Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-05-29
For the SPECTATOR.
Author of Flush Times.

Mr.. EDITOR:-How few, compara-
tively, of the citizens of StauntOn or
the county, at this present writing. will
know who is referred to, in the title l
have selected in this communication.
/ do not know from what part of the
North Joseph Baldwin, the father of
him, of whom I shall have most to say.
came, nor of the date or circumstances
under which he became acquainted with
his wife, sister of the late Gen. Bris-
coe G.. Baldwin It was at Winchester
the Baldwin family lived, and some-
where between 1905 and 1915 he must
have married, and remained at Win
chester until 1928, when he removed to
Staunton. Cornelius c., Joseph, and
Cyrus, his three sons, were lads ranging
from 10 up to 16 years of age at that date.
His daughter, the late Mrs. w. II. Gar
Der, was born at Winchester, and Cor
nelia, relict of the late Edward Stanley
of San Francisco, was, perhaps, born in
Staunton. 1t was as student at what
was then called the old male Academy
in 1929 or 1880, under the management
of the late Lyttleton Waddell, Esq,
that I first met Joseph and Cyrus Bald.
win. The former was about two years
my senior, and the latter about my age.
The late John B. Baldwin, DR.. Alex.
Waddell, his cousin, the Rev. James II.
Waddell. of Lexington, DR.. VIM.
Young, Vincent Geiger, Jacob Fackler,
VIM. and John d. Stevenson, Christian
CARRIER, Charley Fox, and Rev. VIM.
ries now recall more vividly::than many
others. Joseph Baldwin did not then
show much pre-eminence over his fel-
lows, but was bright, genial and pos
sessed of much humOr, and a great od-
dity at times.
His uncle, Gen. Baldwin, had for a
number of years, taught a law class,
| ranging from Is to 25, and could their
names be now set forth am sure many
of them will have been found to have
occupied prominent positions in thei
country's history. am uncertain as to
the date at which the two brothers, Jo-
seph and Cyrus, turned their faces to-
wards the South, and whether together
or at different times.
Whether Joseph first settled at Liv-
ingston, Sumpter county. Alabama, OF
az some other place, I am in doubt
Neither am correctly informed as to
the date or circumstances under which
the illusions of his pen, which SO rapid
ly brought him fame, first appeared. /
incline to the belief that the articles that
afterwards constituted the only two vol
umes he ever wrote. "Flush Times o1
Alabama" and partisan Leaders" ap-
peared first in the columns of one of the
local papers in that part of the State in
which he lived. The Appletons have
recently re-publishsd "Flush Times
that has reached the twelfth edition.
| Partisan Leaders" reached the sixth,
and is now out of print. Not having
seen either of the works for over twenty
years, can only say I remember moth.
ing that SO captivated the public mind
at the time ,as those graphic, piquant
ahd humorous articles that were devour-
ed with the utmost zest by all classes az
they emanated from the press. Whilst
| bringing himself fame as a writer, he
was at the same time rapidly attaining
high rank as one of the first lawyers o1
Alabama. am not sure that he wore
the ernine there, which in later year.
he graced on the Supreme bench of Cal
ifornia. He married daughter of thu
late Judge John White, of Alabama
He removed to San Francisco, in 1854
with his wife, four sons, and two daugh'
ters- A friend writes me: II met hin
at New York and drove with him from
the St. Nicholas to the steamer, which
1 watched with aching eyes and heart
until iHfaded in the distance. Inever soal
him more" He very soon attained thu
| highest round of eminence at the bar
which at that comparatively early day
\ numbered men of distinction. Th'
writer recalls firm of VirginianS, "Irv
ing, Bookes & Fair" that attained grea
eminence. Judge Baldwin graced tn,
bench of the Court of Appeals but few
years, when he resumed practice with
his son-in-law, the Hon. John B. Eel
ton. They had, perhaps, the lsrges
practice as commercial lawyers, besides
heavy dockets before the Courts of Ap
peals. A friend estimated their practic'