My Genealogy Hound

M. H. Baird, a prominent educator of Pope County, was originally from Georgia, his birth occurring in 1845, and was the second of eight children born to William and Christian (Campbell) Baird, natives of Tennessee and Georgia, respectively. The father was a farmer and lived in Alabama nearly his entire life. He came to Arkansas in 1868, settled near Russellville in Pope County, and there resided until his death in 1888. The mother is still living and makes her home with a daughter in Russellville. M. H. Baird was reared in Alabama, where he had fair advantages for an education, and when seventeen years of age he enlisted in the Confederate Army, Company G, Nineteenth Alabama Infantry, in the Western Department. He was in the battles of Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga and all the engagements of the Georgia campaign with Johnston. After this he was with Hood and surrendered at Greensborough, N. C. Returning to Alabama, he was engaged in the boot and shoe manufacturing business until 1868, when he came to Arkansas with his parents. He then followed farming for a year or two, attended school a year in Russellville, and in 1870 taught his first term of school in Conway County. Since then he has been almost constantly engaged in teaching, principally in Pope County, and is one of the most popular and successful educators in that county. He is now teaching his fourth year as first assistant of the Russellville public school, and has been connected with the public schools of Pope County since 1870. The first county teachers’ association was organized in Pope County in 1872, and our subject was elected secretary, serving in that office in every institute or association since. He has been a most earnest advocate of the free-school system since its adoption. Mr. Baird was married in 1875 to Miss Mary Quinn, a native of Arkansas and the daughter of Robert Quinn, one of the early pioneers from South Carolina. Mr. Baird owns a fine farm of 120 acres, one mile and a half east of town, and has seventy-five acres of this under cultivation. He also owns a comfortable residence in town. To his marriage have been born three children—a son and two daughters: Delia, Daisy and Max. The family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Baird has been an earnest worker in the Sunday-school, having organized many schools in various parts of the county. He is now a teacher in the school. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Russellville Lodge No. 247, is an Odd Fellow, Chosen Friends No. 36, and is a member of the K. & L. of H., No. 535. The Professor is a stanch Democrat, and is a consistent worker for that party.