Isaac N. Baird,  Concordia Parish
Submitted by Mike Miller



**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************


Isaac N. Baird,  Concordia Parish, Louisiana
    Isaac N. Baird, a genial and popular planter of Lismore, Concordia
parish, La., was born in Hickman county, Tenn., August 1, 1827, and was
one of eleven children born to Samuel M. and Sarah (Norris) Baird, both
natives of North Carolina.   Of their large family of children, ten grew
to mature years, but only four are now living, Isaac being the eldest.
The others are: Dorcas E., Nancy C. and James E.  The father was a
farmer, and removed to Illinois, locating near Vandalia, where he worked
on the National road until about 1836.  He then moved back from Illinois
to Hickman county, Tenn., afterward removing to Van Buren county, Ark.,
and resided there for some time.  Isaac received only the rudiments of
an education in Van Buren county, and started out for himself when
twenty years of age.  He first began cutting cordwood on the present
site of Argenta, Pulaski county, and in 1846 enlisted as a private in
Company C, Arkansas cavalry, for the Mexican war.  He served in Wool's
division under Gen. Taylor, and was in the battle of Buena Vista.
Returning to Arkansas he remained only a short time and then came to
Catahoula parish, La., and began teaching school, teaching a term, and
then attending a term, until he reached his twenty-fifth year.  He
continued teaching until 1855, when he married Miss Barbara E. Rourke,
daughter of Joseph and Barbara W. (Prater) Rourke.  After his marriage
Mr. Baird engaged in overseeing, and this continued until 1862, or about
five years.  He then took his family to Texas, to his father in Parker
county, and afterwards joined a company that was stationed to guard the
frontier.  He continued in that service until he received orders to go
into regular service, and on the morning of the day he reached Catahoula
parish he received word that Gen. Lee had surrendered.  He therefore saw
no actual fighting in the late war.  By his marriage Mr. Baird became
the father of eight children, seven of whom are living: Kate L.
(deceased, was the wife of J. E. Montgomery), Charles N., Samuel Joseph,
Sarah E. (wife of Walter Bruce), Isaac C., Ernest E. and Alyce M.
(twins), and Frederick A. B.  After the Civil war Mr. Baird began
planting for himself on his present property, and in 1870 or 1871
purchased the place, "Orchard Grove," which consists of 880 acres, with
about 350 acres under cultivation.  He raises annually one bale of
cotton, or thirty bushels of corn per acre.  Mr. Baird owns altogether
about 2,000 acres of land, 240 acres in Catahoula parish, "Pinhook"
plantation, "Miller" plantation on Horseshoe lake, consisting of 700
acres, and "Ritchie" plantation of 160 acres.  On all these places there
are made over 400 bales of cotton annually.  He is one of those
enterprising, progressive men who will succeed in whatever they
undertake in spite of difficulties and comparatively few opportunities.
He is a man of intelligence and excellent judgment, is strong in his
convictions, and is a pleasant and entertaining conversationalist.  He
was for a number of years justice of the peace of Ward Nine, and during
those years he never tried a civil case, though many were brought before
him.  He would always, by judicious reasoning, induce the individuals
interested to adjust their differences.

From Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, volume 2, pp.
258-259.
Submitted by Mike Miller