Helena Gertrude Wynne Baldwin

I am sure that I have descended from a long line of strong women and my grandmother, Helena Gertrude Wynne Baldwin, called Lena by her family, was one of them. Lena was born on November 7, 1878 in Renfrew, Ontario, Canada, the eldest child of Abraham and Catherine (Van Camp) Wynne. When she was 8 years old, the family moved with friends and relatives to Pembina County, North Dakota. The family settled in St. Thomas. My grandfather had 320 acres in St. Thomas Township that he farmed, but the family primarily lived in town having a clapboard house on Main Street. My grandmother grew up here receiving an education, learning to play the piano and learning all the other accomplishments deemed necessary for late nineteenth century women.

On February 27, 1900, Lena married Daniel Webster Baldwin. They would share 52 years together before Lena died on December 11, 1952. In the 1900 census, the D.W. Baldwin family is living in Midland Township, Pembina County, North Dakota probably on a 160 acre plot owned by William Reuben Baldwin, Daniel’s father. William Baldwin also owned a 350 acre plot in St. Thomas Township that is still owned and farmed by the Baldwin family. Living in this household were Daniel Baldwin, wife Helena and Archie Levere, Daniel’s 19 year old cousin. It was certainly a change in living conditions to go from town living to living on a farm. Three children would be born to this couple while thy lived in Midland Township.

In 1906 we find the family enumerated in the 1906 Canada Census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. They were living in Humboldt, Saskatchewan. The family consisted of Daniel 28, Helena 27, Ellen 5, Edward 4, and Isabelle 3. Daniel’s occupation is listed as general agent. I had heard stories in the family that my grandfather sold land for the Canadian Pacific Railroad when he was young but I always assumed this was before he got married, but apparently not. This sales job didn’t last long because on November 29, 1908, my father was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota. My grandfather was the manager of an International Harvester equipment and supply store in Grand Forks. As you can tell, Daniel doesn’t know what he wants to do with his life. His wife is there giving him support while he struggles with the question, “Who am I?”. And we think this is a 21st century problem.

In Grand Forks they lived in a white two-story house along the Red River on Seward Street until sometime after 1914. Another baby, named for her mother,  was born in November 1910. This child died when she was 3 1/2 years old from blood poisoning. She sustained a puncture wound to the foot. I asked my father once if he remembered his sister. He said no but he remembered his mother crying. He was 5 years old at the time. Sometime after their youngest child died, my grandfather decided to move his family again. I think there were so many bad memories associated with Grand Forks that my grandmother was relieved to be able to say goodbye and start a new chapter in her life.

The family moved to Langdon, North Dakota, the county seat of Cavalier County. They lived in town for a while while my grandfather managed the feed and grain business in town. They were living in a rented house on Charlotte Street when they were enumerated in the 1920 census. Another daughter was born in 1918. It was a difficult delivery and Ruth suffered permanent brain damage. My father went to grade school in Langdon but before he was ready for high school, the family moved to a farm out in the “scrub brush”, as my uncle Bob described it. Daniel decided that he really wanted to be a farmer. Robert Wynne Baldwin was born in July of 1920 and spent most of his childhood on farms. My grandfather rented a succession of farms until about 1940 when he was able to buy one close to Langdon.

My grandmother died when I was not yet 10 years old so I don’t have many memories of her. But I do remember how hard she worked in the summer when the men were getting in the crops. She prepared 5 meals every day - a big breakfast with eggs, bacon, ham, oatmeal, fruit; a snack that we carried out to the field about 10 - sandwiches and cookies with lemonade; a sit down dinner at noon with a roast, potatoes, vegetables and usually pies; another snack about 4 - more sandwiches, cookies and drinks and supper at dusk. Between these meals, she would bake the cookies and pies, prepare the vegetables, do the laundry and other chores that always need to be done. Before going to bed at night, she would have the table all set for breakfast. I decided right then that the life of a farmer’s wife was not for me.

I always liked this picture of my grandparents. I estimate it was taken sometime about 1940 at their farm. My grandmother looks strong and confident. A woman who had experienced life and knew she was up to the task.