Biographies : United States   J

Baird, James 1788 -1857 [ Farmer ]

A native of New Jersey, born Sept. 5, 1788, and when seven years old was brought to Kentucky, by an uncle, who placed him in the family of David Ellis, a Bourbon County farmer; with him he remained until manhood. James then left home and came to Harrison County, where he married Nancy Blair, daughter of Samuel and Polly (Russell) Blair, who lived on Twin Creek, in this county.
Soon after his marriage he bought and settled on a small farm on Raven Creek. His wife was born June 9, 1791, and died March 31, 1839. This union resulted in ten children, three sons and seven daughters; eight of the children are still living and are all married, and with one exception they all reside in their native county. They rank among the leading and most prominent families of their part of the county. James Baird's second marriage was to Mrs. Nancy Garnett, who survived him but a few years. He lived to see all his children married, he died Dec. 25, 1857, aged sixty-nine years. [ also see son Samuel and grandson Francis Ellis ]
History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison and Nicholas Counties, Kentucky, O. L. Baskin & Co., Chicago, 1882.

Baird, James [ Meat Industry ]

James Baird, Sr., was born in Ohio county, and died at the early age of thirty years. His father, Thomas Baird, was a farmer by occupation, and died at an advanced age. James Baird, Sr., was united in marriage with Eliza Garrison, who died at the age of sixty-four years.
James Baird, the subject of this sketch, received but a limited schooling, and at an early age left the farm to earn his living. He developed studious habits and early began to save his earnings while on the farm. He accumulated sufficient money by the time he became of age to start a meat business in Wheeling, which he carried on successfully for thirty- one years. He sold out his business with the intention of retiring from active life, and moved to Elm Grove, where he purchased a residence. He has also purchased other property in the town which he rents. In 1899, he was elected to the town council, and was re-elected in 1900, and is serving on the committee on finance. He has been very active in politics for a number of years. Several years ago, he purchased a farm of 150 acres, which proved to have underlying veins of coal. He has since sold the rights to the coal but retains the farming rights to all but 60 acres of it. He has served two years as county commissioner.

Mr. Baird was married December 25, 1870, to Annie Kimmins, a daughter of Thomas and Jane (Stuart) Kimmins. Her father, who was born in Pennsylvania, was a tanner by trade, and died at the early age of thirty years. Her mother is still living at the advanced age of eighty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Baird are the parents of four children: Hallie, born January 19, 1871; Carrie, who was born February 29, 1872 and died in November, 1900: Edwin, born June 29, 1874; and Annie May, who was born in October, 1876, and died in April, 1898. The family attends the Stone Presbyterian church of Elm Grove, of which Mr and Mrs. Baird have been active members for more than thirty years. He was elected to represent the church in the general assembly at Philadelphia, in May, 1901.
History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902.

Baird, Clair James. 1878- [ Attorney ]

Born Carthage, Ill Dec 17, 1878, son of William Baird and Sarah M Allison, he was educated at Omaha HS 1895; and Monmouth Ill College 1897; then graduated from the University of N, LLB 1902; Clair married Adele Louise McHugh on Sept 9, 1908 at Omaha; Their children are:- William James dec, Barbara Caroline (Mrs W J McMartin), Janet Josephine, Adele Louise; 1902-37 member of the law firm William Baird & Sons, Omaha

Baird, Dr Jay, 1870- [ Medical Pactitioner ]

Josiah Baird, grandfather of Jay Baird, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1802, and when he was quite young his parents moved to Muskingum County, Ohio, where he married and where he took up the trade of blacksmith. A number of years later, along in the '50s, he moved out to Iowa with his son, the father of Dr Baird, and lived in Van Buren County of that state until his death in 1886. In religion he was a stanch old Covenanter Presbyterian. Politically he was a republican. Josiah Baird married Mary Thompson, who was born in Ohio in 1806 and died in Van Buren County, Iowa, in 1892. Their children were: Nathan; Cephas, who was a minister of the Lutheran Church; Letitia, who married Uriah Law, both died at Troy in Davis County, Iowa.
Dr. Jay Baird was born near Keosauqua, Van Buren County, Iowa, October 23, 1870. His father, Nathan Baird, was born in Ohio in 1838, where he married his first wife, and along in the '50s moved out to Van Buren County, Iowa, where he was one of the pioneer settlers and until the close of his life, which occurred on his home farm in Van Buren County in 1900, he followed farming and stock raising. He was a very active member of the United Presbyterian Church. During the Civil war he was a member of the Home Guards. Nathan Baird married for his first wife Susan Liming, who was born in Ohio and died in Van Buren County, Iowa. Their children were: Jefferson F., a merchant at Odell, Illinois; Luther C., a merchant at Sioux City, Iowa; Howard, a stock man in Van Buren County, Iowa. For his second wife, Nathan Baird married Lurinda Sophia Jones, who was born in Ohio in 1852 and still lives on the old farm in Iowa. Her children were: Seth, who is a farmer near the old place in Iowa; Oscar, who graduated from the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati and is now a physician and surgeon at Chanute, Kansas; Dr. Jay Baird is the third of the children; Rufus, the next younger died at the age of five years; Flo is the wife of Harry L. Gleason, a jeweler in Boston, Massachusetts; Clay runs the old home farm in Van Buren County, Iowa, his farm comprising a quarter section of land; Justice graduated from the University of Michigan, where he received his law degree and received the degree of Bachelor of Science from the State University of Iowa and is now in active practice at Kansas City, Kansas.

Dr. Jay Baird attended district schools in his home county in Iowa, graduated from the Keosauqua High School, and for three years taught in Van Buren County. This was followed by a year spent in the State Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa, and another year in the State Normal School at Cedar Falls. Earning his way by teaching, he began his medical education in the State University of Iowa, where he spent two years, and beginning with 1897 practiced medicine as an undergraduate at Vilas, Kansas. He finished his medical course in 1900 in the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati. After graduating 2½ years were spent in Nebraska, but in 1902 he located to Coffeyville, and has been steadily in practice there both as a physician and surgeon ever since. A large part of his practice in recent years is as a specialist in diseases of children. Doctor Baird has his offices at 126 West Ninth Street, and is a member of the County and State Medical societies and belongs to all the medical associations of the Eclectic School.
Dr Baird also owns a fruit farm of forty acres in the Bitter Root Valley of Montana, also a tract of land in Oklahoma, and some 600 acres in Arkansas. Politically he is an independent republican, and is a trustee and active supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1900 in Iowa he married Miss Ida K. Minear, a daughter of George and Emma Minear, both now deceased. Her father was a farmer and stockman in Van Buren County, Iowa. Doctor and Mrs. Baird have three children: Byrle, born November 15, 1902, and a student in the public schools; Bruce M., born August 9, 1906, and also in school; and Lois Catherine, born November 9, 1913.A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans

Baird, John -1768-1846 [ Minister ]

Rev. Baird was a pioneer minister that came from Maryland in 1795 to Kentucky. He settled near Levelwoods in the late 1790's. He quickly set about in establishing the Levelwoods Methodist Church. He spent 54 years in the Methodist Church and was described as "An able expounder of the word of God". He died on April 17, 1846 at the age of 78. He is buried in a small family cemetery on his farm. The cemetery is about a mile from the Levelwoods Church.

Baird, John Jnr 1824-aft 1894 [Bricklayer -Farmer ]

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. The son remembers the father well, although but nine years old at the time of his decease. The father was a great hunter, a stanch Presbyterian, and once whipped his namesake for whistling on Sunday. He was justice of the peace twelve years previous to his death.

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.
A Portrait and Biographical Record of Delaware and Randolp Counties Indiana. A.W. Bowen & Co., 1894

Baird, John C -1819 - [ Est, Baird Bros Firm ]

Was born at Somerset, Penn., April 30, 1819. His parents were Daniel Baird and Annie M. Kurtz, natives of the Keystone State. The former was a carpenter and builder and cabinet maker. He was a soldier in the American army during the war of 1812, and died September 15, 1876 aged eighty-three years and four months. He was a man of strong constitution, very vigorous, and up to the time of his death (caused by old age) never suffered a week's sickness. His amiable helpmeet followed him to the "shadowed land" December 16, 1879, aged eighty-one years and nine months. They were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom yet survive.
John was reared amid the rocky hills of Old Pennsylvania, and when sixteen years of age commenced to learn the trade of his father, continuing with him in business for some years. When twenty-five years of age, he came to Dayton, where he worked at his trade for quite a period. In the meantime, his brother, William F., had visited the Valley City, and located there. The two brothers decided to embark in the busy and tempestuous sea of life, and, as both were practically mechanics, decided to establish their present business. They did so, under the firm name of Baird Bros., and have continued the business to the present time. Since coming to Dayton, Mr. Baird was, for three years, engaged in the grocery business. He was married in an early day, and buried a wife and child in October 1843. His second marriage was solemnized in 1847, the second party to the contract being Susan Olive a native of Zanesville, Ohio. They have four children living-Charles H., William F., Florence and Arthur-the eldest son and daughter being married. Mr. Baird and wife are members of the First Lutheran Church, the former having officiated as Deacon for some years. Mr. Baird joined the I.O.O.F., in August, 1845, and since that period has given much of his time to the advancement of the order. He assisted in establishing the Holly system in Dayton, an act of which he justly feels proud.
The History of Montgomery County, Ohio" by W.H. Beers & Co. 1882

Baird, John 1836 - 1901 [Farmer ]

His grandfather, John Baird, came from County Tyrone, Ireland, to Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, about 1778. Then moved to Virginia where he bought 400 acres of land in 1785. The deed was made out at Richmond, Virginia, and signed by Edmund Randolph, governor of the commonwealth of Virginia. He was married in 1790 to Jane Hosick. They had eight children, namely: John, Jane, George, Eleanor, Elizabeth, William, Josiah and Joseph.
John Baird, son of John Baird, the first to come to this country, was born in 1792. He removed to Ohio in his twenty-second year, and there married. In 1840, he went to Des Moines, Iowa, where he remained until his removal, to Kirksville, Missouri. He died there in 1865, at the age of seventy-three years and was the father of 12 children, but only five survived him. Jane Baird was married to John Beall and settled in Belmont county, Ohio. Eleanor Baird was born February 8, 1801, and married James Jamison, of Dallas, West Virginia. She died in 1863, leaving no children. Elizabeth Baird was born January 27, 1803, and married William Miller, of Ohio county; after his death, she removed to Licking county, Ohio; she had no children. William Baird was born March 5, 1806, and removed to Pataskala, Ohio, where he died in 1889, aged eighty-three years. He had two daughters, one of whom survived him.
Josiah Baird, father of the subject of this sketch, was born March 8, 1807. His whole life was spent on the home place. May 7, 1835, he married Rosannah Merchant. Her father, Reuben Merchant, who came to this country from Northfield, England, in 1788, married Polly Gaitor on August 18, 1795, he was a cabinetmaker, and owned the Black Diamond coal mine near Wheeling Creek. Josiah Baird and his wife Rosannah had five children, as follows: John, whose name heads this sketch; Joseph, born October 22, 1838, and died September 26, 1848; Mary, born March 13 1841, married Dr. A. Allison and is now living near Martin's Ferry, Ohio, her husband having died in 1898; Jane, born October 4, 1844, and now living on the home place; and James Hervey, born April 22, 1847, and died March 26, 1850. The mother died September 14, 1848.

Josiah Baird was married again in 1850 to Elizabeth Chambers, a daughter of Joseph Chambers, whose father, James Hamilton Chambers, came to this country from County Derry, Ireland, about 1790, settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and moved after to Pleasant Valley, east of Wheeling. Josiah and Elizabeth (Chambers) Baird had three children: William C., born March 9, 1852; Rebecca Ellen, born October 28, 1853; and Josiah Wallace. Mrs. Baird died Sep 23, 1859. William C. Baird is living on the home place. He was married in 1878 to Margaret E. McCulloch.
John Baird, the oldest son of Josiah and Rosannah (Merchant) Baird, was born Feb 6, 1836, and spent his entire life, as did his father, on the farm where he was born. He was an enthusiastic farmer. He always took an active part in Farmers' Institutes. He was never a very strong man, but always a very busy one. He took great interest in growing fine wool, was the first to introduce the bronze turkey into this part of the country, and also among the first to introduce Italian bees. He took great pride in thoroughbred stock. In the latter part of his life he became much absorbed in fruit growing. He was a member of the old Stone Presbyterian church, where his grandfather was one of the first elders. He was president of the board of trustees of that church for twenty years, and taught the Bible class in the Sabbath-school for twenty-six years. He was married in 1865 to Mary Louisa Nicoll, a daughter of William Ming Nicoll, of Wheeling, West Virginia, and one daughter was born but died in infancy. Mrs. Baird died November 26, 1876.
History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902.

Baird, Josiah Wallace [ Farmer - Mayor ]

A prominent citizen of Elm Grove, West Virginia, where he has been successfully engaged in the livery business since 1899, has spent the greater part of his life on the ancestral farm. This came into possession of the family in 1776, and contains 238 acres, situated about two miles from Elm Grove. It was purchased at that time by John Baird, grandfather of Josiah W.,
The grandfather was of Scotch-Irish extraction, and upon emigrating from the mother country settled for a time in Pennsylvania. As he did not like the land in that state, he did not locate there permanently, but purchased the above mentioned tract near Elm Grove, which was then in the state of Virginia.

Upon the death of John Baird, his son Josiah, the father of Josiah Wallace Baird, came into possession of the broad ancestral acrea, and spent his entire life in agricultural pursuits there, passing to his final rest in 1861. The farm then fell to Josiah Wallace Baird and his brothers and sisters. Josiah was united in marriage, March 28, 1899, with Jessie Creighton, a daughter of John Creighton. They have one child, Josiah W., Jr., born November 19, 1901. Our subject's mental training was limited to the common schools. He spent his early years on the old farm, and remained there until 1897, when he proceeded to West Alexander, and worked there until 1899. He then went to Elm Grove, purchased Henderson's livery stock, and has been most successful ever since, with his business constantly increasing. He was elected mayor of Elm Grove for one term, and also justice of the peace.
History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902.

Baird, Justus Nathan 1882- [ Lawyer ]

One of nine children Justus Nathan Baird was born on a farm near Keosauqua in Van Buren County, Iowa, March 17, 1882. He is grateful for the fact that his life was spent in the invigorating and wholesome atmosphere of the country. His parents were Nathan Baird and Lucinda S. Jones, both natives of Ohio, and of New England and Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. The respective families were established in this country in colonial days. Nathan Baird was an Iowa pioneer. He went from Ohio overland to that state in 1854 and took up a homestead of 150 acres of Government land. He used his oxen to break that land and later was joined by his parents in Iowa. He was married in Iowa to Miss Jones, and he lived on his farm until his death in 1900. The old homestead is still owned by his children. Nathan Baird was not only a successful farmer and stock raiser, but a man of much influence in his home community. He brought up his children to frugal and honorable standards of life, and his name is a benediction to them all. He and his wife were members respectively of the Presbyterian and Methodist denomination. His widow still lives on the old Iowa farm.
All the children were trained to make the best of their opportunities, and several of them aspired to professional careers. Justus N. Baird after leaving the common schools entered the Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant, where he remained three years, and in 1906 he graduated A. B. from the University of Iowa at Iowa City. He then entered the law department of the University of Michigan, where he was graduated with the class of 1908, and at the same time was admitted to the Michigan bar. A few weeks later he arrived at Kansas City, Kansas, and has been in active practice since February, 1909. Mr. Baird has practiced alone.
Unlike many young lawyers he has shown no inclination to enter political life, though he is a stanch republican. He has held various chairs in the lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and is always ready to help forward any public spirited enterprise. He and his wife are active in the Methodist Episcopal Church. On October 19, 1911, Mr. Baird married Miss Amelia Ware. Mrs. Baird, who was born in Kansas, is a daughter of one of the greatest of Kansans, the late Eugene Ware, whose place as a great lawyer, a great post, and a public leader will always entitle him to a conspicuous position in Kansas history. Mr. and Mrs. Baird have one child, Justus N. Baird, Jr. [ see also his brothers Dr Jay Baird and Dr Oscar Baird ]
A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans