Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 October 1897 — HOLDS MARRYING RECORD. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HOLDS MARRYING RECORD.

Aged Pastor of Troy, N. Y., Ha* Wedded 6,000 Persons. Six thousands persons united in wedlock in half a century Is the record made by Rev. Dr. George C. Baldwin, of Troy, N. Y., who claims to be the champion marrying parson of the United States. Many women will be interested in this venerable pastor, to whom so many young couples have gone to be joined in matrimony. He has wedded the children and the grandchildren of those who first came to him. He has seen many of “his children,” as he loves to call them, become old and pass'away? He has seen their children grow up to manhood and womanhood, and he has seen many of them cross the great divide. Many of

the couples whom he has married have scattered to the four corners of the country. Dr. Baldwin is nearly 80 years old, but he is as young in mind, at least, as most men of 50. His eyes are piercing keen, his smile bright and cheery and his voice stentorian. His handshake is strong and hearty. For years he has ministered to the spiritual wants of a great body of people who belong to no church. While he was pastor of the Third - Street Baptist Church of Troy, and even before that, young people came to be married. He married many whom he never saw or heard of before and upon the demise of many of them he was asked to officiate at their funerals. When times are good Dr. Baldwin says he marries several couples a week, but when times are bad there are fewer marriages. Commercial conditions sway the matrimonial straws with great accuracy. Dr. Baldwin is a firm believer in the fact that the marriage state is less expensive than celibacy.

BEV. DR. BALDWIN.