Baldwin Wallace University - Grindstone Yearbook (Berea, OH)

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JOHN BALDWIN jjnhn ?.?mlhfnin the founder of Baldwin-Waflace College, was born in Branford. Conn. October 13, 1799. Though of a poor fam- ily, he could lay ciaim to a proud ancestry, for the blood of Puritans and American Revov lutionists flowed through his veins. Ateight-- een he joined the Methodist Church and be- gan the study which was to prepare him for the life of a school teacher. In January 1828 he married Mary D. Chappell. a young wo- man of mutual aims and ideals, who was to remain his faithful companion for fifty-six years. John Baldwin saw the fulfillment of his dreams with the establishment of Bald- win Institute, later to beCOme Baldwin- Wallace Coliege. Mr. Baldwin died in 1884, but his Christian ideals of duty, toierance, faith in God, and self-sacrifice are embodied in the spirit of the college which he founded.

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C3111 1337 John Baldwin helped to found a religious-education- al school which, failing, left him bankrupt. and his family, himself. and the Church disgraced Having great faith in Codis mercy and understanding he devoted an hour of each day for one month to solitaryprayer, makingacovenantwith God to donate his time and fortune to some worthy cause should he be delivered from his financial troubles. The dis- covery of sandstone Suitabie for manufacture of grindstone on his farm made him a wealthy man. thus in 1843. his debts all paid, john Baldwin sought a way in which to fulfill his covenant with God. Inspired by a sermon of Rev. Thomas Thompson, of which the text was. If anyof you lackwisdom iethim ask God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not: and it shall be given him. , he decided to establish a Methodist school dedicated to Christian ideals. This plan received the full approval and support of Elder Thompson who placed the matter before the Conference of the Methodist Episc0pal Church. Before the Conference would approve the plan. it was necessary that certain prescribed re- quirements be realized. Therefore. besides contributing five acres of his farm as campus, and the necessary building, John Baldwin donated $1500 and a grind- stone quarry with which to equip and endow the school. The Conference. as their part of the agreement, was to furnish the teaching staff and the officers for the institutions. A charter was granted for the school in 1845 by the Ohio Legislature, and consequently on April 90f the following year Baldwin In- stitute was opened with Rev. Holden Dwight acting as its first principal. The original college building, named Old North Hall, a severely plain three-story structure was made with bricks from John Baldwin's own kiln, was used as a class hali, chapel, and boys' dormitory. Eight years later. the Ohio Legislature granted a charter endowing Baldwin Institute with a university rating; thus 1855 saw the birth and organization of Baldwin University at Berea. Ohio. CAMPUS OF BALDWIN UNIVERSITY