Biography:

Dr. Charles Baldwin Langford was born in Harwich Township (Chatham-Kent), Ontario on the 27th of June, 1867.   Dr. Langford was the eldest of 6 children born to John Abraham Langford and the former Mary M. Grover.   In 1879 Dr. Langford’s family moved to Bothwell and according to the 1881 census, his father’s occupation was listed as storekeeper. His siblings were; George Sherman Langford born in 1870, Ida  Langford born in 1872, John Stewart Langford born in 1879, Alfred Edward Langford born in 1881 and Rowena Langford born in 1883.

In 1882 Dr. Langford attended Toronto Collegiate Institute. In 1884, Dr. Langford pursued his medical studies at The University of  Toronto Faculty of Medicine.  He graduated M.B. in 1888. That same year, he received his M.D. and Master of Surgery from Victoria College. He interned at Toronto General Hospital.  According to the 1928 Ontario Medical Register, Dr. Langford joined the College of Physicians and Surgeons on the 8th of May, 1888.

Upon graduation he set up his medical practice in Blenheim on June 3rd, 1889.  In 1895, Dr. Langford purchased the home and medical practice of Dr. James Samson. The home and practice were located at 46 George Street.  Dr. Samson had built the home in 1870 and today this home is included on the Chatham-Kent Municipal Heritage Register.

Dr. Langford appears on the 1900 Ontario Business Directory as practicing medicine in Blenheim.  Dr. Langford’s home/office was equipped with a wire that ran to the stable behind his home to summon the groom to prepare is horse/carriage to go to a medical call.  In the early 1900’s Dr. Langford purchased an automobile, but for many years he kept a cutter and sleigh for use in the winter as car’s built in the early 1900’s could not manage in the snow.

Dr. Langford married Jeanette Bisnet in Blenheim on the 9th of November 1892.  Mrs. Langford was born in Blenheim on the 18th of May, 1870. She was the 3rd of 4 children born to Alfred Luther Bisnet and the former Elizabeth Cameron.   Her father was a manufacturer and he was the first mayor of Blenheim. Mrs. Langford’s siblings were; Alverdue Ernest Bisnet, Mary “Elizabeth” Bisnet and Charles Luther Bisnet.

Dr. and Mrs. Langford had 2 sons, Charles Baldwin Langford was born in Blenheim on the 17th of February,1894.  Baby Charles died 10 days later on the 2nd of March and he was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Blenheim.   Dr. and Mrs. Langford had another son Grover Cameron Langford who was born on the 9th of January, 1897.

Dr. Langford’s name appears in the 1913 Bell Telephone Directory.  His phone number was listed as 8.

Dr. Langford was one of the founding members of the Blenheim Rotary Club in 1929.  Dr. Langford was a member of the Masonic Order, the I.O.O.F. and held different positions in the United Church of Canada.  Dr. Langford was a Kent County Coroner for over 50 years and he was active in the Kent County Medical Society.

Dr. Langford enjoyed bowling in his spare time.

Jeanette Langford died on the 21st of August, 1908 of pneumonia.  She was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Blenheim.

Dr. Langford married Elizabeth Evelyn Von Gunten on the 27th of December, 1911 in Blenheim.  She was born in Blenheim on the 18th of July, 1886.  She was the 2nd of 4 children born to Charles Lewis Von Gunten and the former Sarah Ann Clemons.  Her father was a jeweller in the Town of Blenheim and her siblings were; Mary Rhea Von Gunten, Clarise “Louisa” Von Gunten and Carl Frederick Von Gunten.  Mrs. Langford was a nurse.

Dr. and Mrs. Langford had a daughter, Winifred Louise Langford who was born on the 5th of September 1912 in Blenheim and a son named John “Jack” Clemens Langford who was born on the 18th of February, 1916. (Winifred Langford died in 1994 and her brother Jack died in 2005.)

Dr. Langford served on Blenheim’s Town Council and he supported the Conservative party.  Dr. Langford wrote and published a booklet called, “The First Five Years of Rotary in Blenheim”.

Dr. Langford died at his residence on the 1st of April, 1939.  He worked up until the day he died.  His wife Elizabeth Langford died at the residence of her daughter in Islington, Ontario on the 2nd of November, 1962.  Dr. and Mrs. Langford were buried at Evergreen Cemetery.

Dr. John Malcolm Graham purchased the medical practice and the home of Dr. Langford in May of 1939.

*Dr. Langford’s son, Grover Cameron Langford served with the Canadian Armed Services through WWI, prior to becoming a physician.  He was shot through the thigh on the 25th of September 1917, while flying over German lines and survived.  Major Grover Cameron Langford appears on the Gathering Our Heroes website.

**Mrs. Elizabeth (Von Gunten) Langford’s brother Carl Frederick Von Gunten served with the United States Armed Services during WWI and WWII.  He is also featured on the Gathering Our Heroes website. 

***Dr. James Samson and Dr. John Malcolm Graham are also featured on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.  Dr. Langford’s cousin, Matilda Maud Langford married Dr. John Alexander MacGregor and Dr. MacGregor is also featured on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.