BAIRD-L Archives

From: Harold Morris< >
Subject: John Baird - Darke County
Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 14:40:50 -0500 (CDT)

Hi all,
I am forwarding this from another list dated: Tue May 4, 1999 11:38 pm
From:
To:
Subject: John Baird-Darke County

A PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF DELAWARE AND RANDOLPH COUNTIES,
IND. A.W. Bowen & Co., 1894 - Page 820-821
               JOHN BAIRD, one of the progressive
and up-with-the-times farmers of White River township, was born near New
Madison, Darke county, Ohio, November 21, 1824. His father, John Baird,
a native of Pennsylvania, was born July 28, 1775. He was first married
in Pennsylvania to Mrs. Sarah Lee, a widow, and three children were born
to them. Sarah, James, and Elizabeth. After the decease of this wife he
moved to Ohio and settled near Columbus, was married to Miss Jane
Ballard, and immediately moved to Darke county and entered a quarter
section of government land, where he lived, died and was buried. His
profession was that of a wagon-maker, and in all kinds of wood work was
a skillful mechanic for those early days. His mother, Mrs. Martha Baird,
came with him from Pennsylvania; his grandfather, John Baird, died in
that state, and the grandmother died in Ohio at the advanced age of
eighty-five years. The father of the second John Baird, Jr., in his day
used to make wooden mold boards for ploughs and truckle wagons. By his
second wife he had four children, Indiana, Fanny, Rebecca and John
-John, the youngest, and of whom we shall write, being the only one
remaining of the children of the first and second wives. His father died
August 7, 1833, aged fifty-seven years. He died of cancer in the nose.
The son remembers the father well, although but nine years old at the
time of his decease. The father was a great hunter and had many
thrilling narratives to relate of his adventures. He was a stanch
Presbyterian, and once whipped his namesake for whistling on Sunday. He
was justice of the peace twelve years previous to his death. He was a
prominent man in his county for that early day and in good
circumstances.
               John Baird, Jr., remained in the
old home until he was twenty-one years of age, attending school in the
winter months. Arriving at his majority, he left home to learn the brick
laying trade with Jason Downing, who married Rebecca, his youngest
sister, September 21, 1848; he was married to Sarah Ann Woodbury,
daughter of Nathan P. and Susannah (Jennings) Woodbury, all natives of
Ohio. His wife was born February 7, 1829, and in this marriage thirteen
children were born; the oldest died in infancy: Nathan James, born June
14, 1851; Lindzy, born August 16, 1852; Charles, born July 10, 1854;
David F., born April 22, 1855; Michael, born October 6, 1856; William,
born October 26, 1857; Fanny, born December 19, 1858, Susannah, born
February 13, 1860; Elizabeth J., born June 14, 1861; John Baird Jr.,
born July 23, 1863; Melinda, born January 11, 1866, and of this number
seven now are living. Mr. Baird worked at brick laying at intervals for
eighteen years in connection with farming. By purchase and inheritance
he became the possessor of forty-two acres of the old home place, where
he lived until August 30, 1870, at which date, with his family, he came
to Randolph county, where he has since remained engaged in farming. He
has been administrator of numerous estates in Ohio and this county, but
has never aspired to any office, being too busy with the affairs at
home. In politics he is a straightforward republican, but before the
Pierce administration voted the democratic ticket, but the Missouri
compromise disgusted him. It is interesting to hear Mr. Baird relate his
adventures with wild animals in early pioneer days -especially with
wolves -and the winter firesides are made more pleasant by these tales
of the times that tried men's souls.

Hope this may help someone.
Harold in New Orleans

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• John Baird - Darke County by Harold Morris< >