Melvin Baldwin

Melvin Riley Baldwin (April 12, 1838 – April 15, 1901) was a Representative from Minnesota.

Melvin Baldwin
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 6th district
In office March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895
Preceded by	District created
Succeeded by	Charles A. Towne
Personal details
Born	Melvin Riley Baldwin April 12, 1838 near Chester, Vermont
Died	April 15, 1901 (aged 63) Seattle, Washington
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Lawrence University

Early life and education

Baldwin was born near Chester, Vermont, on April 12, 1838 and moved with his parents to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in 1847. He attended the common schools there and entered Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin, in 1855. He studied law but adopted civil engineering as a profession.

Career and service in the Civil War

He was engaged on the Chicago & North Western Railway until April 19, 1861, when he enlisted as a private in Company E, Second Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry due to the Civil War. He was commissioned captain of his company and was later captured at Gettysburg and confined in Libby Prison, Richmond, Virginia, at Macon, Georgia, and at Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina, being prisoner for eighteen months.

After the war, he engaged in operative railway work in Kansas, being general superintendent for four years. He moved to Duluth, Minnesota, in 1885.

U.S. Representative

Baldwin was elected as a Democrat to the 53rd congress, (March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895), but lost his bid for reelection in 1894 to the 54th congress.

Later life

Baldwin was chairman of the Chippewa Indian Commission from 1894 to 1897. He traveled to Alaska in November 1897 and died in Seattle, Washington, April 15, 1901. He committed suicide because of a financial failure.[1] He is interred in Forest Hill Cemetery, Duluth, Minnesota.

References

1. "M. R. Baldwin Kills Himself". The Dunn County News. April 19, 1901. p. 2. Retrieved July 23, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

• United States Congress. "Melvin Baldwin (id: B000094)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-02-14