RobertBaldridgeFamily

=Robert and Susannah Baldridge family=

Robert (b. 1803) and Susannah (b. 1803) Baldridge were founding settlers of the Oak Creek valley, having come over from the Big Piney River lumber camps with the Patton and McDonald families and Hugh Truesdale. Their daughter, Sarah (b. 1822), and son, David (b. 1825), were also part of the travel party that late spring in 1833.

Robert's primary interest was a spring-fed stream that could support a mill. The Oak Creek coming off the ridge, he found the ideal location to meet his expectations. With the support and assistance of the others among the early settlers, the mill was completed during the second year in the valley.

The mill, over the years, served the grain and lumber processing needs well over the ensuing years. The Baldridge family also used the pasture land near the mill to raise cattle; they became major cattle brokers as the years went by. Robert Baldridge became the Eastern Trustee in 1841 immediately upon the organization of Oak Creek Township in the northwest corner of Shannon County, MO. He served in that capacity until 1847, when he was elected to the Shannon County Commission. He served as commissioner until failing to win re-election in 1857. By the time Oak Springs was incorporated in 1848, Robert and Susannah had moved into the central valley. Robert was elected as one of the five initial members of the Oak Springs Town Council.

Sarah married Harry McDonald in 1842. They lived and worked at the McDonald homestead.

David gradually took over operation of the mill as he came of age. He became Eastern Trustee of Oak Creek Township in 1860. David never married.

David served the Union during the Civil War. He was among the first to return to valley following the war, and worked the support of others to rebuild the mill and continue the family businesses.

Robert and Susannah Baldridge were killed in a non-war related carriage accident in the Jefferson City area in 1862.