The subject of this sketch was born May 28, 1865, in Benton County, Missouri, the eldest son of Rev. William M. Baldwin, who was deputy sheriff of Benton County under his father, who was sheriff for a number of years. The Rev. John Baldwin’s mother was a Miss Elizabeth Haines, originally of Indiana. When a boy John moved with his father’s family to Mountain Home, Baxter County, Arkansas, and afterwards to Yellville, Marion County. Until nine years of age he attended public schools, and was then sent to the Mountain Home Academy, where he remained for one term. Entering the Yellville High School and there studying for one session, he returned to his home and devoted himself to the study of the higher branches, classical and mathematical, through private tuition. Afterward he joined his father in the publication of the Marion County Vidette, which they moved to Madison County under the title of the Madison County Democrat, and sold out in October 1885. Mr. Baldwin then purchased the Ladonia News, of Fannin County, Texas, and conducted the paper one year, returning to Benton County, Arkansas, in 1888. Here he entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, joining the annual conference held at Fort Smith. On November 23, 1888, he married Miss Belle Maxwell, daughter of Lee Maxwell, a well-known citizen of Benton County. Rev. Mr. Baldwin was sent to the Illinois circuit, after which he was chosen for the Chester station, remaining in each district one year, until he was sent to succeed his father in the Prairie View circuit. In June, 1891, by action of the publishing committee of the Indian Mission Conference, he took charge as business manager and assistant editor of the Brother in Red, published in Muskogee, Indian Territory, which office he now retains. Mr. Baldwin has a family of three children, Charles E., Maud and Mabel. He is a young man of great promise, possessing uncommon literary talent, while as a preacher of the gospel he has an excellent reputation for his years. Having spent much of his spare time in study, he has conquered Latin and Greek, as well as several of the modern languages. Rev. Mr. Baldwin has doubtless a bright prospect before him.
