My Genealogy Hound

Capt. Albert C. Baird is a planter and a member of the firm of Baird &, Carruth, general merchants and brokers of Washington, Ark. He is a native of this county, born in 1834 to John and Sarah (Adams) Baird, who were born in South Carolina in 1788and 1802, and dies in 1835 and 1865, respectively. They were married in South Carolina in 1819, and at once removed to Missouri, and the following year to Hempstead County, Ark., settling on a woodland farm now owned by the subject of this sketch, the country at that time being very sparsely settled. Mr. Baird was one of the leaders in settling up the country, filled the position of justice of the peace for nine years, and he and wife were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Albert C. Baird was the youngest of seven children, two sons and one daughter now living, and until he was fifteen years of age he made his home on a farm, attending the common schools. He then began clerking, a calling he followed until 1868, with the exception of three years during the war. In 1802 he joined Company A, Twentieth Arkansas Infantry, as second lieutenant, and at the reorganization of the army he was made commissary of the regiment and afterward commissary of the brigade, a position he held until the close of the war. Until the fall of Vicksburg he was on duty east of the Mississippi River, but was then transferred to the west side, and operated in Arkansas and Texas. He surrendered at Marshall, Tex., in 1865, returned home and resumed his position in a store. In 1868 he and W. H. Carruth became associated in the mercantile business, and now constitute the oldest and one of the most substantial firms in the town. Capt. Baird was married in 1872 to Cornelia A., a daughter of Joseph and Margaret Atkins, and by her had three children, two now living. Her parents were born in South Carolina, but died in Georgia, the father a short time after the close of the war and the mother in 1886. Mrs. Baird was born, reared and married in Henry County, Ga. A few years since Mr. Baird, on account of failing health, was compelled to abandon active duty in the store, and since that time he has devoted his attention to his farm of 1,200 acres, all of which he has himself earned since the war. Mr. Baird has few equals as a man and citizen, and his name is always found at the head of subscription lists for worthy enterprises. He is a Democrat, a member of Mt. Horeb Lodge No. 4, and the I. O. O. F., Organ Lodge No. 10, of Washington. He belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and his wife to the Christian Church.