R. (born January 21, 1881) and Carrie and Cassie (twins, born February 2, 1886). Mr. Ashford is a Republican, and an ardent supporter of that party. He is a member of Nevada Lodge No. 99, A. F. & A. M., and is one of the leading men of the county.
F. M. Baldwin is one of the oldest and most successful merchants in Story County, Iowa, and although his birth occurred in Onondaga County, N. Y., November 10, 1829, he has identified himself with the interests of Story County for the past thirty-eight years. His parents, Wallace and Mary (Burnett) Baldwin, were born in Connecticut and Vermont, respectively, the former's birth occurring in 1790. He was by occupation a salt manufacturer, and died in the State of New York in 1881, his wife also passing from life in that State at the age of ninety-two years. F. M. Baldwin is the eldest of two living children, and was reared to manhood and educated in Onondaga County, N. Y. In 1849 he came west and for three years was a clerk in a dry goods store in Chicago, after which he came to Story County, and entered land in Indian Creek Township, where he remained one season. Subsequently he returned to Cook County, Ill., and until 1855 followed the mercantile business in what was known as Dundee Station. He then returned to Story County, Iowa, and located at Iowa Center, where he has since made his home. Until 1864 he was engaged in business with the Young Bros., but since that time he has been senior member of the firm of Baldwin & Maxwell, one of the oldest mercantile firms of this commonwealth. So successfully has the business of the firm been transacted, that it passed through all panics and other trying times without financial embarrassment, and has held its own in every respect for almost a quarter of a century. This firm has two extensive stocks of goods, one at Iowa Center, the home of Mr. Baldwin, and the other at Maxwell, the home of Mr. Maxwell. Both these gentlemen are practical business men, and the policy on which they have ever conducted their affairs has been such as to merit public commendation, and those forming relations with their houses may be assured of receiving that liberal treatment which has characterized their dealings from the commencement. Mr. Baldwin was united in marriage in 1859 to Miss Mary Maxwell, who was born in Ohio in 1837, and to them a family of four children have been born: Jennie, Charles G., William and Jessie. He has always been a Republican in his political views, and is a man who has ever had the best interests of the county at heart.
Russell W. Ballard, the subject of this sketch, is a prosperous farmer of Story County. He was born in New York, Chenango County, on December 24, 1826. His father, Moses R. Ballard, a native of Massachusetts, moved to New York when quite a young man, and there married Miss Eliza Beecher, a cousin of Henry Ward Beecher, and born in New Haven, Conn. Mr. Ballard was at one time a blacksmith, but studied medicine and practiced for a number of years in various counties of New York. He moved west in 1843, residing in Ohio about two years and afterward settling in Illinois in 1845, where he lived for twelve years practicing his profession. In 1857 he settled in Iowa, Story County, where he continued a prominent and successful physician until the time of his death. Russell Ballard grew to manhood in Illinois, attending the common schools. He moved to Iowa in 1855, returned again to Illinois, and finally made a permanent location in Howard Township, this county. Here he owns 192 acres of very valuable land, which is highly improved. A strong Republican, Mr. Ballard has held many prominent offices, and was for