Charles Baird

CHARLES BAIRD, a well known attorney of Akron, was born in this city March 25, 1853, a son of Robert and Helen Baird. His father was a native of Scotland, born in Kincardineshire, in 1818, who came in 1843 to America, settling in Akron, where he followed the trade of blacksmith for many years. He was a strong anti-slavery man and free-boiler, and later one of the most faithful adherents of the Republican party. He was married in Akron to Helen Knox Moir, a native of Forfarshire, Scotland, and daughter of Charles and Mary (Gordon) Moir. She died in Akron in February, 1891, at the age of seventy-one years. They were the parents of five children: William, Isabel, Charles, Mary and Helen.

Charle.3 Baird acquired his elementary education in the common schools, being later graduated from the Akron High School. He then spent a year in classical study at Buchtel College, after which he entered the law office of Upson & Ford, under whose mentorship he studied closely until his admission to the bar, November 2, 1875. He then entered into partnership with Judge Upon, under the firm name of Upson & Baird. Mr. Ford entering the firm in 1877, its style became Upson, Ford & Baird, and it was so continued until March, 1883, when Mr. Upson was called to the Supreme Bench of Ohio. The firm was then dissolved and Mr. Baird practiced alone until 1891, at which time he formed a partner-.ship with Edwin F. Voris, under the firm name of Baird & Voris, which connection la.sted until June, 1895. Mr. Baird now has a large and lucrative law practice and gives special attention to corporation law, in which branch of his profession he has been very successful.

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Coi-nell, of which he was appointed one of the executors in 1892. As an attorney Mr. Baird practices in the courts of IllinoLs, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New York and Ohio, and also in the federal courts.

Mr. Baird was married, Febmary 10, 1882, to Miss Lucy Allen Voris, a daughter of General A. C. Voris, of Akron, of which union there have been born children as follows: Alvin Voris, December 3, 1882; Helen Elizabeth, August 30, 1884; Betsev Coe, June 11, 1886; Charles, October 15, 1888; and Katharine, November 19, 1890.

JAMES MADISON POULSON wa born March 27, 1842, near Holmesville, Holmes County, Ohio. In his boyhood he attended the district schools and was early trained to agricultural work. For several years before attaining his majority he taught winter school, working on a farm during the summers. He supplemented his education by attending a private school in Fredericksburg for several terms, and, after studjdng for a year in Hayesville Academy, he entered, in 1865, Princeton, New Jersey, College, from which he was graduated in June, 1868. In the same year he 'became a student at the Columl)ia College Law School at New York, and was graduated therefrom in May, 1870. On May 12, 1869, he was admitted to the bar in New York city, on examination. In August, 1870, he came to Akron, and was admitted to the bar of Summit County on September 9th following. He soon after entered into partnership with Mr. John J. Hall, which wa.5 continued until January 1, 1877. He was elected on the Democratic ticket prosecuting attorney for Summit County in October, 1874, and efficiently performed the duties of that office for two years — from January 1, 1875, to Jannary 1, 1877. He has since been engaged in the general practice of his profession and has lieen very successful. !Mr. Poulson was married September 28, 1875, to Miss Helen F. Smagg, only daughter of William Smagg, of Akron.

As printed in Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.