Baxter Trevor

Baxter Trevor, a retired citizen of Lima, was born in
England in January, 1843, and was reared and educated in his native and
though all his subsequent development has been in the United States. He
served bravely in the army of his adopted country, suffered in her
defense, and later through his own efforts reached a position of
importance in the business world and in the confidence and friendship of
a large number of his fellow-citizens.
After coming to America, Mr. Trevor followed farming and also went
to school in Huron County, Ohio. Our subject gained his first military
experience in 1862 with the "Squirrel Hunters," called out to repell a

Confederate invasion of Ohio. He was at Put-in-Bay, Ohio, when the

"Island Queen" was scuttled and set adrift on Lake Erie. At this time
he joined a company which had for its captain young John Brown, a son of
John Brown, of Harper's Ferry fame. In October, 1864, He enlisted in
Company D, 55th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. The Regiment was sent at once to
Atlanta and attached to the 20th Army Corps, and Mr. Trevor participated
in all the battles until Bentonville, on March 17, 1865, when he was
wounded in the right arm, which was so shattered that he was obliged to
submit to its amputation on the field. His sufferings during his
conveyance in the rude ambulance over the rough, corduroy roads, to the
hospital at Goldsboro, North Carolina, only served to demonstrate what
youth and vigor can stand without giving way. His wound was so serious
that after a season at Goldsboro he was sent on to New Bern, where he
was placed on the hospital boat and taken to David's Island, New York,
where he could receive more skilled care. He arrived in that city on
the day following President Lincoln's assassination, when the city was
almost paralyzed with grief. He was conveyed to the general hospital on
David's Island, where he remained until June 14,1865, when he was
discharged, though not cured. One ligature which was affected was not
removed until later and until that was done, he suffered severely.
Wounded, weak, without funds and without a home. the future looked
bleak to the young man, as may well be imagined, but he was given a
welcome at the Soldier's home at Cleveland, and had been there but a
month when he had so gained the good will of those with whom he came in
contact, that he was chosen for one of the positions at the home, the
light duties of which he could perform. This was to meet every train
and conduct to the home the weary boys in blue who sought its shelter.
The next fall Mr. Trevor secured a position in the Cleveland Post office
which he held for four and a half years, and then followed book
canvassing through Ohio and Pennsylvania for the some length of time.
From this latter occupation he drifted into the business of selling
books and stationery and established a store at Norwalk, Ohio, which he
conducted for nine years. He was then recalled to Cleveland for the
purpose of assisting in the settling up of an estate in England. While
there, he carried on a news and stationery business until 1885, when he
come to Lima and bought the "City Book Store," forming a partnership and
doing business for a time under the firm name of Trevor & Robinson. The
Mr. Trevor sold to his partner and embarked in a book and stationery
business for himself, near High street, which he continued until he
retired from active business. He accompanied Mr. Knight, the lecturer,
during one year, the subject of the entertainment being certain
thrilling events of the Civil War. Mr. Trevor was appointed, in 1890,
decennial appraiser of the Fifth and Sixth wards of Lima.
In 1886 Mr. Trevor was married to Anna Bilton, of England, and
they have three children, viz.: Ada Adelaide; Maud Gertrude, wife of
Clarence F. Spaulding, of Buchanan, Michigan; and Kyle C., who is with
R. G. Dun & Company at Springfield, Ohio. He is a member of Mart
Armstrong Post, No. 202, G. A. R. He belongs to the First
Congregational Church of Lima.