William Henry Baldwin Jr.

William Henry Baldwin Jr. (February 5, 1863 – January 3, 1905) was a president of the Long Island Railroad from Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard University in 1885 and studied law there for a year afterward.

Railroad career

His railroad career began through an invitation from Charles Francis Adams, president of the Union Pacific Railroad. Baldwin started as an auditor's clerk in the Omaha, Nebraska office. He rose successively to general agent for the Montana territory, assistant general freight agent for Union Pacific, and manager of the railroad's Leavenworth, Kansas, division.

In 1891 Baldwin found employment with Flint and Pere Marquette, where he remained for two years. He then became the third vice president of the Southern Railway system. One of his challenges was the reorganization of the Richmond and Danville railway lines. In a couple of years he was promoted to second vice president and general traffic manager. His efforts enabled the Southern Railroad to avoid bankruptcy.

Death and burial

Baldwin died of intestinal cancer at his home in Locust Valley, New York in 1905. He was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery in Boston followinga private funeral in Glen Cove, New York. After his death the ferries operated by the Long Island Railroad flew their flags at half mast and the principal stations on the road were draped in black for several days. ["W.H. Baldwin At Last Succumbs To Malady", New York Times, January 4, 1905, pg. 9.]

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