1929 obit details woman’s full life

Nearly 80 years ago, men were much more likely than women to be the subject of lengthy obituaries in newspapers.

A friend in the Daughters of the American Revolution brought to my attention that a Bangor woman who died in 1929 had been an early state regent for the DAR in Maine.

OF A LONG AND WELL-SPENT LIFE read the headline on the obituary of Charlotte Augusta Baldwin on page 3 of the Jan. 18, 1929, issue of the Bangor Daily News.

On microfilm, the left-hand edge of the obit disappears into the fold of the newspaper, making part of it unreadable. So here is the obituary in its entirety:

Miss Charlotte A. Baldwin died Wednesday night at The Lowder. She would have been 91 years of age on April 27th. She had no near relatives. Funeral services will be at the residence of Mrs. Elizabeth H. McLaughlin, 118 Cedar St. – at three o’clock this Friday afternoon.

Miss Baldwin was born in Bangor, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Baldwin, and half a century of her life was spent in the homestead at Cedar and Fourth streets, now occupied by Dr. McCann. She traveled extensively, crossing the continent eight times, visited Alaska and Mexico, believing in the saying “see America first.” She retained a comprehensive and lasting impression of her travels.

Of high culture she was a student of the best in music, literature and art but perhaps her keenest interest was in America, American history and the Daughters of the American Revolution. With the first opportunity the organization of the Elizabeth Wadsworth Chapter in Portland, she became a member, transferring in 1897 to the Frances Dighton Williams Chapter when it was organized in Bangor with Mrs. Corelli Simpson, the first regent. Miss Baldwin succeeded Mrs. Simpson as regent in 1899.

Her interest and enthusiasm for everything pertaining to the order soon received statewide recognition and in 1905 she was elected Regent of the State Council.

She attended many conventions and similar events, served as state delegate to the national DAR Congress in Washington, and assisted greatly in the research work in Maine developing history of the Revolutionary times, locating and providing markers and tablets and in every way devoting much of her time and energy to the objects of the order. In her lifetime she saw the order grow in Maine from the first chapter to the present roll of more than 40, there being 15 when she was state regent.

All her life she was one of the most valued members and earnest workers in the Unitarian church, for many years on the board of directors of the Home for Aged Women and interested directly or indirectly with numerous other institutions of the city which appealed to her kindness of heart and loyalty. She was a remarkable woman in many respects and lived a life with but few idle moments as long as spared by the infirmities of advancing age.

She had two nieces, Mrs. Chalmers Clapp of Abington, Mass., and Miss Dorothy Baldwin of Hardwick, Mass., the latter living in Bangor this winter – both helping much to cheer and comfort her last days.

So ends Charlotte Baldwin’s obituary.

The “Vital Records of Bangor, Maine” give Charlotte’s birth date as April 29, 1838.

Her parents were Thomas and Margaret J. (Bacon) Baldwin, according to the “History of the Maine Society Daughters of the American Revolution,” published in 1946.

Charlotte’s Revolutionary War ancestors were Jeduthan Baldwin, John Avery, Thomas Cushing and John Bacon. She was the sixth state regent of the Maine DAR, and also was a member of the Mayflower Society.

The Baldwins apparently came to Bangor after 1835, when daughter Margaret was born in Boston, but before 1838, when Charlotte was born in Bangor.

Charlotte and her sister, Margaret, lived in the family homestead at 135 Cedar St. at the time of the 1900 census. Margaret died in 1902, and Charlotte was living at The Lowder during the 1920 census.

Charlotte, her mother and sister are all buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, but Thomas isn’t listed in that cemetery’s database. He died on Nov. 1, 1874, according to Bangor vital records.

Charlotte’s niece, Dorothy Baldwin, listed in the obituary, appears to have been the daughter of Charlotte’s younger brother, Thomas W. Baldwin.

Penobscot County Genealogical Society will hold its third annual cookout and social at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, at the Hose 5 Fire Museum, 247 State St., Bangor. Each member may bring one guest. Come feast on hot dogs, hamburgers, the very best onion rings and fresh strawberry shortcake.

Firefighters will share their stories and knowledge of the antique equipment. At 6 p.m. Bill Tuck will tell some great firefighting stories of the Bangor area.

Send genealogy queries to Family Ties, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402; or familyti@bangordailynews.net.