Historic Hood River
Baldwin Family
8-2-2017
Notes
Notes indicate this is Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Baldwin and son Mason and cat Dozey, taken at their ranch by lamplight.
Mason, their only son, was better known as “Mace.” We’ve seen him in many Crag Rat images. He lived into his 90’s, passing away in 1983.
Charlott
Mace’s actual name was Leonard Mason Baldwin…"Mace’s" father was an interesting story in himself. He and another man, Tieman, were early partners in the upper Hood River Valley. They ranched what was called "The Bachlor Ranch", as neither were married at the time. Mace’s mother was a Stranahan, one of the old pioneer families. She had been married and divorced when she married Mace’s father who was 32 years older than she was. She had a son Louis Fremont from her first marriage,which Stephen legally adopted. They only had the one son Mace.
If all those items on that mantel could talk, what stories they could tell.By the looks of those fire bricks one can certainly tell that that fireplace has been used…Cold Hood River winter nights……………unlike last night…..
For those who might not know, Mace Baldwin was very involved in creating the museum plus being a charter member of the Crag Rats.
Dan Kleinsmith
Was Jack Baldwin (Cooper Spur Ski area and builder) related to these early Baldwins?
Charlott
Yes, Jack Baldwin was the son of Mrs. Baldwin, whom Mr. Baldwin adopted. His actual name was Louis. Jack was just a nickname.
L.E.
Any connection to Baldwin Saloon of The Dalles?
charlott
No I don’t think there is any connection……
Longshot
Nice example of a Rumford fireplace
L.E.
This obituary is probably in the HR Glacier, but I came across it in the August 5, 1908 Oregonian.
M.S. BALDWIN PASSES AWAY AT AGE OF 86.
Once owned Sears & Porter’s Famous Orchard, Which He Exchanged for a Rife.
The article describes that he had never been sick and even during his short confinement to bed, he was full of vigor. Officiating as pall-bearers were John Hinrichs, D. Turner, Captain William Jackson, D.R. Cooper, George Crowell, Captain Dukes, C.J. Hayes, and J.H. Gill, all old Hood River pioneers.
Born in Great Barrington, Mass, in 1822, Mr. Baldwin came to the coast in 1855. Sailing from Boston he crossed the Isthmus on foot and reached San Francisco on the steamship…
For ten years he was engaged in mining in California. While there he introduced the first system of hydraulic mining in the state by manufacturing hose of canvas which he sewed together by hand.
He came to Oregon in 1865. He first took up land in the lower valley, part of his holdings including the now celebrated and valuable Sears & Porter Orchard which he afterward traded for a rifle. In 1867 he decided to go to the upper valley and for an ox team and $150 in cash purchased a squatters’ right of the 160 acres there.
During his long residence in the Mount Hood country Mr. Baldwin acquired several large tracts of…..and at one time was associated with A.H. Tieman…
It was through Mr. Baldwin that the first survey of the upper valley was made, the work being done by Newton Clarke of Portland and the compensation for which he was paid largely by himself. On account of this and his long residence there, the township was named after him. Mr. Baldwin was country commissioner of Wasco County for two terms and was several times urged to accept the nomination for representative of the State Legislature. To the latter, however he demurred, saying that he wouldn’t go to Salem and stay there for two months dressed up under any consideration. A great lover of Nature, he spent most of his lie in the open and accounted for his wonderful physical vigor at an advanced age from this fact.