Obituary of Leonard Baldwin

The Daily Sun (Gainesville, FL): January 19, 1917

"Melrose Notes"

 Died at 3 a.m. Saturday, the 13th inst., in his 75th year, Leonard Baldwin. He was born in Columbus county, N.C., but came to Florida with his parents at the age of five, and lived near Middleburg for a while, then on the farm on Lake Santa Fe, now known as the Blanchard place; later settled near Levy Prairie.

 Leonard Baldwin was a christian and member of the Baptist church from youth. He joined the Masonic lodge at Waldo at the age of nineteen. Was in the confederate service, first serving Virginia and later in Florida under Capt. J. J. Dickinson.

 In 1865 he was married to Miss Addiene Johnson and settled on a farm near his father.  He was successful in farming, stock raising, and orange growing.  Losing his groves in the 1894-5 freezes, continued farming until 1902 when he moved to Melrose and was senior member of the firm of L. Baldwin & Son, living with his son, L. M. Baldwin. Being ambitious, continued farming in a small way and kept some stock which he looked after as long as he was physically able. His wife's death occured in March, 1915.

He leaves a son, L. M. Baldwin of Melrose, and a daughter, Mrs. W. P. Riles, of Jacksonville, and three sisters, Mrs. N. E. Jernigan, of Jacksonville; Mrs. Sue Whitcomb of Hawthorne, and Mrs. C. Price of Melrose.

The funeral services were conducted at 11 o'clock at the Baptist church by his paster, Rev. L. A. Rawls, the Hawthorne Lodge F. & A. M., assisted by the Melrose Lodge, officiating. It was largely attended, relatives and friends from Hawthorne, Alachua, and Jacksonville, being present.  He bore his afflictions with much patience, trusting in Him, who doeth all things well.

Copyright � 1998 - Marceline R. Beem