Biography

03/01/1853 - 06/15/1944

Richard Jacobs Baldwin (R9) Delaware County 1919-1920 

Early Life: 

Richard Jacobs Baldwin , born March 1, 1853, East Bradford, Chester, Pennsylvania, son of John Erskine Baldwin and Mary G. Hoopes, education Maplewood Academy and Eaton Academy; carpenter; proprietor, Baldwin’s General Store, 1878-1904; postmaster, United States Postal Service, Chadds Ford 1889-1893; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1894-1898; elected, recorder of deeds, Delaware County, 1902-1907; engaged, real estate, fire insurance, contracting, and building businesses; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives 1910-1918, elected, Speaker, 1917-1918; president, manager, United States Fireworks Manufacturing Company; elected, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1919-1920; married, Sarah “Sallie” Worrall Temple, 1873, children, Mary Griffith Baldwin, Thomas Temple Baldwin, Charlie S. Baldwin, J. Hanover Baldwin, Elizabeth Temple Baldwin, Helen Brinton Baldwin, John Erskine Baldwin, Florence Edith Baldwin, Richard Lindley Baldwin, Henry Clay Baldwin; died, June 15, 1944 (aged 91), Elwyn, Delaware County, Pennsylvania; interment, Bradford Cemetery, Marshallton, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Engaged, real estate, fire insurance, contracting, and building businesses. President, manager, United States Fireworks Manufacturing Company. 

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

Member, Springhaven Golf Club of Media, Brandywine Golf Club of Brandywine Summit, Pennsylvania, Masons, Odd Fellows, Improved Order of Red Men, American Mechanics, and Patrons of Husbandry; honorary member, Media Fire Company.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Postmaster, United States Postal Service, Chadds Ford 1889-1893. 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1895-1900; not a candidate for reelection, 1900.

Elected, recorder of deeds, Delaware County, 1902-1907. 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1910-1918; elected, Speaker, 1917-1918; not a candidate for reelection, 1918.

Elected, Republican Pennsylvania State Senate, 9th district, Delaware County, Special Election, February 25, 1919, to fill the unexpired of Honorable Senator Governor William Camron Sproul, resigned; 1919-1920; committee assignments, Agriculture, Appropriations, City Passenger Railways, Education, Federal Relations, Insurance, Legislative Apportionment, New County and County Seats, Public Roads and Highways.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members B". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

The Pennsylvania Manual, (1919). Miller, H.P., (Compiler). Baker, W.H., (Assistant Compiler). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 1265, 1278, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 1242. 

Richard Jacobs Baldwin (1853-1944) - Find a Grave Memorial