Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-07-08
DEATH OF MISS MARY JULIA BALDWIN

| last, the 1st inst. Miss Mary julia baid"in,
Principal Of the Mary Baldwin Seminary OF
this city, breathed her last. So quietly had
death crept upon her that the announcement
startled the community. Few generally
knew of any serious illness but her more
intimate friends knew that for some time
| she had been failing rapidly.
| Miss Baldwin was the daughter OF Dr.
| VIM. Baldwin, man of prominence In his
day, and of his wife, Mary L., the daughter
of John e. and Margaret L. Sewers. The
family is distinguished one on both sides
of the house. For the benefit of the younger
generation it is not out Of place briefly to
note the various branches Of these families.
Miss Baldwin's father, DR.. VIM. Baldwin,
| had two brothers and two sisters: BriscOe u.
Baldwin, president Of the court OF appeals OF
Virginia in his day. DIR. Stuart Baldwin,
progenitor Of the Winchester family OF
Baldwins, Mrs. Daniel. mother Of Judge
VIM. Daniel of court of appeals (the latter
the father of Major John w. Daniel.) and
| last Mrs. VIM. Donaghe of whom there are
many descendants. the Gray family among
others.
There are many descendants of Miss Bald
wins uncle, Judge Briscoe q. Baldwin. His
children were: Mrs. Alex. H. II. Stuart.
Mrs James M. Ransom. (mother of Capt.
Thomas D. Ranson), John B. Baldwin, and
Col. Briscoe G. Baldwin, chief Of ordinance
army of Northern Virginia.
Miss Baldwin's mother, Mary l.. Baldwin
was the daughter of John q. Sewers and
| Margaret L. Sewers. John G. Sewers was
man of means. the most prominent mer-
chant of his day in Staunt0n, and was cap
tain in the war of 1872. His other children
now living are Mrs. Caroline S. Crawford
| of this city, Mrs. Julia A. Barclay, OF Beth
any, w. Va, now So years of age, and Peter
j. Sewers of st. Louis, Mo. Another child
was Mrs. Susan Heiskell (wife OF Wade 81.
Heiskell, both now deceased) the mother OF
Mrs. DR.. N. Wayt of this city.
Her father died while she was an infant
and her mother when she was not more than
seven years of age, leaving her, an only
child, to the tender care of her grandparents,
John q. and Margaret L. Sewers. She was
educated by Rev. Rufus W. Bailey, the
founder of the Seminary. Her youth was
uneventfuI, and her retiring disposition
which caused her to shrink from contact
with the world, made her intimate with few,
so that no one anticipated for her the won
derful development Of character and infu-
ence which was to be hers. In 1868 she and
Miss Agnes McClung accepted the position
OF principals of the:seminary, rendered them
by the board of trustees. Miss Baldwin be-
coming the head of the school, and Miss Nc
Chung of the domestic department.
The school had been languishing, and the
labor necessary to restore it in war times
was great, but at once, in spite Of all dif.
ficulties. the school revived, and its success
since that time has been unbroken. Both
Miss McClung and Miss Baldwin possessed
wonderful administrative ability, courage
| and devotion, and their dispositions were
such that they worked in perfect harmony
Miss McClung died August 10, 1880, after
the school had been established on firm
foundation. Miss Baldwin then became sole
principal, continuing to manage tho school
alone until four years ago, when Miss E. G.
Weimar became associate principal.
During her entire administration the
school has been singularly successful, and
often at the beginning of sessions young
ladies were turned away because earlier ap-
plications had filled every available room.
Miss Baldwin possessed in an eminent de.
gree the faculties required as successful
educator. Her aims were high, her judg
ment almost unerring, her plans bold, and
she could govern without harshness and re
, prove without giving offense. On all ques
tions which arose she entered Judgment will
such equanimity and fairness that the per
t son against whom it was rendered held
her in higher esteem than before. and thu
, young ladies in her charge were always he
sincerest friends.
The funeral took place on Friday after
noon at O'Clock from the First Presby
terian church and was conducted by thu
pastor, Rev. A. NJ. Fraser, assisted by DIR
Murray, Rev. W. q. Hullihen, of Trinity
Episcopal church, and Rev. u. w. Finley
: of Thinking Spring. Other ministers wert
: present.
: The pall-bearers were: Charles Grattan
), James II. Blackley. Henry A. Walker, Viii
: liam A. Burke, David A. Kayser. Arist'
Q Hoge, H. st. George Tucker, &. 4. Child
William h. Landes, James N. Mcfarland
, George NJ. Cochran, j. NJ. Quarles. II. d
> Peck. S. F. Pilson and X. D. Haislip.
j There were many Of the alumne presen
+ who attended the funeral in body. III
]. floral offerings were very beautiful. and til
q large church was crowded with sympathi1
ing friends and relatives.
Miss saidwIn's Will.
J.. The will of Miss Mary Julia Baldwi
: makes the following the public and privat
Q requests:
o The Board of Foreign Missions. Of til
:. Southern Presbyterian church, ten thousan
e dollars; Mrs. e. S. Crawford, her aun
+ $4,000; Mrs Julia Barclay Bethany, We
J. Virginia, interest on five thousand dollars
during her life; First Presbyterian church
Staunton, $1,000; Second Presbyteria
= church. Staunton, $1,000; Domestic Missio
o Southern Pres byterian church, $1,000; MI
P. e. Westmoreland. Greenville. S. g., IS
} 900; Addison Waddell. Staunton. $500
= Miss Mamie Westmoreland. Greenville.
:, e., $780,.
y One thousand dollars each is bequeathe
~ to DR.. Wayt and Mrs. DR.. Wayt. Five hui
bred dollars to DR.. Baldwin Wayt.
'. ALI the real and personal property owne
ne by her on the lot and adjoining the Seminar
ed property and valuable brick residences
h. the trustees of the Mary Baldwin Seminar
d. aud thirty thousand dollars in cash to tt
1t Mary Baldwin Seminary; fifteen hundred
e. Wayt King, who has been her secretary f
ny number Of years, Miss Mamie Tate, 81. O(
ci- to the Younng Mems Christian Assn 81 .O(
n Mrs. DIR. Hamilton, $500. and large nul
as Der of small requests to faithful servan
ar and attendants.
The Mary Baldwin Seminary is made t
residuary legatee.