BALDWIN, SAMUEL S. (ca. 1776-12 July 1822), was an early Cleveland and Cuyahoga County public official. Born in Ridgefield, Conn., to Samuel and Hannah (Northrup) Baldwin, he moved to a farm in NEWBURGH in 1808 and dabbled in real estate with LEONARD CASE. Baldwin's short public career revolved around politics. In 1809, he was elected justice of the peace in Cleveland. In 1810, he became the first surveyor and may have been sheriff of Cuyahoga County. (Several sources indicate Smith S. Baldwin was the first sheriff.) As surveyor he relaid the road between Cleveland and Aurora, and from Mantua to Warren, as a state road. Sheriff Baldwin officiated at the murder trial and hanging of JOHN O'MIC. In 1812, he served in the state assembly. The next year, he was elected to the Board of County Commissioners and appointed by the board to act as clerk. Baldwin married Sarah Camp of Ridgefield, Conn., who died in 1818 at the age of 36. They had 6 daughters and 2 sons. In 1819, Baldwin married Rhoda Boughton of Grafton, Ohio. They had 8 children: Philander, Lucretia, Caroline, Julia, Sarah, Emily, Henry, and Edward. Baldwin died in Cleveland but his burial site is unknown.
