Mary Baird 1830-1915

BAIRD

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 5/23/2021 at 17:43:29

March 31, 1915 - The Clinton Advertiser page 1

WOMAN FARMER MEETS DEATH IN BRUSH FIRE
Miss Mary Baird, Aged Tiller of the Soil, Dies When Flames Catch in Clothes
FOUND BY SECTION MAN
Had crawled to Corn Field and Covered Face--Well Known Character in County for Years
Miss Mary Baird, a prominent Clinton County farmer, was burned to death yesterday afternoon at about 4:30 o'clock out on the bottoms, about eighty rods northeast of her home, when her clothing caught fire from some brush she was burning.

Miss Baird started for the bottoms about 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon to burn the grass and get ready for her spring work. She started a fire to burn up the dead grass and branches. She was alone and nobody knows how the accident occurred, but it is thought her clothing caught fire and she was unable to extinguish the flames.

Her body was still burning when found at 4:30 o'clock by James Johnson of Almont, section foreman on the Chicago and Northwestern railway. He at once extinguished the flames, which had burned all her clothing except one shoe and stocking. She was found about sixty feet away in the corn field, where she had crawled to get away from the flames. Her face was not burned as she was lying with her face down. Mr. Johnson at once notified John Rohr, Harley Scranton, John Doyle and William Johnson, who secured blankets and removed her to her home.

It was not necessary to hold an inquest, but the following statement was made out and signed:

"We the undersigned do claim and believe that said Mary Baird, met death accidentally, by being burned to death, her clothing having caught fire from burning grass which she started on the bottoms eighty rods southeast of her home. Signed, JOHN JOHNSON, JOHN W. ROHR, JOHN V. DOYLE, JOE MARKS.

Miss Baird was about 85 years of age, having been born in Scotland in January, 1830. She leaves no near relatives. Her brother Ike Baird, was killed about 28 years ago, by being run over by a train. She is survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

Mary Baird was well known in Clinton county. For many years she has run her own farm north of Lyons, and was one of the best farmers in the county. She farmed 200 acres southwest of Andover, where the old homestead was located and also owns about 140 acres on the Midland. Although 85 years of age she was hale and hearty and did the work on her farm every day and was getting ready for her spring work when the terrible accident occurred.

The funeral will probably be held Friday afternoon from her home. Services will be conducted at the Almont church and burial will be made in the Miller cemetery.

April 1, 1915 - The Clinton Advertiser page 6

(Communicated)
Friends and relatives of Miss Mary Baird, who were grieved to learn of her tragic death, were shocked to read the account of her death as published by the Clinton Herald.

"Farmer Mary" is a new and unfamiliar nick-name to those who knew her. The fact that she sometimes wore a sack coat for warmth, while about her home, is a common practice with many women, and scarce would seem to justify the statement that "she frequently donned male attire". Few things were more offensive to Miss Baird than for her friends to suggest as a joke that she ought to wear men's clothing to work in. Many women don a man's hat in an emergency. Miss Baird preferred no cover for her head to a man's hat. She positively would not wear one.

She chose farming for her work; in this alone she was masculine, therefore eccentric.

Miss Baird owned 140 acres of land near Bulger's Hollow, which she has not actively farmed for several years, always employing help when so engaged. It was stated in the article in the Clinton paper that she "lived in a shack." Her home was a comfortable eight-room house. She also owned 250 acres of land near Bryant, well improved, with a fine residence and farm buildings which she had rented for over ten years to Mr. Sanders.

Miss Baird had many warm friends among all classes of people. Her judgement was respected and valued by many of the leading men in the county. She possessed a very bright and happy nature, and was a prime favorite with many young people, who loved to have her in their company. Little children would never annoy "Aunt Mary" as they called her--for she could be as one of them, as well as a shrewd business woman. She will be most sincerely mourned by her grand-nieces and nephews.

Miss Baird was 86 years of age and was born in Perthsire, Scotland, coming to this country with her parents when she was six years old. She inherited a small part of her Bryant farm from her father, which was the foundation of the fortune she amassed. (Signed) MRS. L. J. ROBINSON

page 5
The funeral of the late Miss Mary Baird will be held from the Almont church Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Rev. N. A. McAulay of the Lyons Presbyterian church will officiate and interment will be made in the Miller Hill cemetery. A coincidence in connection with the death of Miss Baird is that she was burned to death on the 26th anniversary of the death of her brother, who was run over by a train and killed.

April 3, 1915 - The Clinton Advertiser page 6

The funeral of Miss Mary Baird, pioneer resident of Clinton county, was held yesterday afternoon from her late home. A large number of friends gathered at the home and from there, followed the funeral procession to the Almont church, which was already filled by friends from far and near, to pay a last tribute to Miss Baird, who by a strange coincidence met a tragic death March 30, the twenty-ninth anniversary of the death of her brother, who was killed by a train.

The capacity of the Almont church was never so taxed as yesterday. Rev. N. A. McAulay, of the Lyons Presbyterian church, delivered an appropriate sermon. Mrs. McAulay and Miss Mildenstein beautifully sang several excellent selections, after which the long line of carriages and automobiles wended their way to the Miller's Hill cemetery, where interment was made. The large number of beautiful floral pieces were mute testimony of the esteem shown to a woman of strict integrity and virtue.

Those from a distance who were here to attend the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Smiley, Mrs. John Cooper and Albert Porter, Reinbeck, Iowa; B. B. McClintock, of Hampton and A. L. McClintock of Fairfax, Iowa, all nieces and nephews of the deceased except Mr. Smiley.