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Archiver > BAIRD > 1998-01 > 0884826704


From: PattFulton <>
Subject: Absalom BAIRD, Washington Co., PA
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 1998 20:11:44 EST


I, too, have been researching this BAIRD line and would like to add the
following:

"Commerative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (1893
Rpt.,New Orleans, Polyanthas, 1976), 250-251.

George BAIRD. This gentleman was a typical specimen of the vigorous and
hearty Scotch-Irish race from which he calimed descent. His grandfather, John
BAIRD, came to America, as a soldier under General Braddock, and shared with
him the memorable defeat on the Monongahela, July 9, 1755. He is said to have
lost his life in the disastrous battle of Grant's Hill in 1758, before Fort
Duquesne (now Pittsburgh). His widow with her infant son, Absalom, continued
to reside in the home he had established for them in Chester County, Penn.
But on arriving at a suitable age, this son was sent to the famous academy at
Pequa, in Lancaster County, then conducted by the eminent educator, Dr. Robert
Smith, where by thorough study, he prepared himself to enter upon a course of
medicine. The outbreak of the American Rev. found him a physician ready for
practice, and opened to him a fine field of professional energy and of
patriotism as an army surgeion, a capacity in which he served his country
until 1781, when his regiment was disbanded under an act of Congress.
Returning to Chester County, he settled in Kennett Square, and there practiced
medicine until November, 1786, when he removed to Washington, Penn. In his
new spere, Dr. Baird, besides practicing medicine soon reached eminence as a
leader in the community, as indicated by the various offices he successively
hed, viz.: justice of the peace, county lieutenant, brigade inspector, member
of the State Senate, and then of the House of Representatives, sheriff of
Washington County and trustee of Washington Academy, the germ of the present
Washington College. He died October 27, 1805, leaving four sons, viz.: John,
who followed him in the medical profession, but died early; George, the
subject of this memorial, and Thomas H. and William, both of whom became
eminent and successful lawyers, the former also a distinguished judge. This
first wife, Susanna (Brown), was called from earth November 16, 1802, about
three years before his death, and his second, Margaret (Darrah), followed his
remains to the grave in the year succeeding their marriage.

George Baird, the second son of Dr. Absalom Baird,was born in Kennett Square,
Chester Co. Penn, October 28, 1785. He was taken by his parents to their new
home in Washington at the age of eleven months, and here he grew up into the
bodily and mental strength which ever characterized him amidst the peculiar
advantages of a community whose first settlers possessed unusual culture and
transmitted it to their posterity. The death of his father left Mr. Baird an
orphan of just twenty years. He had simultaneously been for some time
pursuing classical and mathematical study at Washington Academy, and preparing
for the practice of medicine in his father's office.

It goes on to tell that because of his father's death, he had to abandon his
studies and help support the family. His first important venture, along with
his brother-in-law, Nicholas Wilson, in the form of a boat-load of flour for
the market in New Orleans, was a disastrous failure, on account of the
depression of prices. Subsequently he was engaged in business for a time at
St. Genevieve, Mo., and also at Nashville, Tenn. But returning to his home in
Washington County, he ran for an became sheriff in the election of 1811.

It's much longer and anyone interested can e-mail me.

Dr. Absalom Baird had a grandson, also named Absalom that fought in the Civil
War. Ezra J. Warner, "Generals in Blue, Lives of the Union Commanders,
(New Orleans: Louisiana State University Press, 1977)15-16.

Absalom BAIRD, grandson of a surgeon in the Revolutionary Army, and great-
grandson of a lieutenant in the French and Indian Wars, was born at
Washington, Penn, on August 20, 1824. He was graduated from Washington
College and in 1849 from West Point, ranking ninth in a class of forty-three.
Commissioned in the artillery, he campaigned against the Seminoles in Florida,
instructed for six years at the Academy, and did a tour of duty on the Texas
frontier. Baird transferred from line to staff at the outbreak of the Civil
War and was present at First Manassas as adjutant of Tyler's division. In the
Spring of 1862 he took part in the Peninsular campaign as inspector general
and chief of staff of the IV (Keye's) Corps. Appointed brigadier general of
volunteers on Spril 28, Baird's subsequent Civil War career was in the Western
theater. As a division commander under William S. Rosecrans, and later under
George H. Thomas and W. T. Sherman, he played a prominent part in all the
operations of the forces which swept Braxton Bragg out of Tenn, held the
famous Horseshoe Ridge at Chickamauga, maneuvered Joseph E. Johnson from
Dalton to Atlanta, and moved through Georgia to Savannah and up the Atlantic
Coast until the final capitulation by Gen. Johnson in North Carolina.
However, Baird was never advanced beyond divisional command, nor where the
several recommendations for his promotion to major general of volunteers acted
upon. At the end of the war he was brevetted major general in both the
volunteers and the Regular Army, mustered out of volunteer service in 1866,
and reverted to his regular rank of major and assistent inspector general. He
retired in 1888, and died near Relay, MD, on June 14, 1905, and was buried in
Arlington National Cem.

There is also a paragraph about Major Baird in: Bvt. Major-General George W.
Cullum, "Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S.
Military Academy," (New York: D. Van Nostrand, 1868),233

Dr. Baird is listed in: Virgil D. White, abstractor, "Genealogical Abstracts
of Rev. War Pension Files," Vol I (as in eye) A-E (Waynesboro, Tenn.:
National Historical Pub. Co., 1990),118.
BAIRD, Absalom BLW #2246-400-25 Feb. 1839, Cont. line (PA) sol's only
surviving children were: George & Thomas H. Baird, appl 16 Feb. 1839
Alleghany Cty PA, at sol's death other children children were: John, William,
Sarah & Susan Baird & John & Susan died without issue, Sarah mar a man named
Hodge & died leaving 1 child, towit: George Hodge, William Baird d. leaving
children; Susan, Absalom (the man of the above sketch who was in the Civil
War, by pmf), William, Jane, Catharine & Maria Baird. The soldier was called
Dr. Baird.

You can also find Dr. Baird in Thomas Lynch Montgomery, "Soldiers Who Received
Depreciation Pay," Penn. Archives, 5th Series, Vol. !V (Harrisburg:
Harrisburg Pub. Co., 1906),183.

I have more if anyone if interested.

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