Growing up as a teenager in Indiana, Baldwin won the friendships of Jeremiah (Jerry) Garoutte and Schuyler Colfax.
Jerry “went out west” and became a successful businessman in Sacramento. Schuyler was elected an Indiana senator and became Speaker of the House from 1863 to 1869, when he was inaugurated as Vice President during the first term of Ulysses S. Grant.
Jerry and Elias maintained a close relationship on the West Coast. On opening night at his theater in San Francisco, Baldwin arranged for Jerry to be met at the ferry, brought to the theater in a carriage so as to enjoy the production in a special box. This box would be made available to Jerry whenever he wished to attend a production and as Baldwin’s guest.
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Carol Libby and Karen Hou
Carol Libby & Karen Hou
Arcadia Historical Society