THOMAS H. BAIRD A conspicuous figure on the streets of Monongahela City, elastic in step, erect in carriage, of fine physical proportion, still in the prime of life, and, withal, remarkably well preserved, is the subject of this biographical notice. Thomas Harlan Baird, his father, was born November 15,1787, in Washington, Penn. He was the third son of Dr. Absalom and Susanna (Brown) Baird, the latter a daughter of John Brown, architect. When quite young he was sent to a Latin school, taught by one of the pioneer classical teachers of that day in Brooke county, W. Va. He was called home by the sudden death of his father, and his education from that time had to be completed by his own earnest efforts and scholarly tastes.
He studied law with Joseph Pentecost, one of the most prominent lawyers of that period, and was admitted to the Washington county bar in July, 1808, before he had reached the age of twenty-one. In 1818 he was selected as president judge of Washington, Fayette, Greene and Somerset counties, and continued to hold the position until 1838. This commission bestowed upon so young a man, when the Washington county bar was quite noted for its able lawyers, was an acknowledgment of his legal ability. During the ten years in which he practiced law he was intensely occupied in promoting by every means in power, the growth and progress of his native town. Like his father, Dr. A. Baird, he was always among the first to assist, by his hardly earned money and indomitable energy, any enterprise for that purpose. In very many cases the credit due his indefatigable labors was given to others, who did not hesitate to assume an honor they had not earned, and were rewarded by political positions he could not contend for.
He was, in 1814, one of the directors and stockholder in the Washington Steam-mill & Manufacturing Company, in which he lost money and gained nothing. He was also one of the contractors on the National Road, with Parker Campbell and Thomas McGiffin; his energy was unbounded in this work as in everything he undertook. The first survey made for the Chartiers Valley Railroad one of the first railroads prospected, was made wholly at his expense; which fact was not learned until after his death, the information being given by the engineer who surveyed it for him. He was one the commissioners appointed to raise Stock for the Washington & Williamsport Turnpike Road, and for the Washington & Pittsburgh Turnpike Road. In 1843 Judge Baird, and Judge William Wilkins, of Pittsburgh, purchased the stock raised by the State for the Washington & Pittsburgh Turnpike. No dividends were ever paid the purchasers of the stock though it was kept as a toll-road for many years. The Monongahela Navigation Company, having failed in its many attempts to improve the navigation of the Monongahela river, at last succeeded in forming a practical slackwater navigation company, and among the many commissioners appointed to receive subscriptions to the stock, Judge Baird has numbered. Copies of speeches made by him all over the counties of Washington, Allegheny and Fayette, the numerous articles written for the newspapers, all show how much in earnest he was in his efforts to excite the interest of the people in this great work.
He was also elected, in 1818, presidency of the board of directors of the Bank of Washington, an " Original Bank," as it was called. In November, 1818, Judge Baird conveyed the property of the bank to David Acheson, Alexander Murdoch and John Marshall, trustees. His judicial career has been the subject of very severe criticism and comment by his political enemies, and he was accused by them of judicial tyranny while he was on the bench. His great fault was that he had a very high ideal of the dignity of his office, and he resented an insult offered to himself when on the bench, as contempt for the majesty of the law, of which he was the official representative. He was a man who could not be bribed by flattery, or political offices of preferment. While on the bench his life was several times put in jeopardy, by men who resented his legal decisions when not given in their favor. An attempt was made by his enemies to have him impeached before the Legislature of Pennsylvania, for disbarring lawyer guilty of contempt of court, but they did not succeed. in spite of all their malignant and false accusations. Those who wish to ascertain the facts in regard to this case can consult the Legislative records of that day.
In 1854 an article appeared in a Philadelphia newspaper, written in defense of Judge Baird at the time of his nomination as the American candidate for the supreme judgeship. It days, in regard to his impeachment: "It is well known there was nothing shown in the investigation that could affect the standing of Mr. Baird, either as a judge or a gentleman. "Among the many charges brought against his, by his political enemies, when his name was mentioned for United States senator was that he was Pro-slavery. This falsehood is denied by the same writer, whom we again quote: " Judge Baird in all the relations of life has been a law-abiding, consistent and benevolent friend of the colored race, not an Abolitionist or Pro-slavery, but an American. By one single decision of his, given when on the bench of Washington and Fayette, he discharged from slavery perhaps twenty thousand slaves. [See the case of Miller vs. Dwelling, 14 S. & R. p. 442.]"
Judge Baird was of scholarly taste, and not only well versed in all knowledge pertaining to his profession, but was also a fine classic scholar. His Greek Testament lay upon his study table, and not unopened or unread -busy though he might be -and his Horace, Cicero and Virgil were so familiar to him that in conversation he had always an apt quotation ready to suit the subject under discussion. He had also studied Hebrew, and in the last few years of his life devoted much time to translating the Psalms of David, not for any purpose but his own pleasure. Judge Baird was not ambitious to acquire wealth or political power.
His home was to him the dearest place on earth, and nothing could induce him to seek for pleasure or enjoyment out of its sacred precincts. After his retirement from the bench, upon which he was much against his will or inclination, persuaded by influential friends to remain several years longer than he otherwise would, he practiced law in the Pittsburgh bar, where he was engaged only in important cases. In 1848 he retired to his much loved home, at Harlem, his country seat on the Monongahela river, where he had for many years spent his summers with his family and friends.
In early life he was married to Nancy McCullough, by whom he had children as follows: Ellen B., intermarried with Dr. R. R. Reed, both of whom are deceased, leaving a number of children and descendants, residing in Washington, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Penn; Sarah A., who married George Morgan, but is now a widow residing in Washington, Penn.; Harriet N. Baird, who died recently at Washington; Mary, intermarried with Joseph N. Patterson, both now deceased, leaving a son T. H. B. Patterson, a lawyer in Pittsburgh, and Nancy, wife of Rev. William B. McKibben, resides in Cincinnati, Ohio; Eliza, who was married to Robert Patterson Esq., now a widow residing at Sewickley, Penn.. having two daughters, Jane and Bessie, living with her, and one son, Thomas Patterson, Esq. who is practicing law in Pittsburgh, Penn. · Thomas H. Baird, subject proper of sketch; Margaret W. Baird, residing at Washington, Penn.; Jane R., who was married to Charles McKnight, now a widow, residing at Sewickley, Penn., has three sons, T. H. B. McKnight, Charles McKnight and Frank McKnight., and two daughters, Mary B. and Eliza; Susan C. and Emily G. Baird, who died in young womanhood many years ago.
Thomas H. Baird, whose name opens this sketch, was born in Washington, Washington Co., Penn., December 17, 1824. He received his education at the common schools of the borough, and at Washington College, from which he graduated at the early age of seventeen years; and, having decided on following the legal profession, commenced the study of law in his father's office in Washington. In February, 1846, he was admitted to the bar of Washington county, and at once commenced practice in partnership with his father, continuing (with the exception of a period hereafter referred to) until 1872 when he was elected district attorney, on the Democratic ticket in a Republican county, his opponent being John Aiken. During his term of service he was instrumental in securing the conviction of Briceland, for the murder, by shooting, of John Allenham. Briceland was found guilty after a lengthened trial, convicted, and sentenced to imprisonment for life.
In 1850, when T. McK. T. McKennan was appointed by President Fillmore, Secretary of the Interior. 'Mr. Baird was given the part of assistant chief clerk of the Census Bureau and was later honored by an appointment as clerk in the Department proper. Part of his duties were to prepare and file all papers relating to appointments and removals of officers, and among them he found some demanding his own removal on political grounds. These he filed in the regular way, the Department yielded to the demand, and decided on his removal, and he wrote out his own dismissal and came home. One month Afterward, however, he was recalled and promoted. Mr. Baird was ten years, in all, occupied in Government position at Washington. D. C., and then returned to Pennsylvania.
For some three years we next find him practicing his profession in Pittsburgh, after which he was engaged a time in the coal business on the Monongahela river. In 869 he opened a law office in Monongahela City, where he has since resided.
In 1849, while an attorney in Washington, this county Thomas H. Baird was united in marriage with Maria L., daughter of Dr. Samuel M. King, who in 1820, came from Fayette county Penn., to Monongahela city, where he practiced his profession till his death in 1882. Two of his children are yet living in Washington county: Mrs. Baird and R. C. King, and two, Mrs. C. J. Mosely and Dr. C. B. King, are residents of Allegheny. Mr. and Mrs. Baird are the parents of two children, viz.: Frank E., an attorney at Charleroi, this county, and Maria Louise, wife of A. G. Mitchell, assistant engineer of the Monongahela division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, with residence in Monongahela City. The latter are parents of one little daughter, Maria Louise Mitchell.
Socially, Mr. Baird is a member of the Royal Arcanum, and in church connection is a Presbyterian. In 1886 he was nominated by his party for Congress, but the county proved too strongly Republican for him on that ticket, and he was defeated. Mr. Baird is a great reader, and in his profession keeps himself up to the times, having one of the finest and most complete law libraries in the county.
Text taken from page 152 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed March 1997 by Judy and Lee Schaeffer of Pittsburgh, PA as part of the Beers Project.
Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]