William J. Baird

As printed in 1902

WILLIAM J. BAIRD.

William J. Baird is living in Pleasant township, Clark county. He owns and operates a farm near Vienna Crossroads and is numbered among the native sons of this locality, his birth having occurred east of the village of Harmony, on the 27th of March, 1826. His father, Peter C. Baird, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1792, and his father was a Revolutionary soldier and acted as a guard for the captured

Hessians. It is understood that he allowed prisoners to escape, having overheard them saying that they would never go back to Germany but would become citizens of America. He thus added to the number of loyal adherents to the colonial cause. Peter C. Baird, the father of our subject, was one of a family of six children: Mrs. Hester Smith; Elizabeth, the wife of John Wilson; Mary, the wife of. John Hodge; Peter, the father of our subject; John, who wedded Miss Kirkpatrick; and William, who married Miss Sarah Hodge. After arriving at years of maturity, Peter C. Baird was united in marriage to Frances Wilson. They became the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this review is the eldest. The others are: Clarissa, the wife of John Mills; Dorothea, deceased; Caroline, the wife of Joseph Dietrich; Willis, who was twice married; Louis, who married Sallie Patton; Robert, who was killed in the Civil war when a young man; Susan; and Mary Ann, who died when about twenty years of age.

William J. Baird resided with his father until thirty years of age. He was then married, on the roth.of March, 1857, to Mary E. Hayward, and they-became the parents of three children: John Oscar, who was born February 20, 1858, and married Susie Slagle: Margaret, who was born March 10, 1860, and married George Everhart; and Louis R., who was born April 10, 1863. The first wife of Mr. Baird died October 9, 1864, and he was again married February 19, 1867, his second union being with Nancy Jane Kimball, who was born August 5, 1840. Her father was Giles K. Kimball, and her mother bore the maiden name of Eveline Turner. Both parents came from Maryland to Ohio and in their family were twelve children. Madison married Ruth Laughlin and for his second wife he those

Leona (Austin) Crawford. in childhood. William died unmarried. Francis married Mary Flack. Alfred wedded Lizzie Markley. Lizzie became the wife of Charles Hodge. Alzina became the wife of Charles Mitch. Aaron wedded Mary Moody. Ella married Tom Everhart. Amanda became the wife of Grant McCartney. Andrew wedded Edith Crawford. By the second wife our subject has five children, all of whom are now living: Clara Elizabeth is the wife of Frank C. Jones, by whom she has four children; Milton J., who resides in Pleasant township, married Floy Neer, and they have one child; Nellie Alzina is the wife of Clark E. Jones; Eva Albina is the next of the family; Laura Ellen is the wife of Miner Slagle, and they have one child. All these children were born on the home place in Pleasant township and are still living.

At the time of his marriage Mr. Baird of this review took up his above upon a farm. He has always carried on agricultural pursuits and is known as an enterprising, wideawake farmer. He has also given considerable attention to the raising of stock, including hogs, cattle, sheep and horses. He isan excellent judge of all kinds of domestic animals, and thus his purchases and sales have been judiciously made. He has placed all of the improvements upon his farm, for when it came into his possession it was a tract of woodland. It is called the Sugar Grove farm because of the large maple orchard upon it. Indians worked the sugar grove at a very early day and the tomahawks which they used in chopping the trees are still occasionally found in the grove. Everything about the place is neat and thrifty in appearance, and from the time of the early sugar-making in the spring until crops are gathered in the late autumn Mr. Baird is

Samuel died found busy about his work, carefully superintending everything that is carried on in connection with the improvement of the land and his stock dealing interests. His memory goes back to an early epoch ini the development of this portion of the state. He can remember when there were nothing: but “corduroy” roads here and when the forests stood in their primeval strength, the land being all uncleared. Old stage coaches, too, made trips from town to town! during his boyhood days. There was a general muster held twice a year, and this was made a festal occasion for large districts. Everybody that possibly could attended the muster, and it was a period of sociability and much generous hospitality.

In his religious views Mr. Baird is a Presbyterian, and his wife belongs to the Christian church. Formerly he was connected with the Supreme Order of the Star Spangled Banner or Know-Nothing party. In early life he gave his political support to the Whig party, and upon its dissolution he joined the ranks of the Republican party, of which he is now an earnest advocate. He has served as township trustee, filling the office years ago for several terms. A self-made man, all that he possesses has come to him as the result of hard work. As one of the pioneer settlers of Clark county he well deserves representation in this volume.

As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.