Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 770 - 773 

NEREUS BALDWIN, of the firm of N. Baldwin & Son, photographers, with studio at No. 118 East Douglas avenue, is an artist of wide experience and stands at the head of his profession in Wichita. His patrons include the best class of people in this city, and his photographs are as fine as can be produced in any of the best establishments of the Eastern cities.

            Mr. Baldwin's family is of English origin. His father, Jesse Baldwin, was a native of North Carolina and of English descent. He married, in his native State, Miss Margaret Beison, and in 1830 they moved to Wayne County, Ind., and there made their home near Dalton, where Mr. Baldwin prosperously carried on his occupation of farmer. He was a faithful member of the Society of Friends, and by the integrity of his bearing and his thoroughly upright character merited the respect in which he was universally held. To him and his esteemed wife were born eight children, of whom but two sons are now living, our subject and his brother Ellwood, who resides in Indiana.

            Nereus Baldwin was born on his father's old homestead near Dalton, Ind., Jan. 8, 1840. He received a very good education in the common schools of his native State. At the age of twenty he learned the photographer's art, and opened his first gallery at Farmland, Ind. In 1865 our subject was married to Miss Doxtader; she has been to him a devoted companion and a wise mother to their children, of whom they have three -- William F., Mosceline, and Charles, the youngest.

            In 1869 Mr. Baldwin made a move further west, and in the young and growing city of Lawrence, Kan., then containing a population of 8,000 inhabitants, opened a studio and conducted a flourishing business there for some years. In 1872 he decided to change his location, and coming to Sedgwick County, established himself in Park City, where he pursued his occupation the ensuing two years. In 1874 he left that place for Wichita, then a small town of 300 people, and opened a gallery here, which is now the oldest photographic establishment in the city, and he may be considered a pioneer of his profession here. He can recall many pleasant and interesting incidents connected with those days, and says that even then he did a thriving trade. His son William F., an intelligent and talented young man, is now in business with him; they are numbered among the best photographers in the city and have an extensive patronage.

Mr. Baldwin has, by his shrewdness and careful management of his property, become quite wealthy, and owns a large amount of real estate valued at $50,000. Our subject is benevolent and public-spirited. In politics he is conservative, but usually votes the Republican ticket.

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