Eugene Baldwin

Portrait and Biographical Album of Peoria County (1890)
Transcribed by Gaile Thomas

EUGENE F. BALDWIN, a well-known newspaper man of Peoria and one of the proprietors of the Grand Opera House, was born in Watertown, Litchfield County, Conn., December 1, 1840. His parents, Stephen and Julia (Pardee) Baldwin, were early settlers of that section but natives of the State. The father was a deacon of the Presbyterian Church about sixty years. He died in Peoria at the home of our subject when eighty-two years old. Stephen Baldwin first came West in 1818, locating at Shawneetown, this State, thence going to New Orleans where he sojourned a twelve month, thence returning to Connecticut. The family came West again in 1855, making their home in Wisconsin until 1860 when they removed to Illinois. From that time until 1877 when he came to live with his son, Stephen Baldwin resided in various places.

The gentleman whose name initiates this notice spent the days of his boyhood in Western New York, whence at the age of fifteen he departed to Wisconsin, spending his time principally in Milwaukee until about twenty years of age. In 1860 he taught school in Clinton County, Ill., after which he attended the Normal University a twelve month. Thoroughly patriotic, the Civil War had not long been in progress ere he took arms in defense of the flag, being enrolled September 17, 1861, in Company B, Twelfth Indiana Infantry. Being discharged a year later he resumed the profession of teaching at Chillicothe, Peoria County, Ill., but in a short time removed to Peoria where in 1863 he was appointed Principal of the Old First District school. The same year he entered the newspaper business as local editor of the Transcript.

In 1868 Mr. Baldwin bought the El Paso Journal which he carried on eleven months, then started the Peoria Review, continuing that publication until 1872. His next enterprise was to edit the Rock Island Union for the short period of three months, after which he returned to El Paso, bought back the Journal and personally conducted it until 1873. He then formed a business connection with Jacob B. Barnes and together they continued the publication of the Journal until 1877. In September of that year they returned to Peoria, soon afterward starting the daily edition of the Journal, which has a large circulation, is a recognized power in the journalistic work of Peoria and vicinity, and as a shrewd, newsy sheet commands the attention of visitors to the city.

Mr. Baldwin possesses recognized literary ability, keen judgment regarding character, and is able to make effective use of logic or sarcasm as occasion seems to him to demand. In 1881 he began the construction of the Grand Opera House which being completed the following year affords favorable quarters for the Journal.

The wife of Mr. Baldwin is a lady of acknowledged intelligence and refinement, possessed likewise of the shrewdness and energy characteristics of those born in New England. She was known in her maidenhood as Miss Sarah Jane Gove. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin have three living children --- Ethel, Frank and Mildred, and have lost one. Their wedded life has covered a period of almost a quarter of a century, the date of their marriage, being April 23, 1866.