John Craigon Baird Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1159-1160 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	JOHN CRAIGON BAIRD is a native of Green Lake county, Wisconsin, 
the son of John and Mary (McAdam) Baird, and he dates his birth from the 
8th day of February, 1858. Reared on a farm and early taught the lessons 
of industry and thrift which makes that pursuit successful, he grew up 
with a full appreciation of life and its responsibilities, and after 
acquiring a fair education in the common schools, he entered at the age 
of eighteen a store, where he spent three strenuous years, during which 
time he became familiar with the varied details of the mercantile 
business. Resigning his clerkship at the expiration of the period noted, 
he came to South Dakota and settling in Hanson county, spent some time 
as manager of a branch store belonging to William Van Epps, of Sioux 
Falls, South Dakota. Severing his connection with those gentlemen, he 
changed his abode to Douglas county and filed on a homestead, chosing 
for his location a fine tract of land about three and a half miles east 
of Armour, which he at once began to improve and for which in due season 
he acquired a title from the government. Shortly after selecting his 
homestead Mr. Baird revisited his native state, and while there was 
married, in 1879, to Miss Ella Whittemore, who was also born and reared 
in Wisconsin. Returning to South Dakota a little later, he took up, in 
1880, his permanent abode on the land already referred to and since that 
time has greatly improved the same, besides adding at intervals to its 
area, until he now owns a fine tract of four hundred and eighty acres, 
one hundred and sixty of which are in a successful state of cultivation. 

	Mr. Baird is an up-to-date agriculturist, well acquainted with the 
nature of soils and their adaptability to different crops, and, 
employing modern methods and the latest and most approved implements and 
machinery, he realizes bountiful returns from the time and labor 
expended on his farm. He is also engaged quite largely in the live-stock 
business, raising large numbers of cattle, horses and hogs, from the 
sale of which is derived no small part of his income. He has made many 
valuable improvements on his place, has a substantial and attractive 
residence and good outbuildings and his home, situated in one of the 
finest sections of Douglas county, indicates the dwelling place of not 
only a man of enterprise and progressive ideas, but a gentleman of 
intelligence, sound judgment and excellent taste, as well. Personally, 
he enjoys great popularity among his neighbors and friends and as a 
citizen he is public-spirited and a leader in all laudable movements. He 
served eight or nine years as school clerk, also held the office of 
township supervisor for a considerable length of time and is now 
township treasurer. 

	Politically he is a pronounced Democrat, and fraternally is 
identified with the Masonic brotherhood, the order of Maccabees and the 
Ancient Order of United Workmen. 

	Mr. and Mrs. Baird have a family of eight children, whose names in 
order of birth are as follows: Grace, Walter, John R., Maude, Robert, 
Agnes, Frank and Pearl, all living.