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| Justice Joseph Baldwin is buried in the Felton Family Plot |
FELTON FAMILY PLOT
Lot 2, Plot 410c
Joseph Glover Baldwin was born January 21, 1815 in Winchester, Virginia who became a noted lawyer, author, politician and California Supreme Court Justice.
In 1835, he edited the ‘Buchanan Advocate" and eventually went on to write he Old Southwest, as the southern
frontier at the time has come to be known by historians. He is best
known for his work
The Flush Times of Alabama and Mississippi, a series
of humorous sketches describing life on the frontier.
Flush Times
established Baldwin as both a serious author and astute observer of
antebellum Alabama.
He moved to DeKalb County, Mississippi in 1836 then to Gainesville, Alabama in 1838 where he practiced law with J. Bliss, Esquire.
He was a Whig in politics and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1843 in Democratic Sumter County, and was acclaimed as a skillful debater in the House. He was known for his courteousness, demanding respect and confining himself to the parliamentary rules.
In 1849, he lost to his Democratic rival Samuel W. Inge, who once partook in a duel with Congressman Edward Stanly from North Carolina, which gave him decided prestige. Baldwin was defeated by a narrow margin and moved to Livingston, Alabama. Ironically, Stanly is buried near the grave of Joseph Baldwin.
In 1854, Baldwin moved to California, where he served as legal counsel on a number of important cases. In 1858, following the death of Chief Justice Hugh Murray from consumption, he became an Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court. He served from October 1858 to January 1862 and he resumed the practice of law in San Francisco after he left the bench.
The book “Lincoln’s Stories” (Chicago 1879), tells the following humorous anecdote: "Judge Baldwin, of California, being in Washington, D.C., called one day on General Hallock, and presuming as a familiar acquaintance in California, a few years before, solicited a pass outside our lines to see a friend in Virginia, not thinking he would meet with a refusal, as both his brother and himself were good Union Men. 'We have been deceived too often,' said General Hallock, 'and I regret I can’t grant it.' Judge Baldwin then went to Stanton, and was very briefly disposed of with the same result. Finally he obtained an interview with Mr. Lincoln, and stated his case. 'Have you applied to General Hallock?,' inquired the president. 'Yes, and met with a flat refusal,' said Judge Baldwin. 'Then you must see Stanton,' continued the president. 'I have, and met with the same result,' was the reply. 'Well, then,' said Mr. Lincoln, with a smile.' I can do nothing, for you must know that I have very little influence with the administration!'
His son Alexander White Baldwin, was a U.S. District Court Judge. He was killed in a railroad collision near San Francisco at age 34 and is also buried at Mountain View Cemetery. His nephew,
John Garber, who lived with him at one point, served on the Nevada Supreme Court and is also buried at Mountain View Cemetery.
Joseph Baldwin was the author of Flush Times of Alabama and
Mississippi which was written to show the evil effects of an inflation
of paper currency from 1833 to 1840 when paper money was so abundant.
“The work was quite dramatic and described many transactions and scenes
in and out of court, of wonderful originality and humor. It had an
extensive sale. His other work was Party Leaders, in which Jefferson,
Hamilton, Adams, Randolph and Clay were introduced as representative
men, with contrasts and parallels well delineated, showing a great fund
of information, and remarkable power of analysis in the writer.”
In 1854, Baldwin moved to California where he gained a seat on the
bench of the Supreme Court from October 1858 to January 1862 when he
resumed the practice of law in San Francisco.
“From the book “Lincoln’s Stories”, Chicago 1879, is the following
anecdote: Judge Baldwin, of California, being in Washington, D.C.,
called one day on General Hallock, and presuming as a familiar
acquaintance in California, a few years before, solicited a pass outside
our lines to see a friend in Virginia, not thinking he would meet with a
refusal, as both his brother and himself were good Union Men. “We have
been deceived too often,” said General Hallock, “and I regret I can’t
grant it. Judge Baldwin then went to Stanton, and was very briefly
disposed of with the same result. Finally he obtained an interview with
Mr. Lincoln, and stated his case. “Have you applied to General Hallock?”
inquired the president. “Yes, and met with a flat refusal,” said Judge
Baldwin. “Then you must see Stanton,” continued the president. “I have,
and met with the same result,” was the reply. “Well, then,” said Mr.
Lincoln, with a smile.” I can do nothing, for you must know that I have
very little influence with the administration!”
His wife, Sidney White, daughter of John White, (above) lived with
her daughter, Mrs. Judge Felton of Oakland, California in one of the
finest residences in the city of Oakland around 1880. Judge Felton died
in 1878. Judge Felton was one of the best lawyers in California and his
practice was said to amount to one hundred thousand dollars per annum.
It was reported that even in 1880, Sidney retained much of her youthful
beauty and vivacity.
He was a Whig in politics and was elected to the House of
Representatives in 1843 for the Democratic county of Sumter. Mr. Baldwin
was a skillful debator in the House. “He was courteous and always
confined himself to parliamentary rules in his efforts on the floor and
respected the personal rights and feelings of others in discussion, at
the same time demanded the like civilities for himself.
He was a candidate for Congress in 1849 but his Democratic rival Hon.
S. W. Inge, in the Tuscaloosa district had the advantage of having
knocked down an abolitionist on the floor of Congress which gave him
decided prestige. Mr. Baldwin was defeated by a small majority. In 1850,
he moved to Livingston, Alabama.
Joseph Baldwin was the author of Flush Times of Alabama and
Mississippi which was written to show the evil effects of an inflation
of paper currency from 1833 to 1840 when paper money was so abundant.
“The work was quite dramatic and described many transactions and scenes
in and out of court, of wonderful originality and humor. It had an
extensive sale. His other work was Party Leaders, in which Jefferson,
Hamilton, Adams, Randolph and Clay were introduced as representative
men, with contrasts and parallels well delineated, showing a great fund
of information, and remarkable power of analysis in the writer.”
In 1854, Baldwin moved to California where he gained a seat on the
bench of the Supreme Court from October 1858 to January 1862 when he
resumed the practice of law in San Francisco.
“From the book “Lincoln’s Stories”, Chicago 1879, is the following
anecdote: Judge Baldwin, of California, being in Washington, D.C.,
called one day on General Hallock, and presuming as a familiar
acquaintance in California, a few years before, solicited a pass outside
our lines to see a friend in Virginia, not thinking he would meet with a
refusal, as both his brother and himself were good Union Men. “We have
been deceived too often,” said General Hallock, “and I regret I can’t
grant it. Judge Baldwin then went to Stanton, and was very briefly
disposed of with the same result. Finally he obtained an interview with
Mr. Lincoln, and stated his case. “Have you applied to General Hallock?”
inquired the president. “Yes, and met with a flat refusal,” said Judge
Baldwin. “Then you must see Stanton,” continued the president. “I have,
and met with the same result,” was the reply. “Well, then,” said Mr.
Lincoln, with a smile.” I can do nothing, for you must know that I have
very little influence with the administration!”
His wife, Sidney White, daughter of John White, (above) lived with
her daughter, Mrs. Judge Felton of Oakland, California in one of the
finest residences in the city of Oakland around 1880. Judge Felton died
in 1878. Judge Felton was one of the best lawyers in California and his
practice was said to amount to one hundred thousand dollars per annum.
It was reported that even in 1880, Sidney retained much of her youthful
beauty and vivacity.
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