Elihu Whittlesey Baldwin (born Durham, New York, December 25, 1789; died Crawfordsville, Indiana, October 15, 1840) was a prominent American Presbyterian minister and the first president of Wabash College.
Elihu Baldwin was the second of six children of Deacon Jonathan Baldwin (1758-1843) and his wife Submit (Lord) (1764-1855). The Baldwins had moved from Durham, Connecticut to a new settlement in Durham, New York and later continued to move west, spending the end of their lives in Atwater, Ohio. The Baldwins were joined in Durham by Jonathan's brother Seth and his family, including future missionary Dwight Baldwin (1798-1886).
Baldwin was admitted to Yale College in 1807; he took five years to complete his studies, taking time off to teach to help pay his way. After spending several years teaching at an academy in Fairfield, Baldwin was admitted to the Andover Theological Seminary in 1814 and was ordained September 10, 1817. He was initially employed by the Young Men's Society of New York City as a missionary in the area of Corlaer's Hook, then a neighborhood notorious for prostitution and drinking. By March 1818 he had founded the seventh Presbyterian church in New York City, meeting in that district, and by the time of Baldwin's death the congregation had grown to over 1900 members.[1] The congregation built a new church in 1826, at the corner of Broome and Ridge streets; it burned down on February 17, 1831.[2]
In 1835 Baldwin was asked to take up the presidency of a college to be erected in Crawfordsville, Indiana; he accepted and proceeded to raise funds for the new institution and move his family there. Baldwin presided over a difficult beginning; the college's first building burned down in 1838 and needed to be rebuilt. Baldwin fell ill during a trip taken for the college and died October 15, 1840.
Publicationsedit
Baldwin published several short works published as religious tracts: "On Fashionable Amusements" (New England Tract Society, 1815) and "Universalism Exposed" (New England Tract Society, 1823). He also published works aimed at use in Sunday schools - a book of moralizing stories, "The Five Apprentices" (1828)[3] and "The Young Freethinker Reclaimed" (American Sunday-School Union, 1829).
Two of Baldwin's sermons were published in the publication "The National Preacher" in the December 1827 issue. His inaugural speech was published as "An Address Delivered in Crawfordsville, Indiana, July 13th, 1836: On Occasion of His Inauguration as President of Wabash College", and also his "Address on the encouragement of emulation in the education of youth : delivered before the Education Convention of Indiana" (1837).
Familyedit
Baldwin married Julia C. Baldwin (1800-1850) (not a close relation) on May 12, 1819. They had seven children, three of whom died in childhood. Julia (1822), Joseph (1826), Frances (1829), and Mary (1841) survived to adulthood.[4] Joseph, a lawyer, was a state senator in Missouri in 1864.
Referencesedit
^The Biographical Annual: Containing Memoirs of Eminent Persons, Recently Deceased, ed. Rufus Wilmot Griswold, "Rev. Elihu W. Baldwin", Joseph H. Myers, New York: Linen and Fennell, 1841, p. 185
^"Church Burnt", The United States Gazette, February 18, 1831, p. 2
^The American Sunday School Magazine, vol. 6, March 1829, p. 92
^The Baldwin genealogy from 1500 to 1881, Charles Candee Baldwin, Cleveland: Leader Printing Co., 1881, p. 558
elihu, baldwin, elihu, whittlesey, baldwin, born, durham, york, december, 1789, died, crawfordsville, indiana, october, 1840, prominent, american, presbyterian, minister, first, president, wabash, college, contents, life, publications, family, references, exte. Elihu Whittlesey Baldwin born Durham New York December 25 1789 died Crawfordsville Indiana October 15 1840 was a prominent American Presbyterian minister and the first president of Wabash College Contents 1 Life 2 Publications 3 Family 4 References 5 External linksLife editElihu Baldwin was the second of six children of Deacon Jonathan Baldwin 1758 1843 and his wife Submit Lord 1764 1855 The Baldwins had moved from Durham Connecticut to a new settlement in Durham New York and later continued to move west spending the end of their lives in Atwater Ohio The Baldwins were joined in Durham by Jonathan s brother Seth and his family including future missionary Dwight Baldwin 1798 1886 Baldwin was admitted to Yale College in 1807 he took five years to complete his studies taking time off to teach to help pay his way After spending several years teaching at an academy in Fairfield Baldwin was admitted to the Andover Theological Seminary in 1814 and was ordained September 10 1817 He was initially employed by the Young Men s Society of New York City as a missionary in the area of Corlaer s Hook then a neighborhood notorious for prostitution and drinking By March 1818 he had founded the seventh Presbyterian church in New York City meeting in that district and by the time of Baldwin s death the congregation had grown to over 1900 members 1 The congregation built a new church in 1826 at the corner of Broome and Ridge streets it burned down on February 17 1831 2 In 1835 Baldwin was asked to take up the presidency of a college to be erected in Crawfordsville Indiana he accepted and proceeded to raise funds for the new institution and move his family there Baldwin presided over a difficult beginning the college s first building burned down in 1838 and needed to be rebuilt Baldwin fell ill during a trip taken for the college and died October 15 1840 Publications editBaldwin published several short works published as religious tracts On Fashionable Amusements New England Tract Society 1815 and Universalism Exposed New England Tract Society 1823 He also published works aimed at use in Sunday schools a book of moralizing stories The Five Apprentices 1828 3 and The Young Freethinker Reclaimed American Sunday School Union 1829 Two of Baldwin s sermons were published in the publication The National Preacher in the December 1827 issue His inaugural speech was published as An Address Delivered in Crawfordsville Indiana July 13th 1836 On Occasion of His Inauguration as President of Wabash College and also his Address on the encouragement of emulation in the education of youth delivered before the Education Convention of Indiana 1837 Family editBaldwin married Julia C Baldwin 1800 1850 not a close relation on May 12 1819 They had seven children three of whom died in childhood Julia 1822 Joseph 1826 Frances 1829 and Mary 1841 survived to adulthood 4 Joseph a lawyer was a state senator in Missouri in 1864 References edit The Biographical Annual Containing Memoirs of Eminent Persons Recently Deceased ed Rufus Wilmot Griswold Rev Elihu W Baldwin Joseph H Myers New York Linen and Fennell 1841 p 185 Church Burnt The United States Gazette February 18 1831 p 2 The American Sunday School Magazine vol 6 March 1829 p 92 The Baldwin genealogy from 1500 to 1881 Charles Candee Baldwin Cleveland Leader Printing Co 1881 p 558External links editWorks by Elihu W Baldwin at Project Gutenberg Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Elihu W Baldwin amp oldid 1203066152, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
