YUBA COUNTY

Biographies

ARTHUR T. BALDWIN

            An aggressively hustling advocate of modern, up-to-date methods and the most improved form of apparatus, is Arthur T. Baldwin, the far-seeing proprietor of the National Cleaners, at 515 D Street, Marysville.  He was born at Stockton, San Joaquin County, on Christmas Day, 1881. His father, Thomas J. Baldwin, was also born in San Joaquin County, and there, too, he married Miss Lillian Cody, a native of that county.  Grandfather Patrick Cody came to California in a sailing vessel around Cape Horn in the early days of the gold excitement.  Grandfather Baldwin crossed the plains in an ox-team train from Missouri in an equally early day, afterwards making several more trips across the plains.  Thomas J. Baldwin was a farmer in San Joaquin County.  The mother died in Berkeley several years ago, and the father now resides in Yuba City.

            Arthur T. Baldwin is the eldest in a family of four children.  His childhood was spent on the farm near Belota, San Joaquin County; and after completing the local schools he continued to work at ranching until he was twenty years old, when, having saved some money, he attended the Western School of Commerce in Stockton, taking both the commercial and the normal courses, from which he was graduated in 1905.  After his graduation he engaged in teaching for a time in Nevada and Stanislaus Counties, and then took up the dry-cleaning business.  At first he started a cleaning plant in Monterey, but six months later removed to Eureka, Humboldt County, where he followed the same business for a year.  In 1908 he established the National Cleaners in Marysville, continuing the business alone until February, 1921, when he took in Earl Fairlee as a partner, continuing under the same name.  The cleansing plant is modern, and is fully equipped to do the best class of work promptly and at the minimum of cost to the customer.  Mr. Baldwin gives every detail his personal attention.  He is accommodation itself; and it is not surprising that although he started in a small way, he has been very successful.  He is public-spirited, takes a live interest in the community as a whole, and does all he can to advance general commercial conditions in Marysville.  In addition to his other interests, Mr. Baldwin acquired twenty-one and a half acres of land in Sutter County, which he developed into a peach orchard; and there he makes his home.

            In 1908, at Marysville, Mr. Baldwin was married to Miss Abbie Smith, a native of Georgia, who was reared in California; and they have one son, Jack, to bless their fortunate union.  Mr. Baldwin belongs to Court Pride, No. 34, Foresters of America; to Lodge No. 45, I.O.O.F.; and to the Loyal Order of Moose.

History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924

p. 748-751

ARTHUR KING DAM

            An interesting representative of the modern hustling spirit for which Wheatland has become distinguished, not merely throughout Yuba County but in other parts of Northern California as well, is Arthur King Dam, well and favorably known as the manager of the Dam Warehouses at Wheatland, in which enterprising town he was born on March 6, 1876, the son of Cyrus King and Leoni (Scott) Dam, estimable folks who enjoyed the good-will of all who knew them.  His father died on October 28, 1907; but his mother is still living, at Berkeley.

            Arthur Dam attended the public schools, and then went to Heald’s Business College, in San Francisco, where he profited by an excellent commercial course.  After his graduation he returned home and engaged in farming with his father and his brother, C. Harry, continuing until 1900, when he entered the Dam Warehouses to assist his father in their management, of which he was soon able to relieve him.  After his father died, the property he left was kept as a family estate.  At his passing, the estate represented 2710 acres, with a valuation of $300,000, with no indebtedness, everything being left in strictly business-like condition.  The property is still jointly owned by the children, and is being managed and developed in such a manner that it has become one of the most valuable properties in the county.  For several years, A. K. Dam leased and ran the warehouses; he was then induced to run them for the estate, in whose interest they have since been conducted.

            Mr. Dam is also engaged in the insurance business, representing several of the old-line companies.  He is also a director of the Farmers Bank of Wheatland.

            On October 28, 1903, in Wheatland, occurred the marriage of Arthur King Dam and Miss Caddie Belle Stineman, a daughter of an old-time pioneer California family, and a member of the Native Daughters of the Golden West.  They have two children:  Elva Inez, attending the State Teachers’ College at San Jose, class of 1924; and Alice, who is in the Wheatland High School, class of 1924. Since 1905, Mr. Dam has served as a member of the city council of Wheatland, where he has done efficient work for the best interests of the city.  He is a Republican in national politics.  Mr. Dam belongs to Rainbow Parlor, No. 40, N.S.G.W., of Wheatland, in which he is a Past President.  He is also a member of Nicolaus Lodge, No. 129, F.&A.M., and Sutter Lodge, No. 100, I.O.O.F., both of Wheatland, being a Past Grand in the latter; and with his wife he is a member of the Rebekahs.  Mr. Dam is secretary of the Odd Fellows Building Association.  He is a member and director in the Wheatland Chamber of Commerce, and was the first president of the Boy Scouts Council.  During the war he was active in Liberty-loan and other allied war drives.  He is fond of baseball and out-of-door sports, and once managed the local baseball team for two years, during which time they came out winners for Northern California each year.  For years Mr. Dam has taken a live interest in all that pertains to the lasting welfare and the rapid development of this favored corner of the Golden State.

History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924

p. 751-752

BACK TO BIOGRAPHIES PAGE