Biographies : United States  K - R

Baird, Lillian D

Dr. Weiser was married November 2, 1899, to Lillian D. Baird, who was born near Caledonia and is a daughter of William Baird and Ellen Christie, who live in Claridon township. One child has been born to Dr. and Mrs. Weiser-Marjorie Lucille. Walter J. Weiser was reared in Delaware County, and received his early education in the district schools of that county, later attending the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware for three years, after which he taught school for two years, at the same time studying medicine. He then entered the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical Institute, from which, after pursuing a three-years' course, he was graduated June 6, 1894. He immediately thereafter located at Claridon and embarked in the practice of his profession, in which he has met with abundant success. he at first had competition but has none now.

Baird, L. M. 1831 - [ Book-keeper Clothier ]

Born in Spencer County, Ky., September 22, 1831. His father, Stephen Baird, a Virginian, early moved to Kentucky, there married Mrs. Sarah Pierson, nee McDonald, a native of that state, owned a plantation worked by slave labor, and was prosperous. Selling his farm, he distributed some of his slaves among his children, took some to Vigo County, Ind., whither he moved, and gave them their freedom. Purchasing a tract of land near Terre Haute, he settled there in 1833, and remained until his death six years later.
Seven years after his father's death, at the age of fifteen he accepted employment as a clerk, and remained so engaged in various positions until October, 1851, when, yielding to the excitement caused by the rich discoveries of gold on the Pacific coast, in company with Robert N. Gilmore, he went to California. Returning to Terre Haute in the spring of 1853, he entered the clothing store of Samuel Mack, the next year, he embarked in the clothing business for himself at Worthington, Green County, Ind. At this place, on Christmas day, 1856, he was united in marriage to Miss D. H. Blount, who, two years later, passed away, leaving a little daughter six months old. In May, 1859, he was married a second time, to Miss Ann E. Blount, a sister of his first wife.
In April, 1861 that he moved to Evansville and accepted a situation as book-keeper with W. M. Aikman & Co., at 220 Upper Water street, remaining in that capacity until the summer of 1865, when the firm failed in business, Mr. Baird buying the stock, etc. In September, 1865, he formed a co-partnership with George H. Start, under the firm name of Baird & Start, which was dissolved after nine years of successful operation. For fourteen years past the business has been continued by Mr. Baird alone, thus making more than twenty-six years of occupancy of the same building, first as bookkeeper and then as proprietor.
Mr. Baird's second wife died in January, 1873. She was the mother of nine children, five of whom died in infancy. On December 25, 1873, his marriage to Mrs. Mary Peterson occurred. She was the mother of two children at the time of his marriage, since which six more have been born.
History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, Brant & Fuller 1889

Baird, Madison L. 1865 - [ Livery business ]

Born May 5, 1865, in Daviess County, Ky., and is the fourth of four boys and one girl born to John H. and Emily Baird, of Daviess County. He was reared on a farm, and attended the common schools when not engaged in the duties incident to pioneer life; attended Lexington College one term. His parents died in the spring of 1881, when he engaged in farming one year, then engaged in the livery business at Sebree, in Webster County, for six months; in November, 1883, he located in Calhoun, and engaged in the livery business. He was married November 13, 1884, to Bell Cox, of McLean County, a daughter of O. M. and Sophronia (Collins) Cox, of Nelson County, Ky. Mrs. Baird is a member of the Baptist Church. He cast his first presidential vote for Cleveland in 1884. Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 2nd ed., 1885, McLean Co.

Baird, Margaret Elizabeth

Her parents, now deceased, were John F Baird and Mary E. Conn, natives of Kentucky. For over twenty years Elizabeth's father was postmaster of New Helena and for four years his wife was postmistress at the same place. On January 17, 1892, she married Mr Oscar A. Smith at New Helena, Nebraska. Oscar A. Smith was born in Columbus, Warren County, Pennsylvania, January 9, 1849, the son of William and Roxy (Bardwell) Smith, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania, where he died in 1861, and the latter in New York, the spring of 1892. He came to Hall County, Nebraska, in May, 1874, and engaged in freighting to Fort Niobrara, living in Grand Island while proving up on his claim. He retained his Custer County land until 1916. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith: Walter, who resides with his mother, was born Dec 30, 1892; Oscar Talmadge, born Oct 17, 1894, went to Europe as a soldier; Victor B., born June 9, 1897, is connected with the Nebraska Mercantile Company in Grand Island, and Laura C., who resides with her mother.

Baird, Martha 1895-1971 [ Pianist - Millionairess - Philanthropist ]

Martha was born in Madera, California, Mar 15, 1895, the second child of William F. Baird (1861-1916), a coal operator and merchant, and Mina A. Smith (1862-1903), a musician. Martha's first public performance was in June 1903, when, at the age of 8, she played "In the Gypsies' Camp" on piano at the University of Southern California's College of Music, where her mother taught piano and organ. Martha studied with Morton F. Mason, a composer and organist in California. She graduated from the Blairsville (Pennsylvania) School for Girls and attended Occidental College in Los Angeles. In 1915 she entered the New England Conservatory of Music. In May 1917 she won the school's annual piano competition, which earned her a $1,200 grand piano as the grand prize. That spring she graduated with highest honors from the school's soloist course.
On November 14, 1917, Martha Baird gave her first public recital at Boston's Jordan Hall. On March 22, 1920, Martha Baird made her New York debut at the Princess Theater at 104 West 39th Street. On August 4, 1920, she married Adrian Van Laar, an importer; they divorced in Paris in 1925. During her marriage, Martha Baird continued to perform under her own name, and on October 5, 1923, "the famous American pianist" made her debut in London at Wigmore Hall.

In 1930, Martha Baird was married to Arthur M. Allen, a lawyer, of Providence, Rhode Island. Some discussions of her career indicate that she retired from performing after her marriage to Allen, but she did not stop entirely. By the mid-1930s her appearances were concentrated around Boston and Providence, and she devoted more time to the Providence Symphony Orchestra, especially its concerts for young people. In May 1937 she was elected president of the Providence Community Concert Association, serving in that capacity until 1950. Arthur Allen died on May 6, 1950.
On August 15, 1951, Martha Baird Allen married John D. Rockefeller, Jr, whose wife Abby had died in 1948. Arthur Allen had been a Brown University classmate and a friend of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., so that Martha Baird had known JDR Jr. for some time. As a wedding present, JDR Jr. gave his bride a trust fund so that she could experience the joy of giving that he had known.

Martha Baird Rockefeller used her new wealth, and the $48 million she inherited upon her husband's death in 1960, to support her chosen field of music as well as causes identified with the Rockefeller family. In 1957, she established the Martha Baird Rockefeller Fund for Music, a private philanthropy that responded to various needs she saw in the field of music. Incorporated in 1962, the Fund's interest centered on young solo artists, who received support directly through individual grants or indirectly through contributions to performance organizations that offered advanced training and employment in important capacities. Until Mrs. Rockefeller's death in 1971, the Fund was supported by her contributions of $600,000 annually. Her will provided for an unrestricted bequest to the fund of $5,000,000, and the trustees elected to continue the program at the same level until funds were exhausted. The Fund was dissolved in 1982.

Baird, Mary J. 1849 -

A daughter of Samuel Baird, one of the early settlers of Clinton Township was born in Putnam County, Indiana, October 12, 1849, and came with her parents to Ringgold County in 1855, where she has since lived. On April 11,1867 she married J.M Poor born in Washington County, Indiana, August 4, 1836, the eldest child of Alvin and Julia A. Poor, who were among the pioneer settlers of Ringgold County. They came to this county in the year 1856, and settled in Clinton Township on a farm where they spent their last years. They were the parents of eight children. Mr. Poor followed farming in Clinton Township until 1875, when he commenced improving his present farm in Rice Township, having improved his 160 acres himself without any assistance. In politics Mr. Poor casts his suffrage with the Republican party. He has served in several township offices efficiently and acceptably, and is at present township assessor. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist church. Their children are - Eugene W., Millie Belle, Mary Emma, Willie W., Elmer R. and Lura M. Orville, their fifth child, died aged one year.

Baird, Milton Bruce 1813 - aft 1882 [ Horsefarrier ]

Born January 24, 1813, in Allegany County, N.Y.; son of Charles Baird and Hannah Dimick, natives of New York, and of English and German descent; they went to Wayne County, Ohio, in 1817, subsequently moving to Wood County, Ohio, where they died. The subject in the spring of 1838, went to Monroe County, Mich.; then in a few years went to Wood County, Ohio, where he cleared up a farm; he was the first to run a separator in that county. He came to this township in 1852, and located on his farm of 120 acres, which he has much improved. He was married to Lydia Bruce, December 22, 1836; she was the daughter of Stephen and Lena (Pugh) Bruce, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania, and was born October 23, 1816. They had ten children - Stephen B, Josepheus E, Charles, Rachel, Rebecca A, Mary J, Milton, Samuel, Josephine and Edwin P. Stephen B. enlisted in 1862, and served during the war with Gen. Sherman; Charles enlisted in the Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until the war closed. Mr. Baird is an able horse-farrier, and has a large practice; he was among the active Regulators, and has served as Pathmaster a number of terms. He is a Republican, as are also his sons. 1882 History LaGrange County, Indiana by F.A.Battey & Co., - Milford Township

Baird, Oliver S 1840 - [ Founder Baird Bros - Hardware ]

Of the firm of Baird Bros., dealers in hardware and tinware at No. 1242 O street, is an intelligent, wide-awake man, whose fine business talents are gaining him an assured place among the leading merchants of Lincoln. Was born in Clinton County, Pa., Nov. 22, 1840, and is a son of James H. Baird and Catherine Stout, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, his father born in 1804, and his mother in 1814. His father was early in life a lumberman in Pennsylvania. In 1841 he migrated to Knox County, Ill., and purchased 320 acres of land, and was extensively engaged in farming there until his death in 1866. His good wife survived him several years, dying on the old homestead in Knox County, in 1882.
Our subject was reared on his father's farm in Elba Township, Knox Co., Ill., and received his education in the common schools. On the 22d of Sep, 1861, he enlisted in the service as a private in Company B, 8th Missouri Infantry. Oliver served under both Grant and Sherman; he was in the battle of Corinth, and in the first attempt to take Vicksburg. He was at Arkansas Post, and also assisted his comrades in the victorious battle at Champion Hills. He was present at the siege of Vicksburg, which commenced May 19, and ended on the 4th of July, 1863. He then participated in the battle of Chattanooga.

After his retirement from the army Mr. Baird returned to his old home in Knox County, Ill., and entered a commercial college at Chicago, where for two years, 1866 and 1867, he pursued a thorough coursed study, which well qualified him, for any business that he might adopt in after life. After leaving school he opened a grocery store in Yates City, then sold out and established himself in the dry-goods business at Gilson. He next entered into the grain and stock business there, and later carried on the same in Knoxville very successfully until 1879, when he went to Maquon, Knox County, and became a hardware merchant. In 1883 Mr. Baird left the Prairie State to make his home in Lincoln. He and his brother, who is also a man of much ability, leased the present building that they have occupied for seven years; they carry about $8,000 worth of stock, have a fine assortment of first-class hardware, and have built up a large trade for the firm of Baird Bros.
Mr. Baird was married, May 25, 1872, to Miss Sarah A. Pickerel, who was born in Knox County, in 1850, coming of an old pioneer family of Illinois, who went there from Virginia in 1838. She was a woman of many graces of mind and heart, that made her beloved by all who came under her influence, and in her death, June 10, 1883, many friends mourned their loss. Portrait and Biographical Album of Lancaster County, Nebraska, Chapman Brothers. 1888

Baird, Dr Oscar C. 1871- [ Medical Practitioner ]

Dr Baird is of Scots descent, his original ancestor having emigrated from Scotland to America during the Colonial era and settled in Pennsylvania, where his grandfather, Josiah Baird, was born in 1812, he was a blacksmith by trade, migrated in young manhood to Noble County, Ohio, and later went to Iowa, where he became a pioneer of Van Buren County and there spent the remainder of his life at his trade. His death occurred in 1892, when he had reached the age of eighty years. Nathan Baird, father of Dr. Oscar C., was born in 1839, in Ohio, and was there reared to young manhood. He accompanied his parents on their western migration to Van Buren County, Iowa, and not long thereafter enlisted in the Iowa State Militia, with which he served as a soldier of the Union during the Civil war. After he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, in which he won success through perseverance and hard labor. His death occurred in Van Buren County, in 1908.

Mr. Baird was a republican in politics. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and married Miss Lorinda Jones, who was born in 1839, in Ohio. To this union there were born children as follows: J. F, who is a general merchant of Odell, Illinois, L. C. who is a farmer of Florida and resides at Bairdsville, a town which is named in his honor; Howard, who is carrying on agricultural pursuits in Van Buren County, Iowa, Soth, who is also a well-known farmer of that community; Dr. Oscar C, Dr. J., a medical practitioner of Coffeyville, Kansas; Flo, who is the wife of Harry Gleason, a prosperous jewelry merchant of Boston and J. N., a graduate of the State University of Iowa, degree of Bachelor of Arts, and of the law department of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, degree of Bachelor of Laws, and now a prominent practicing attorney of Kansas City, Missouri.
Oscar C. Baird received his public school education in Van Buren County, Iowa, and there grew up on his father's farm. Later he took his preparatory work at Keosanqan Academy, from which he was graduated in 1890, and attended the Nebraska State University. He next entered the Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating with his medical degree in 1896, he began his professional career at Medoc, Missouri, where he remained in practice for four years, and in 1900 came to Chanute. His offices are at No. 16 South Lincoln Avenue, and his own home, at No. 201 Lincoln Avenue. Doctor Baird was married in 1896 at Omaha, Nebraska, to Miss May Wilson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Wilson, farming people who are now deceased. They have one child: Anna Opal. [ see also his brothers Dr Jay Baird and Justus Baird ]
A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans

Baird, Robert 1756 - 1835 [ Farmer ]

Robert Baird Sr was the eldest son of Moses Baird Sr of New Jersey and was born in the year 1756. He came to this county first in the year 1777, a young man, and bought the lands in the southeastern part of what is now Luzerne township and southwestern part of Redstone township, now owned by Jeremiah Baird, heirs of Uriah Higinbotham, Samuel M Baird and others, in all six hundred acres or more. He returned to New Jersey, married Miss Elizabeth Reeves and came back with his young bride, bringing their household goods on horseback over nearly three hundred miles. They had a good cabin near a large spring amidst the almost trackless wilderness of sugar, black walnut, oak, etc. He was an energetic man and soon had several acres cleared. His brothers an sisters came after a few years, and a family by the name of Frame who settled on the next farms south. His brothers John Baird, Moses Baird and James Baird soon married and moved to Ohio, and did also his younger sister. Moses Baird was the father of Mrs James Ewing of Uniontown. His sisters Jane Baird and Margaret Baird married Charles Porter and John Porter of this county. The former was associate judge for many years.
Robert Baird Sr and his wife were very industrious and frugal and raised a family of four sons and four daughters, all of whom married and raised large families. He was a man of true Christian merit and stood among the best of men in his day. His wife's brothers, Manassah Reeves and Michael Reeves, came to Western Pennsylvania soon after and settled near to where Belle Vernon, Penna, now stands. Some of their descendants are in that section yet.
Mrs Elizabeth Baird died in 1826 and Robert Baird Sr married for his second wife, Mrs Sarah McClelland of Greene County, Penna. He lived until October 5, 1835,. His oldest son, Alexander Baird, inherited that part where the widow of Uriah Higinbotham now lives and where Samuel M Baird lives; his second son, Aaron Baird the part where Mr Grove now lives; and his son Moses Baird, where Jeremiah P Baird now lives.
His youngest son, Rev Robert Baird was educated at Jefferson College, and was for a long time corresponding secretary of "The Foreign Christian Alliance," during which time he crossed the ocean fourteen times and visited eighteen different crowned heads. He could converse in many languages and was the author of several works. His "Travels in Northern Europe," "Religion in America " (written in French and afterwards translated into English), with many smaller works live after him. Among the descendants of Robert Baird Sr now living there are six ministers of the gospel, five ruling elders of the church, and many that are useful mechanics and farmers.
History of Fayette County, by Franklin Ellis, Philadelphia, L H Everts and Company, 1882

Baird, Dr Robert 1798-1861 [ Minister of Religion and Author ]

He was born October 6th, 1798, in the neighborhood of Uniontown, Fayette county, Pennsylvania; graduated at Jefferson College, with high honor, in 1818, and studied theology at Princeton Seminary. During the third year of his theological course he was Tutor in Nassau Hall. In 1822 he took charge of the Academy which had just been established at Princeton, and retained his connection with it between five an d six years. He was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of New Brunswick in 1822, and ordained by the same body in 1828 as an Evangelist. For a time he engaged in missionary work as General Agent of the New Jersey Missionary Society, and in this capacity did effective service. In 1829 he accepted the office of General Agent of the American Sunday School Union which he filled with great acceptance for six years. In 1835 he entered upon a sphere of labor which occupied all the energies of the remaining years of his life; the promotion of the interests of evangelical religion in the various countries of Continental Europe; a course of philanthropic labor which it has been justly said has not been excelled in its aims and usefulness by that of any man of our times.
He married Miss Fermine O A De Boisson. and died in 1861 leaving a wife, who died a year afterwards, and four sons: Rev C W Baird of Rye, New York; Rev H M Baird, professor of Greek in New York University; Judge E P Baird of New York City; and William W Baird Esq of the same place.
See also, his father: Robert Baird, 1756 - 1835 and his sons, Charles Washington Baird and Henry Martyn Baird.
Enclyclopedia of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, Alfred Nevin, Presbyterian Encyclopedia Pub Co., 1884.