Biographies : United States  G - I

Baird, Garnet

In 1910, Garnet Baird, married Dr Young, she was daughter of James and Lydia Baird, both members of pioneer Iowa families. Mrs. Young is a member of the Tuesday Afternoon Club and of Glen Eyrie Chapter, Order Eastern Star. Their home, which was built in 1920, at 400 North Kenwood Street, is one of the finest in Glendale.
Dr. T. C. Young, who has practiced medicine and surgery in Glendale since 1909, was born at Winterset, Iowa, November 7, 1883, a son of H. R. and Edna E. (Osborne) Young. His father was born in Pennsylvania of Irish and Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. His mother was born in Vermont, a descendant of an old Yankee family, which dates back to the Plymouth Colony. Dr. Young was reared on his father’s farm, attended the district schools, graduated from Winterset High School, Winterset, Iowa; studied medicine at Des Moines, Iowa, for two years; after which he came to Los Angeles, where five more years were given to the study of medicine and surgery. In 1909 he came to Glendale and opened an office in the Felger Building where he has since been located.
History of Glendale and Vicinity by John Calvin Sherer. The Glendale Publishing Company, c. 1922

Baird, George W. 1835- aft 1881 [ Sheep Farmer ]

A native of Pennsylvania, born April 16th, 1835. In 1857 he removed to Minnesota and purchased a farm of 120 acres, located on section 18. In the spring of 1860 he imported the first Spanish Merino sheep brought into the State. He sold the first fleece of fine wool in Minneapolis receiving 95 cents per pound for the same. Giving his whole attention to fine Cotswold and Lincoln grades, he received first prizes at the Minneapolis Exposition of 1880. George married October 11th, 1865, to Miss Sarah G. Gates, a native of Vermont.
"History of Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis [Minnesota]". By George E. Warner, 1881.

Baird, Dr Henry Martyn 1832-aft 1884 [ Minister of Religion and Author ]

He was the son of Dr. Robert Baird, and was born in Philadelphia, January 7th, 1832. After graduating from the University of the City of New York, in June, 1850, he spent the years 1851-3 in Greece and Italy, in the former country studying in the University of Athens. On his return to this country, he studied theology in the Union and Princeton Theological Seminaries, graduating at the latter in 1856. From 1855 to 1859 he was tutor of Greek in the College of New Jersey. In 1859 he was elected Professor of the Greek Language and Literature, in the University of New York. He was ordained to the gospel ministry in April, 1866. In 1873 he was chosen Corresponding Secretary of the Americn and Foreign Christian Union. Besides a number of articles in the periodical press -- the New Englander, Methodist Quarterly, etc -- Dr. Baird is the author of "Modern Greece; A Narrative of a Residence and Travels in that Country," and of "The Life of Rev. Robert Baird, D.D."
Enclyclopedia of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, Alfred Nevin, Presbyterian Encyclopedia Pub Co., 1884.

Baird, Henry Samuel 1800-1875 [ Lawyer - Attorney General - Mayor ]

Henry was born on May 16, 1800, in Dublin, Ireland to Thomas Baird one of the United Irishmen, was imprisoned for a year in Kilmainham jail, Dublin, and on his release in 1802 came to the United States, whence in 1805 he was followed by his family, settling in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Henry as a youth, was educated in common schools. Having an interest in law, he entered the law office of S. Douglas in Pittsburgh at age eighteen. For the next four years, he worked at various law offices in Pennsylvania and Ohio, finally acquiring a position in Cleveland at the office of Reuben Wood, who became Governor of Ohio in 1850. In 1822, suffering from a fever, he moved to Mackinac Island, Michigan Territory, to recover his health. While there, he taught school. Although intending to return to Ohio, Baird noted the opportunities for a lawyer in a frontier area and decided to remain. He was admitted to the bar in 1823 of a newly created district of Michigan Territory, comprising of all present day Iowa and Wisconsin. He moved to Green Bay in 1824 where, before a special session of Territorial Judge James D. Doty's court held October 4, 1824, he became the first professional lawyer in what is now Wisconsin.

On August 12, 1824, he married Elizabeth Therese Fisher, a native of Prairie du Chien, who was raised in Mackinac and attended Baird's school. Because of her varied knowledge of the area, her Indian ancestry, and her ability to interpret for Baird's French clientele, Mrs. Baird contributed much to his success in law and politics. Their home was the center of Green Bay social life for many years. The Bairds had four children, Eliza A., Emilie Virginia, Elinor, and Louise Sophie.
Baird was prominent in Indian affairs and often critical of government actions regarding them. In 1830, he was a negotiator for the Winnebago and Menominee tribes in land sales. He served as secretary to Henry Dodge at the treaty at Cedar Point in 1836, was commissioner at the treaty of Buffalo Creek in 1838, and was Secretary to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, William Medill, at the council held at Lake Poygan in 1848.

His political career began in 1836 when he was elected as a Whig to the Wisconsin Territorial Legislative Council. He served as president of its first session, which began its meeting at Belmont, Wisconsin, on October 25, 1836. In December 1836, Governor Henry Dodge appointed him Attorney General of the Territory, a position he held until 1839. He was a delegate from Brown County to the first Wisconsin Constitutional Convention in 1846, serving on several committees. In 1853, he was the Whig candidate for governor. In this year also, he was elected President of the Green Bay Borough board, becoming Mayor of Green Bay for two terms in 1861 and 1862. Finally, he served as Draft Commissioner for Brown County during the Civil War.
In addition to his legal and political interests, Baird supervised the sale of the Astor family property in Brown County from 1862 until his death. He also served as agent in other real estate transactions. He was elected Vice-President of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin in 1862. In 1871, Baird and his wife were in charge of relief work for victims of the Peshtigo Fire. In 1874, he was one of the organizers of the Kellogg National Bank in Green Bay.

Note: His brother, Thomas James, born in Dublin, Ireland, 30 April, 1794 married Elizabeth Catherine Carey, he died in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, 5 April, 1842; was graduated at, West Point in 1814, served in the war against Great Britain, and resigned a captain of artillery in 1828.--The son of the latter, Edward Carey, born, in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, in April, 1836; Married Emily J. Thompson, he died near Ashland, Virginia 14 November, 1874, served in the civil war for nearly four years, was assistant adjutant-general to General John F. Reynolds, in command of the left wing of the Army of the Potomac; and on the first day of the battle of Gettysburg, that general died in his arms. Baird was promoted to the rank of major for gallant conduct.
The picture at left is of Henry Carey Baird.

Baird Isaac Newton. 1827 [ Teacher- Farmer ]

Was born in Hickman county, Tenn., August 1, 1827, and was one of eleven children born to Samuel M.Baird and Sarah Norris, both natives of North Carolina. Of their large family of children, ten grew to mature years, but only four are now living, Isaac being the eldest. The others are: Dorcas E., Nancy C. and James E. The father was a farmer, and removed to Illinois, locating near Vandalia, where he worked on the National road until about 1836. He then moved back from Illinois to Hickman county, Tenn., afterward removing to Van Buren county, Ark., and resided there for some time.
Isaac received only the rudiments of an education in Van Buren county, and started out for himself when twenty years of age. He first began cutting cordwood on the present site of Argenta, Pulaski county, and in 1846 enlisted as a private in Company C, Arkansas cavalry, for the Mexican war. He served in Wool's division under Gen. Taylor, and was in the battle of Buena Vista. Returning to Arkansas he remained only a short time and then came to Catahoula parish, La., and began teaching school, teaching a term, and then attending a term, until he reached his twenty-fifth year. He continued teaching until 1855, when he married Miss Barbara E. Rourke, daughter of Joseph and Barbara W. (Prater) Rourke. After his marriage Mr. Baird engaged in overseeing, and this continued until 1862, or about five years. He then took his family to Texas, to his father in Parker county, and afterwards joined a company that was stationed to guard the frontier.

By his marriage Mr. Baird became the father of eight children, seven of whom are living: Kate L. (deceased, was the wife of J. E. Montgomery), Charles N., Samuel Joseph, Sarah E. (wife of Walter Bruce), Isaac C., Ernest E. and Alyce M. (twins), and Frederick A. B. After the Civil war Mr. Baird began planting for himself on his present property, and in 1870 or 1871 purchased the place, "Orchard Grove," which consists of 880 acres, with about 350 acres under cultivation. He raises annually one bale of cotton, or thirty bushels of corn per acre. Mr. Baird owns altogether about 2,000 acres of land, 240 acres in Catahoula parish, "Pinhook" plantation, "Miller" plantation on Horseshoe lake, consisting of 700 acres, and "Ritchie" plantation of 160 acres. On all these places there are made over 400 bales of cotton annually. He is one of those enterprising, progressive men who will succeed in whatever they undertake in spite of difficulties and comparatively few opportunities. He is a man of intelligence and excellent judgment, is strong in his convictions, and is a pleasant and entertaining conversationalist. He was for a number of years justice of the peace of Ward Nine, and during those years he never tried a civil case, though many were brought before him. He would always, by judicious reasoning, induce the individuals interested to adjust their differences.
Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, volume 2, pp. 258-259

Baird, Israel 1800 - 1848 [ Farmer ]

Was born on March 8, 1800 in Asheville, North Carolina, the son of Bedent Baird and Mary Ann Welsh. He owned and operated an 800 acre farm which encompassed the entire Beaver Lake area, two miles north of downtown Asheville.
He married on April 4, 1825 at Morganton, Burke County, North Carolina to Mary Ann Tate born 1805. Her father was Judge Samuel Tate of Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Mary Ann's grandfather, Samuel "Rock" Tate married Elizabeth Caldwell, a Scotch-Irish girl and they sailed from Londonderry County, Ireland to Philadelphia and purchased large tracts of land. Although her grandfather subsequently moved to Augusta County, Virginia, Mary Ann's father remained in Pennsylvania. Mary Ann's mother, Elizabeth Alexander Tate, was the daughter of Joseph Alexander, a captain in the Revolution. Mary Ann died on 19th July 1877.

In 1838 Israel Baird acquired some 40 acres of land on the west side of North Broadway Street and built a two story brick house located in the southwest corner of Cherry and Broadway. During his lifetime, he was active in the Methodist Church on the western side of Church Street in Asheville (now Central United Methodist Church). Israel Baird died on Dec 16, 1848, in Asheville.

Children are: Susan, 1826 - 1915, she married Daniel Reynolds. William Bedent, 1828 - 1905 married Cynthia Alice Harris Carter. Mary, 1830 - 1898, married James M. Craigmiles. Dr. James Samuel, 1831 - 1913 married Sarah Louis L. Abbott. Margaret, born 1835 married Augustus S. Merrimon, he was a North Carolina Superior Court Judge. Emma Elizabeth Baird, 1837 - 1875 died in Williamtown, Kentucky and never married. Harriet, born 1838 married Nathaniel Atkinson an attorney of Buncombe County Superior Court. Annie Baird, 1842 - 1842. Julia, 1842 - 1858 died while at home on vacation from college. Catherine, 1844 - 1882 married Fletcher Reynolds. Charles, born April 9, 1847 married Jennie E. Harrison.