MRS. MARTHA BAIRD, one of the oldest residents of Peters township, is the widow of Thomas Baird, a son of Samuel Baird. Samuel Baird was a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and came to America in an early day. Soon after his arrival in this country he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of James Anderson. The Andersons and Bairds had emigrated from Ireland in the same vessel, and settled near each other in Peters township, Washington Co., Penn. Mrs. Anderson passed away in 1809, and as was then customary, was buried on the farm in the old orchard, where fifteen years later the husband and father was laid to rest. Their graves are marked only by a rough stone and a few evergreen trees. After their marriage Samuel and Elizabeth Baird located on the farm in Peters township, which is now owned by their son Thomas and the following children were born to them: Jane, William, James, Samuel, Jonathan and Thomas, of whom all are deceased save William, who is living in retirement at Sleeth, Carroll Co., Ind. Thomas Baird was born May 22, 1822, on the old place in Peters township, this county, and remained with his parents during his minority. On arriving at man's estate he began life as a pilot, and worked as such for many years on the Ohio river; he afterward clerked in the coal yards for several years, finally returning to Washington county, where he spent the last thirty-five years of his life on a farm in Peters township. On October 7, 1851, he was married to Martha Wilson, who was born January 26, 1833, a daughter of the late Thomas Wilson, a prominent farmer of Peters township, this county. The young couple settled on the home farm in Peters township, which was then owned by a maiden aunt of Mr. Baird. He leased the farm for fifteen years, and when she died paid off the other heirs. The following children were born to Thomas and Martha Baird: Elizabeth, Mary, Jennie (deceased), Wilson T., Emma, Caroline, Sarah, John, Frank, William, Charles and George. The family occupy a prominent position in the community. Mr. Baird enjoyed the highest respect and esteem of all who knew him, and was recognized in all his dealings as a thoroughly honest and upright citizen. In politics he was a Democrat, and served in many local offices. He was a member and treasurer of the Presbyterian Church for many years. He died February 4, 1888, of pneumonia. His widow is yet living on the old homestead, which contains 140 acres of well-cultivated land.

Text taken from page 636 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed April 1997 by Betty Stewart of Pittsburgh, PA as part of the Beers Project. Published April 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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