52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Ancestor #6

Elodie Dobbelaere (1878-1955)

Elodie Dobbelaere was born in Kaprijke, Oost Vlaanderen, Belgium on 28 September 1882¹ and died in Paterson, Passaic, New Jersey on 5 August, 1955. She was the daughter of Bruno and Florence (Cobert) Dobbelaere. She married Peter Bernard Van De Veire in Kaprijke on 8 October 1900². Peter was born in Sint-Jan-in-Eremo, Oost Vlaanderen, Belgium on 18 November 1877³ and died in Paterson in October 1955.

Elodie whose name translates into English as “Alice” was the fourth child of eight. The Dobbelaeres were not wealthy and the children were expected to go to work at an early age to help support the family. Elodie had two years of school⁴ and by the time she married at 18, she was working and probably had been working for several years as a maid⁵.

After her marriage, she and Peter left Belgium in 1901 and settled in Paterson where all of their children were born. The Van De Veires had friends in Paterson and quickly settled into the Flemish community there. They had a total of 8 children; the first was born in 1901 shortly after they arrived in New Jersey. After the birth of her fourth child, Jules, Elodie took and baby and returned to Flanders for a visit with her parents and siblings. She returned to Paterson through New York on 4 September 1910⁶. This is the only time she went home for a visit.

Elodie’s three brothers and two of her sisters followed the Van De Veires to North America. One brother settled in Newark, New York, one in Detroit, one sister in California and one brother and sister settled close to each other in Manitoba, Canada.

Elodie is my maternal grandmother so she and I share mitochondrial DNA. I have tested and fall into the J haplogroup, specifically J1c2c2. This haplogroup is believed to have originated in the Near East about 50,000 years ago and is linked to the Neolithic spread of agriculture. It is widespread throughout Europe from Iberia and along the Mediterranean Coast through Germany, England and Scandinavia. I have not identified any close relatives from my mitochondrial matches as yet. I have, however, using the results of autosomal testing, identified 2 second cousins, descended from my grandmother’s brother who settled in Newark, and a first cousin twice removed. Since my mother’s family settled in North America in 1901, most of the matches I have are paternal side matches. Europeans do not seem to be as eager to DNA test as North Americans and Australians. I am hoping this reluctance to DNA testing does not last.

The family was listed in the 1905 New Jersey Census⁷ living on Martin Street. Peter and Elodie had 2 children, Edward born in October 1901 and Mary born in November 1902. Peter is listed as a laborer. This family was enumerated in Paterson in every census through 1940.^89101112

Peter built 2 houses in Paterson, both duplexes. He lived on the second floor of one of them and rented the other 3 units. The family home was on Pennsylvania Avenue. They moved into this home in late 1917 in time for the birth of their sixth child, my mother Madeline, in January 1918. This is the home I remember from my childhood. When WWII broke out, my father had just graduated from medical school and my mother from nursing school. During the time my father was overseas, my mother and I lived in Paterson with her parents. She worked while my grandparents took care of me. Like most grandparents, mine doted on me. I was a welcome diversion from the worry of the war and over the 2 sons and 1 son-in-law who were fighting.

Elodie had fallen in the 1920’s resulting in an injury to her back. In 1955 it was decided that surgery to relieve the pressure of a ruptured disc was advisable. The surgery was a success but Elodie died of complications – a blood clot to the lungs. Peter was also in failing health and died shortly after she did. They are buried in Paterson with their youngest child, William, who died of a ruptured appendix at the age of 12. All of their other children outlived them.

Children of Peter Bernard and Elodie (Dobbelaere) Van De Veire, all born in Paterson:

i. Edward Bernard Van De Veire⁶. b. 14 Oct 1901, d. 28 Feb 1988 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, m. (1) on 16 May 1921 in Plattsburg, Clinton, New York Rose MacDonald and (2)on 24 Jul. 1930 in Connecticut, Mary Agnes Burns, b. 17 Oct 1895 in Rhode Island, d. 30 Apr 1975 in Alameda, Alameda, California.

ii. Mary Van De Veire. b. 18 Nov 1902, d. in Paterson on 31 May 1990. m. 18 Nov 1942, John Kerrigan.

iii. Martha Van De Veire b. 7 Sep 1905, d. 4 Dec. 1994 in North Haledon, Passaic, New Jersey, m. 22 Feb 1933 in Paterson James Blair , b. 30 Oct 1907 in Clifton, Passaic, New Jersey and d 19 Jul 1989 in North Haledon.

iv. Julius Van De Veire. b. 29 Sep. 1908, d. Feb 1987 in West Milford, Passaic, New Jersey, m. 28 Aug. 1937 Edith ( ), b. 12 Mar 1907, d. 6 Jan 1997 in West Milford.

v. Margreth Van De Veire. b. 1 Apr. 1914, d. 1 Jan. 2010 in Randolph, Orange, Vermont, m. (1) Mitchael Orbeck and (2) Joseph Morgan

vi Madeline Van De Veire, b. 29 Jan 1918, d. 26 May. 2012 in Largo, Pinellas, Florida, m. 21 Sep 1941 William Howard Baldwin in Marysville, Marshall, Kansas, b. 29 Nov 1908 in Grand Forks, Grand Forks, North Dakota and d. 20 Jan 1988 in Largo, Pinellas, Florida.

vii. Charles Van De Veire. b. Apr 1921, m. Marjorie Cornish 20 Apr 1947.

viii. William Van De Veire, b. 19 Oct 1925, d. 1937.

Footnotes:

1 Municipality of Kaprijke, Oost Vlaanderen, Belgium. birth certificate for Elodie Dobbelaere, provided by Paul Cornelis.

2 Municipality of Kaprijke, Oost Vlaanderen, Belgium, 1900 marriage certificate, Van De Veire-Dobbelaere, provided by Paul Cornelis.

3 Municipality of Sint Laureins, subsector of Sint-Jan-in-Eremo, Oost Vlaanderen, Belgium, birth certificate of Peter Van De Veire, provided by Paul Cornelis.

4 1940 US census, Passaic County, New Jersey, population schedule, Paterson, Enumeration District (E.D.) 26-125, Sheet 10B, page 1584 (printed), number of household visited 223, Peter VanDeVeir; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 30 Sep 2014), citing National Archives and Record Administration microfilm T627, roll 2433.

5 Mun. of Kaprijke, Van De Veire-Dobbelearte marriage.

6 “New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957”, digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 13 Nov 2016), Lapland manifest, 4 Sepm1910, Elodie Van De Veire, citing National Archives and Records Administration, T715, microfilm roll 1546.

7 1905 New Jersey state census, Passaic County, Paterson 10^th ward, Enumeration District (E.D.) 2, sheet 14B, dwelling 172, family 284, Peter Van De Vere: digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 6 Jan 2015) citing New Jersey State Archives Reference # L-06, film # 37.

8 1910 US census, Passaic, New Jersey, population schedule, Paterson Ward 10, Enumeration District (E.D.) 150, Sheet 13A, page 186 (stamped), dwelling 141, family 271, Peter Van De Vere; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 16 Nov 2015), citing National Archivesw and Records Administration microfilm T624, roll 907.

9 1915 New Jersey state census, Passaic County, Paterson 10^th ward, sheet 8B, dwelling 109, family 173, Peter Vanderveer: digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 13 Nov 2017), citing New Jersey State Archives Reference # L-10, film # 56.

10 1920 US census, Passaic, New Jersey, population schedule, Enumeration District (E.D.) 141, Sheet 23B, p. 220 (written), dwelling 282, family 509, Peter Van De Veire; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 16 Nov 2015), citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T625, roll 1066.

11 1930 US census, Passaic, New Jersey, population schedule, Paterson, Enumeration District (E.D.) 77, sheet 34A, page 2017 (written), dwelling 330, family 476, Peter Vander Vere; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 16 Nov 2015), citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm, T626, roll 1381.

12 1940 US census, Passaic Co., pop. Sch., Paterson, E.D. 26-125. Sheet 10B, family 223, Peter VanDeVeir.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Ancestor # 5

Peter Van De Veire (1877-1955)

Peter Bernard Van De Veire, was born in Sint-Jan-in-Eremo, Oost Vlaanderen, Belgium on 18 November 1877ⁱ and died in Paterson, Passaic, New Jersey in October, 1955. He was the son of Ivo and Rosalie Francisca (Du Four) Van De Veire. Peter was an only child. His parents married late in life and his mother was 42 when he was born. He married Elodie Dobbelaere in Kaprijke, Oost Vlaanderen, Belgium on 8 October 1900ⁱⁱ. Elodie whose name translates into English as “Alice” was born on 28 September 1882ⁱⁱⁱ in Kaprijke and died in Paterson on 5 August 1955. The name Van De Veire translates from the Dutch as “from the ferry”. One of my ancestors may have ferried people across one of the many rivers flowing through Belgium or Holland.

In the last quarter of the 19^th century economic conditions were poor in Flanders^iv. Crop failures were wide spread and the cottage industry of weaving and making lace had dried up due to factory mechanization. Friends of Peter’s had immigrated to the United States and settled in Paterson. One of them wrote to him and told him the streets in America were lined with gold. Both of his parents died in 1900 and Peter and Elodie were in love. So they married and set sail for Paterson from Antwerp on the Noordland. They stopped in Glasgow, Scotland and departed from there on 14 Mar 1901^v on the Furnesia. They arrived in New York on 26 Mar 1901^vi and were processed through Ellis Island. The ship’s manifest mistakenly listed them as Russian. They went across the East River from Manhattan to Paterson, New Jersey and stayed there for the rest of their lives.

The family was listed in the 1905 New Jersey Census^vii living on Martin Street. In 1905 Peter and Elodie had 2 children, Edward born in October 1901 and Mary born in November 1902. Peter is listed as a laborer. This family was enumerated in Paterson in every census through 1940^viii.

Peter had a number of jobs. For a while he worked in the locomotive factory helping to manufacture train engines. By 1915 he is listed as a cement contractor. Peter met a man who wanted to hire him to work in his cement contracting business. He told Peter that he would teach him everything he needed to know about the business. Peter eventually had his own contracting business and did this until he retired.

Peter built 2 houses in Paterson, both duplexes. He lived on the second floor of one of them and rented the other 3 units. The family home was on Pennsylvania Avenue. They moved into this home in late 1917 in time for the birth of their sixth child, my mother Madeline, in January 1918. This is the home I remember from my childhood. When WWII broke out, my father had just graduated from medical school so, of course, he was a prime target for the military. During the time my father was overseas, my mother and I lived in Paterson with her parents. She was a RN and worked at Wright Aeronautical while my grandparents took care of me. Like most grandparents, mine doted on me. I was a welcome diversion from the worry of the war and concern for 2 sons and 1 son-in-law who were fighting.

Elodie had fallen in the 1920’s resulting in an injury to her back. In 1955 it was decided that surgery to relieve the pressure of a ruptured disc was advisable. The surgery was a success but Elodie died of complications – a blood clot to the lungs. Peter was also in failing health and died shortly after she did. They are buried in Paterson with their youngest child, William, who died of a ruptured appendix at the age of 12. All of their other children outlived them.

Children of Peter Bernard and Elodie (Dobbelaere) Van De Veire, all born in Paterson:

i. Edward Bernard Van De Veire⁶. b. 14 Oct 1901, d. 28 Feb 1988 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, m. (1) on 16 May 1921 in Plattsburg, Clinton, New York Rose MacDonald and (2)on 24 Jul. 1930 in Connecticut, Mary Agnes Burns, b. 17 Oct 1895 in Rhode Island, d. 30 Apr 1975 in Alameda, Alameda, California.

ii. Mary Van De Veire. b. 18 Nov 1902, d. in Paterson on 31 May 1990. m. 18 Nov 1942, John Kerrigan.

iii. Martha Van De Veire b. 7 Sep 1905, d. 4 Dec. 1994 in North Haledon, Passaic, New Jersey, m. 22 Feb 1933 in Paterson James Blair , b. 30 Oct 1907 in Clifton, Passaic, New Jersey and d 19 Jul 1989 in North Haledon.

iv. Julius Van De Veire. b. 29 Sep. 1908, d. Feb 1987 in West Milford, Passaic, New Jersey, m. 28 Aug. 1937 Edith ( ), b. 12 Mar 1907, d. 6 Jan 1997 in West Milford.

v. Margreth Van De Veire. b. 1 Apr. 1914, d. 1 Jan. 2010 in Randolph, Orange, Vermont, m. (1) Mitchael Orbeck and (2) Joseph Morgan

vi Madeline Van De Veire, b. 29 Jan 1918, d. 26 May. 2012 in Largo, Pinellas, Florida, m. 21 Sep 1941 William Howard Baldwin in Marysville, Marshall, Kansas, b. 29 Nov 1908 in Grand Forks, Grand Forks, North Dakota and d. 20 Jan 1988 in Largo, Pinellas, Florida.

vii. Charles Van De Veire. b. Apr 1921, m. Marjorie Cornish 20 Apr 1947.

viii. William Van De Veire, b. 19 Oct 1925, d. 1937.

iMunicipality of Sint Laureins, subsector Sint-Jan-in-Eremo, Oost Vlaanderen, Belgium, birth certificate for Peter Van De Veire, provided by Paul Cornelis.

iiMunicipality of Kaprijke, Oost Vlaanderen, Belgium, 1900 marriage certificate, Van De Veire-Dobbelaere, provided by Paul Cornelis.

iiiMunicipality of Kaprijke, Oost Vlaanderen, Belgium, 1882 birth certificate for Elodie Dobbelaere, provided b y Paul Cornelis.

ivGoethals, Jozef J. and Karel Denys, CICM. “Searching for Flemish (Belgian) Ancestors”(Baltimore, MD:Clearfield Company, 2007) p. 13-14.

v“United Kingdom: Board of Trade's Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Outbound Passenger Lists”, digital image,Ancestry.com(http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 6 Jan 2015) departure of Petrus and Elodis Vandeveire.

vi“New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957”, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 6 Jan 2015) arrival of Petrus Vandeveire

vii1905 New Jersey state census, Passaic County, Paterson Ward 10, Enumeration District (E.D.) 2, Sheet 14B, dwelling 172, family 284, Peter Van De Vere; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 16 Nov 2015), citing New Jersey Archives Reference #L-06, film # 37.

viii1910 US census, Passaic, New Jersey, population schedule, Paterson Ward 10, Enumeration District (E.D.) 150, Sheet 13A, page 186 (stamped), dwelling 141, family 271, Peter Vorn De Vere; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 16 Nov 2015), citing National Archivesw and Records Administration microfilm T624, roll 907.

1920 US census, Passaic, New Jersey, population schedule, Enumeration District (E.D.) 141, Sheet 23B, p. 220 (written), dwelling 282, family 509, Peter Van De Veire; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 16 Nov 2015), citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T625, roll 1066.

1930 US census, Passaic, New Jersey, population schedule, Paterson, Enumeration District (E.D.) 77, sheet 34A, page 2017 (written), dwelling 330, family 476, Peter Vander Vere; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 16 Nov 2015), citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm, T626, roll 1381.

1940 US census, Passaic County, New Jersey, population schedule, Paterson, Enumeration District (E.D.) 26-125, Sheet 10B, page 1584 (printed), number of household visited 223, Peter VanDeVeir; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 30 Sep 2014), citing National Archives and Record Administration microfilm T627, roll 2433.

"52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks"

Ancestor #4

Helena Gertrude Wynne (1878-1952)

Helena Gertrude Wynne was born in Admaston, Renfrew, Ontario, Canada on 7 November 1878ⁱ and died in Park River, Walsh, North Dakota on 11 December 1952ⁱⁱ. She was the oldest child of Abraham and Catherine Maria (Van Camp) Wynne and was known as Lena to her friends and family. She married Daniel Webster Baldwin in St. Thomas, Pembina, North Dakota on 27 February 1900ⁱⁱⁱ. Daniel, who preferred to be called DW was born on 7 December 1877 in Mountain, Dundas, Ontario, Canada and died in Langdon, Cavalier, North Dakota on 23 August 1961.

Lena moved to St. Thomas with her parents and two siblings in 1886. Her father farmed in St. Thomas Township but the family lived in the town of St. Thomas. This is where she received her education and learned all the skills deemed necessary for a young lady in 1890. She married a man who seemed to have a hard time deciding what he wanted to do in life. After their marriage in 1900, they farmed in Midland Township for a few years^iv. Three of their children were born here, Florence Ellen in 1901, Edward Daniel in 1902 and Lelah Isabel in 1904. By 1906^v the family is living on the frontier in Humboldt, Saskatchewan where the Canadian Pacific Railroad was busily laying track and hoping to entice settlers to ensure a profitable business.

By 1910^vi, however, DW had changed his direction again and the family was back in civilization living in a clapboard two story house on the banks of the Red River in Grand Forks, North Dakota. DW was a salesman for International Harvester, selling farm equipment and supplies. Two more children were born in Grand Forks, William Howard in 1908 and Helena Gertrude in 1910. In 1914 tragedy struck when youngest daughter Helena injured her foot and died from blood poisoning.

Soon after this the family moved to Langdon, the county seat for Cavalier County, and settled into a rented house close to town center. Here in April 1918 a daughter Ruth Marjorie was born. This baby was a difficult delivery for Lena and Ruth suffered severe brain damage before birth. She never learned to talk and required constant care-giving for her entire life. This was another hardship the family had to learn to deal with. In the 1920^vii census the family is enumerated in Langdon where DW is managing the local feed, grain and farm equipment store.

But DW wanted to farm again so the family moved out of Langdon to a rented farm in Olga Township^viii. Here their youngest child, Robert, would be born. By 1935 they had purchased a farm in Elgin Township on the outskirts of the city of Langdon. They were enumerated here in the 1940^ix census. They spent the rest of their lives together on this farm in Langdon.

I remember visiting the farm as a young child. My grandmother worked very hard. In the summer she was up before dawn getting breakfast for the threshing crew. Breakfast was always bacon and eggs, oatmeal, toast and jelly and orange slices. After breakfast she had to get ready for lunch. She made pies and cookies just about every day. My favorite cookie was her date filled oatmeal; I have never been able to recreate this cookie in my kitchen. She cooked on a stove that was powered by propane gas. There were no settings for the oven. My grandmother would turn it on and check the temperature by sticking her elbow in the oven. Who needs settings; everything she cooked was wonderful. About 10 o’clock she would prepare a snack and take it out to the field – sandwiches, cookies and lemonade was the usual fare. About noon the crew would come in for dinner. My grandmother always had roast beef, pork or chicken with mashed potatoes and vegetables from her kitchen garden and for dessert the pies she had cooked that morning. She would repeat the snack about 4 every afternoon and at dusk, the crew would come in for a light supper – soup and sandwiches. My grandmother always had the table set for breakfast before she went to bed at night. Fortunately, harvest season was only a couple of weeks every year.

Lena was infected with the Spanish flu in 1918. She was very ill and came close to dying. Later in life she developed diabetes perhaps as a result of the influenza virus. Because of the diabetes she lost a leg and it would eventually claim her life. DW lived for another 10 years after her death and continued to farm with his son Ed. Both are buried in the Lebanon Cemetery in Langdon with sons Edward and Robert and daughter Ruth.

Children of Daniel Webster and Helena Gertrude (Wynne) Baldwin:

i. Florence Ellen⁵ Baldwin. b. 25 May 1901 in St. Thomas, d. 18 March 1947 in Powell, Park, Wyoming, m. on 22 Dec. 1928 in Billings, Yellowstone, Montana, Stanley Gordon Kreps, b. 13 July 1906 in Monroe, Michigan, d. 12 Oct. 1976 in Yellowstone, Montana.

ii. Edward Daniel Baldwin. b. 28 May 1902 in St. Thomas, d. 13 Dec 1969 unmarried. He spent his life helping his father farm.

iii. Lelah Isabelle Baldwin. b. 24 May 1904 in St. Thomas, d. 3 Jan. 1994 In Houston, Texas, m. 10 March 1928, Elmer Theodore Hobbs, b. 15 Dec. 1906 in Forest River, Walsh, North Dakota, d. 22 Jan. 1982 in Palm Springs, Riverside, California.

iv. William Howard Baldwin. b. 29 Nov. 1908 in Grand Forks, d. 20 Jan. 1980 in Largo, Pinellas, Florida, m. 21 Sept. 1941 in Marysville, Marshall, Kansas Madeline Van De Veire, b. 29 Jan 1918 in Paterson, Passaic, New Jersey, d. 26 May 2012 in Largo.

v. Helena Gertrude Baldwin. b. 25 Nov. 1910 in Grand Forks, d. there 14 Jan. 1914 and is buried in St. Thomas City Cemetery. Helena died of tetanus.

vi. Ruth Marjorie Baldwin. b. 19 April 1918, d. 15 Nov. 1996 in Cando, Towner, North Dakota. She is buried in Lebanon Cemetery with her parents. Ruth never married.

vii. Robert Wynne Baldwin. b. 29 July 1920 in Cavalier County, North Dakota, d. 30 July 2010 in Park River. He never married.

Endnotes

i“Ontario Canada Births, 1869 – 1913”, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 12 Apr 2016), Lena Wynne, citing Archives of Ontario; Series: MS929; Reel: 40.

iiNorth Dakota State Department of Health, Bismarck, North Dakota, death certificate # 4223 (1952), Helena Gertrude Baldwin.

iiiPembina County, North Dakota, marriage license # 188, issued3 23 Feb 1900, Daniel Webster Baldwin and Helena Gertrude Wynne, marriage date 27 Feb 1900 by S. H. Dewart, M. E. Clergyman.

iv1900 U. S. census, Pembina County, North Dakota, population schedule, Midland, Enumeration District (E.D.) 116, sheet 4B, page 95 (written), dwelling 61, family 62, Daniel Baldwin; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com:accessed 30 Dec 2014), citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T623, roll 1230.

v1906 census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, Saskatchewan, Schedule 1: Population and live stock, District Humboldt, Sub-district 24, page 3, family 14, Daniel Baldwin; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com:accessed 12 Apr 2016), citing Library and Archives Canada microfilm, roll T-18359.

vi1910 U. S. census, Grand Forks County, North Dakota, population schedule, Grand Forks, Enumeration District (E.D.) 102, sheet 6A, page 1638 (written), dwelling 371, family 383, Daniel Baldwin; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com:accessed 16 Jan 2015), citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T624, roll 1124.

vii1920 U. S. census, Cavalier County, North Dakota, population schedule, Langdon, Enumeration District (E.D.) 38, sheet 5B, dwelling 95, family 98, Daniel W. Baldwin; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com:accessed 30 Sep 2014), citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T625, roll 1333.

viii1930 U. S. census, Cavalier County, North Dakota, population schedule, Olga, Enumeration District (E.D.) 37, sheet 2A, page 133 (stamped), dwelling 25, family 25, Daniel W. Baldwin; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com:accessed 14 Nov 2015), citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T626, roll 1734.

ix1940 U. S. census, Cavalier County, North Dakota, population schedule, Elgin, Enumeration District (E.D.) 10-12, sheet 3B, house visited 48, D. W. Baldwin; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com:accessed 12 Nov 2015), citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T627, roll 2998.

"52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks"

Ancestor #3

Daniel Webster Baldwin (1877 – 1961)

Daniel Webster Baldwin was born in Mountain Township, Dundas County, Ontario in an area now called “Inkerman” on December 7, 1877ⁱ and died in Langdon, Cavalier, North Dakota on August 26, 1961ⁱⁱ. He married Helena Gertrude Wynne in St. Thomas, Pembina, North Dakota on February 27, 1900ⁱⁱⁱ. Helena, known as “Lena” was born on November 7, 1878 in Admaston, Renfrew County, Ontario^iv and died in Park River, Walsh, North Dakota on December 11, 1952^v.

Daniel moved to St. Thomas with his family in March 1889 when he was 11. But he retained fond memories of his birth place. He stated in a letter to his son Robert in 1957, “Grandad B. got a land grant from the British crown for some thing like two hundred acres of heavily timbered land. When we left for Dakota, that was quite some over a hundred years of toil and labor on that farm by the B (Baldwins), and the land still had quite a few big oaks still standing fifty feet or more high, twenty four inches or more in diameter.”^vi

In the 1900 census, Daniel and Lena were living on a farm in Midland Township, Pembina, North Dakota^vii on property owned by his father. Midland Township abuts St. Thomas Township on its eastern border. Daniel who preferred to be called “DW” farmed for a few years but by 1906 he and his family which now includes three children are living in Humboldt, Saskatchewan^viii where Daniel is an agent for the Canadian Pacific Railroad. His job is to encourage settlement of the Canadian plains (and ensure customers for the railroad) by selling railroad land to settlers and speculators.

This job did not last very long because by 1908 his fourth child, my father, William Howard, was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota. DW was a salesman for International Harvester^ix. In late 1910 the fifth child, Helena named after her mother, was born to this couple. In 1914 tragedy struck. Helena injured her foot and contracted blood poisoning. She died on January 14, 1914. My father who was 5 years old at the time remembered his mother crying.

The family moved to Langdon before April 1918 when daughter Ruth was born. This baby was a difficult delivery for Lena and suffered severe brain damage before birth. This was another hardship the family had to learn to deal with. In the 1920 census, the family was enumerated in Langdon^x where DW was managing the local feed, grain and farm equipment store.

But DW wanted to farm again so the family moved out of Langdon to a rented farm in Olga Township. Here their youngest child, Robert, was born. In the 1925 North Dakota State census and the 1930 US census^xi they are enumerated in Olga, Cavalier County. By 1935 they had purchased a farm in Elgin Township, Cavalier County about 2 miles outside of Langdon^xii. They spent the rest of their lives together on this farm. Lena, DW and their children, Edward, Ruth and Robert, are buried in the Lebanon Cemetery in Langdon.

Children of Daniel Webster and Helena Gertrude (Wynne) Baldwin:

1. Florence Ellen Baldwin, b. 25 May 1901 in St. Thomas, d. 18 March 1947 in Powell, Park, Wyoming, m. 22 Dec 1928 in Billings, Yellowstone, Montana to Stanley Gordon Kreps, b. 13 July 1906 in Monroe, Michigan and d. 12 October 1976 in Yellowstone, Montana.
2. Edward Daniel Baldwin, b. 28 May 1902 in St. Thomas, d. 13 December 1969 in Langdon, unmarried.
3. Lelah Isabelle Baldwin, b. 24 May 1904 in St. Thomas, d. 3 January 1994 in Houston, Texas, m. 10 March 1928 Elmer Theodore Hobbs, b. 15 December 1906 in Forest River, Walsh, North Dakota and d. 22 January 1982 in Palm Springs, Riverside, California.
4. William Howard Baldwin, b. 29 November 1908 in Grand Forks, d. 20 January 1980 in Largo, Pinellas, Florida, m. 21 September 1941 in Marysville, Marshall, Kansas Madeline Van De Veire, b. 29 January 1918 in Paterson, Passaic, New Jersey, d. 26 May 2012 in Largo.
5. Helena Gertrude Baldwin, b. 25 November 1910 in Grand Forks, d. there 14 January 1914 and is buried in St. Thomas City Cemetery.
6. Ruth Marjorie Baldwin, b. 19 April 1918 in Langdon, d.15 November 1996 in Cando, Towner, North Dakota unmarried.
7. Robert Wynne Baldwin, b. 29 July 1920 in Cavalier County, d. 30 July 2010 in Park River, unmarried.

i“Ontario Canada Births, 1869-1913”, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 12 Apr 2016), Daniel Webster Baldwin, citing Archives of Ontario, Series MS929, reel: 30.

iiNorth Dakota State Department of Health, Bismarck, ND, death certificate #3095 (1961), Daniel Webster Baldwin.

iiiPembina County, North Dakota marriage license #188 issued 23 Feb 1900; Daniel Webster Baldwin and Helena Gertrude Wynne, marriage date 27 Feb 1900 by S. H. Dewart, M. E. Clergy

ivOntario Births, Reel: 40

vNorth Dakota death certificate #4223 (1952) Helena Gertrude Baldwin

viLetter dated 6 Mar 1957 from D.W.B. To Robert Baldwin. Copy in possession of author.

vii1900 U.S. Census, Pembina County, North Dakota, population schedule, Midland, Enumeration District (E.D.) 116, sheet 4B, page 95 (written), dwelling 61, family 62, Daniel Baldwin; digital image, Ancestry.com(http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 30 Dec 2014); citing National Archives and Record Administration (NARA) microfilm T623, roll 1230.

viii 1906 census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, schedule 1, population and live stock, district Humboldt, sub-district 24, page 3, family 14, Daniel Baldwin; digital image, Ancestry.com(http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 12 Apr 2016), citing Library and Archives Canada microfilm, roll T-18359.

ix1910 U.S. census, Grand Forks County, North Dakota, population schedule, Grand Forks Ward 6, Enumeration District (E.D.) 102, Sheet 6-A, p. 250 (printed), dwelling 371, family 383, Daniel Baldwin; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry,com: accessed 16 Jan 2015), citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T624, roll 1124.

x1920  U.S. census, Cavalier County, North Dakota, population schedule, Langdon, Enumeration District (E.D.) 38, Sheet 5 B, page 133 (printed), dwelling 95, family 98, Daniel W. Baldwin; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 30 Sep 2014), citing National Archives and Record Administration microfilm T625, roll 1333.

xi1930 US Census, Cavalier, North Dakota, population schedule, Olga, Enumeration District (E.D.) 37, Sheet 2A, p. 133 (stamped), dwelling 25, family 25, Daniel W. Baldwin; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 14 Nov 2015), citing National Archives and Record Administration microfilm T626, roll 1734.

xii1940 US census, Cavalier, North Dakota, Elgin, Enumeration District (E.D.) 10-12, Sheet 3B, House visited: 48, D W Baldwin. digital image, Ancestry.com (ttp://www.ancestry.com: accessed 12 Nov 2015), citing National Archives and Record Administration, T627, roll 2998.   

“52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” Challenge

I once heard Warren Bittner say that research wasn’t complete until you had a done a sketch of your ancestor. I committed right then and there to go back and complete a sketch for each ancestors in my direct line. But like all good intentions in genealogy, I got distracted and did not complete these sketches. When I saw that Amy Johnson Crow was issuing another “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” challenge, I signed up and decided it was about time to get busy and do this.

I decided to start with my paternal grandfather - #3 in my chart - and work my way down through my great grandparents. Then I will reevaluate what I have done and where I want to go from there.  My father’s family has been in the New World since the early 1600s in both New England and New York while my mother’s parents arrived from Belgium in 1900. So, I have a typical American ancestry with equal parts US and overseas research.

If you know something of these ancestors of mine, I would love to hear from you. 

Here is my list of upcoming sketches.

#3 - Daniel Webster Baldwin

#4 - Helena Gertrude Wynne

#5 - Peter Bernard Van De Veire

#6 - Elodie Dobbelaere

#7 - William Reuben Baldwin

#8 - Catherine Elizabeth Tweed

#9 - Abraham Wynne

#10 - Catherine Maria Van Camp

#11 - Ivo Van De Veire

#12 - Rosalia Francisca Du Four

#13 - Bruno Dobbelaere

#14 - Florence Cobert