Dr. Jonas Cutler Baldwin

• Find A Grave Memorial ID # 8391610
• Descendants of Dr. Jonas Cutler Baldwin
• History of Baldwinsville, New York

JONAS C. 5, Samuel 4, Samuel 3, Henry 2, Henry 1 of Woburn, Massachusetts

Dr. Jonas Cutler Baldwin, was the second son of Captain Samuel Baldwin, of Windsor, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, and was born in that town, on the 3d of June, 1768.

The name and family are among the most ancient in this country. The name is of Saxon origin, and the family records trace their genealogy as far back as the fourteenth century; at which time, some of their remote ancestors were settled at a place known as Baldwinstine, on the River Rhine, in Germany. Sometime during that century, they removed to Kent, in England; and from there emigrated with Davenport, Whitfield and others, in 1639, to Milford, Connecticut, thence to Hadley, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, thence to Windsor, Berkshire County.

The immediate ancestor of Dr. Baldwin, was a Captain in the Revolutionary army, and was distinguished for his gallantry and soldierlike bearing. He was a man of eminent piety and benevolence, and died at Windsor, at an advanced age. The grandfather of Dr. Baldwin, was a clergyman in Boston, with whom Dr. B. lived for several years, in the early part of his life. He afterwards returned to Windsor, was educated at William's College, Berkshire County, at which place he commenced the study of medicine and finished his professional studies with the late Dr. Willard of Albany, and with whom for a time he practiced in his profession.

While in Albany, he received the appointment of Physician and Surgeon to the "Inland Lock Navigation Company," who were at the time engaged, with several hundred laborers, in constructing the canal and locks at Little Falls. At this place he remained, until the completion of that work.

From Little Falls, Dr. Baldwin with his family, in 1797, removed to the town of Ovid, Seneca County, where he owned a military Lot, on which he settled, and where he continued until the year 1801 or 1802, when he removed to Onondaga East Hill, at which place he resided, on a large tract of land, most of which he had purchased of the State. Here he remained until the spring of 1807, when he removed to Lysander, and founded the village of Baldwinsville, where he continued to reside the remainder of his life.

During his residence at Little Falls, Dr. Baldwin purchased a farm, brought it under a fine state of cultivation, and erected upon it a good house and other buildings. While at Ovid, he cleared up most of his lot, erected a mill, established a store, and put up several buildings. At Onondaga, he cleared up and improved several farms on his tract of land, brought into the country from Connecticut, large flocks of sheep, which, at that early period, were greatly needed; many of which, were put out among the less wealthy class of farmers, who at that time, were unable to purchase for themselves; and, in various other ways employed his means (which at that period were more ample than those of any other man in the county,) in promoting his own and the public interests.

His efforts at Baldwinsville, are detailed in the history of that place, and to which the reader is referred. There was a service which he rendered during the war of 1812, which ought not to be overlooked. Baldwinsville being on the direct route to the frontier, and only twenty-four miles distant; he, perceiving the great want of effective firearms, procured a loan from Governor Tompkins, of several hundred stand, which he issued to such as were not provided, and who were on their way to meet the enemy, who were daily expected at Oswego, taking for each stand so delivered a receipt. This duty he continued to discharge without pay; and, at the close of the war, returned the arms to the Government. He also built a large flotilla of boats, which were in the service of the United States, during most of the war. He was in the Battle at Oswego, and commanded a body of men at the attack upon that place, at which time he received a slight wound in the head.

In stature, Dr. Baldwin was considerably above the ordinary size, well built, compact, strong, muscular and active. His complexion florid, his hair of a sandy tinge, his countenance frank, open and benevolent, and his manners easy. Those who remember him, before age and disease had commenced their ravages, speak of him as an uncommonly good looking man. When occasion required, he was resolute, firm and brave; and, in his ordinary intercourse, was mild, bland, sometimes playful, and always obliging. He was among the early, most prominent, active and enterprising settlers of this county.

He died at Onondaga East Hill, ((whither he had gone from Baldwinsville on a visit,) on the 3d day of March, 1827, in the fifty-ninth year of his age. There are many friends of Dr. Baldwin, who knew him well and intimately, who still survive him. The testimony which they bear respecting him, is concurrent and uniform. All agree, that he was a man of indomitable energy, great enterprise, and unbounded benevolence, ardent in temperament, and strong in his attachments; and that both he and Mrs. Baldwin, who was a lady of uncommon endowments and eminent piety, were admirably calculated for the severe and arduous duties which devolved upon them in the settlement of a wilderness country.

Both were members of the Baptist Church; and dying within fourteen days of each other, were buried in one grave, in the cemetery at Baldwinsville, on the north side of the river. Few persons leave the stage and scenes of their usefulness, so universally beloved in life, and fewer are as much lamented in their death.

Source: Onondaga; or Reminiscences of Earlier and Later Times by Joshua V. H. Clark. Syracuse: Stoddard and Babcock, 1849, Vol. II, pp. 159-161.
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Jonas Cutler Baldwin, son of Samuel Baldwin and Millicent Cutler, was b. January 3, 1769 in Weston, Massachusetts Bay Colony; married with ELIZABETH WARNER, of Cummington, Hampshire County, Massachusetts on August 6, 1792 in Cummington, and settled on the "Royal Grant." He settled in BALDWINSVILLE, New York (WHICH TOOK IT'S NAME FROM HIM), where he died on March 1827.

Children were:1.) Betsey c1793; m. John Brown and settled in East Hill, Onondaga County, New York.

Ch. Cutler, Mary, Emmet, and Martha. 2.) Stephen Warner, c1795; d. at Baldwinsville 3.) Harvey, c1797 4.) Harriet 1798; m. Dr. Wallis, of Baldwinsville, and d. there 5.) Horace 3/11/1801 Baldwinsville and afterwards went to Texas and d. there. 6.) Charlotte c 1804; m. Allen and settled in Texas and 7.) Austin, c 1806, never married and d. in California.

'NOTE: Son Horace would become Mayor of Houston, Texas; daughter Charlotte married Augustus Chapman Allen, co-founder of Houston, Texas'

From "Memoirs of Distinguished Americans" (NY 1853). Dr. Jonas Cutler Baldwin was educated at Williams College, and studied medicine. He married Eliza Warner, daughter of Deacon Warner, of Cummington, Massachusetts, a lady of great personal beauty, intellectual endowments, and eminent piety.

Harvey, his 2nd son, was b. at Ovid, New York and was intending to study law, but with the outbreak of the War of 1812, entered a class in Military Science, and shortly was elected an officer of militia; a few days subsequent, his regiment was called to the defense of Oswego.

His father and eldest brother had already gone in command of a flotilla of boats, just completed, and he (Harvey), tho asked to remain at home by his mother, was overtaken by the noise of cannonading, and caught up with his company.

Dr. Baldwin and his wife Eliza visited the area in 1798, returning to settle in 1808 to start the community. He built a dam across the Seneca River to generate energy and a private canal to keep the integrity of the water highway.

'NOTE: The Grace Episcopal Church, formerly of Elizabeth Street, is believed to be the FIRST CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES TO USE ELECTRIC LIGHTING.'
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in 1797, Dr. Jonas C. Baldwin passed up the river with his wife, on their way to Ovid, where he lived till 1801-02. They looked around while their boats passed the rifts, and were delighted with the spot. Dr. Baldwin lodged that night with McHarrie, and bought the land the next year. From 1802 to 1807 he lived at Onondaga East Hill, and was then asked by the Lysander settlers to improve the water power and erect mills. He at once did so in spite of sickness and floods. That year the well were occupied in caring for the sick and burying the dead. Next year a wing dam, mill and raceway were finished, but sufficient power was lacking. Sickness came on before the dam could be carried across the river, but it was finished in the autumn.

As the river was a public highway boats had to pass, and he at once bought of the Inland Lock Navigation Company their rights between Oneida River and Cayuga Lake. He made a canal, with the right to levy tolls for twenty years. This was changed with the opening of the Erie Canal. In 1809 the dam was swept away, but was replaced the next year with increased facilities for work. The place was called Columbia till 1817, when a post office was established called Baldwin's Bridge. Dr. Baldwin was the first postmaster. Before this some got their mail at Three River Point, but after this stages began running to Onondaga Hill.

At one time Stephen Warner Baldwin ran a boat to Salina by way of the river and Onondaga Lake, for passengers and freight. Dr. Baldwin opened a store in 1807. In the cold year he cared for about two hundred and fifty Oneidas, who encamped east of the village. Harvey Baldwin, his second son, was adopted by them in full form on this account, with the name of Cohongoronto, said to mean a boat with a sharp prow. During the war of 1812, Governor Tompkins placed arms with Dr. Baldwin, to be used in case of need. He died at Onondaga East Hill, March 3, 1827, in his fifty-ninth year, and was buried at Baldwinsville.

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The Baldwin Genealogy from 1500-1881 (1881)
Author: Baldwin, C.C. (Charles Candee), 1834-1895
Subject: Baldwin Family
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio [Leader printing company]
Possible Copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Pg. 629, 642