Eleventh N.W. streets (1110 Henderson Street). The new school opened in September, 1949. The building contained six class-rooms and an assembly room with a stage. Baldwin closed in May, 1969, due to integration. With freedom of choice in effect, the students entered either Thomas S. Justiss Elementary or T. G. Givens Elementary schools. The property was sold in December, 1969, for $3,100.00. On February 13, 1975, the building burned. The site is presently owned by the Solid Rock Baptist Church.' |