New York, Lewis Publishing Co. 1903
Asa S. Baird
Among the representative citizens and prominent farmers of Monroe county none is more deserving of mention in this volume than Asa S. Baird, who owns and operates a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres on section 34, Mantua township, and on section 3, Urbana township. He is one of the honored veterans of the Civil war and an early settler of this county, having located here in 1854, when most of the land was still in its primitive condition and the work of improvement and cultivation had scarcely begun.
Mr. Baird was born in Harrison county, West Virginia, on the 6th of April, 1824, and is a son of Adam Baird, a native of Maryland and a representative of a good old Scotch family from the highlands. By trade the father was a cabinet maker and carpenter, and being a good mechanic he always found plenty to do in his line. He was married near Little York, Pennsylvania, to Miss Barbara Wilhelm, who was born and reared in that state, belonging to a Pennsylvania Dutch family. Her father, Frederick Wilhelm, was a soldier of the war of 1812. Leaving the east in 1856, Adam Baird and his wife came to Iowa and spent their last days in Monroe county, where he died at the age of seventy-five years, and his wife passed away at the age of eighty-three. Both were devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he was a Whig in his political views. Three daughters and one son of their family died in Lewis county, West Virginia, and the others were as follows: John, Susan, Elijah, Mary, Adam, who died in Iowa; William, and Asa S.
Asa S. Baird spent his boyhood and youth in Lewis county, West Virginia, and is indebted to its schools for his educational advantages. With his father he learned the cabinet maker’s and carpenter’s trade, which he followed for some time while in the east. At the age of twenty-four years he was married in Lewis county, the lady of his choice being Miss Sarah Tharp, who has now been to him a faithful companion and helpmate for over half a century. She was born, reared and educated in that county, and is a daughter of Hezekiah and Huldah ( Cox ) Tharp, natives of Harrison county, West Virginia, who spent their last days in Van Buren county, Iowa. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, died at the age of seventy years. His political support was given the Democratic party. In religious faith he was first a Baptist, but later joined the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he held the offices of class leader and steward, always taking an active and prominent part in church work. Of his ten children only two are now living: Sarah, the wife of our subject, and William, a resident of Van Buren county, Iowa. Those deceased are Emily, Christiann, Nancy, Huldah, Almira, Smith, a son who died in infancy, and Mrs. Zadok Chidester, who died February 15, 1903.
It was in 1854 that Mr. Baird, accompanied by his wife and three children, removed from West Virginia to Iowa, the journey consuming six weeks, as it was made by horse and wagon, the family spending the nights in the public houses along the road. Reaching Monroe county, Mr. Baird located in Urbana township about a mile and a half from his present home, where he erected a log house and where he continued to reside until his removal to his present farm in Mantua township fourteen years ago. He erected a fine house upon a natural building site, surrounded with shade and ornamental trees; has planted an orchard; built barns and other outbuildings, and today has one of the best improved and most valuable farms in the township. In his farming operations he has been very successful and well merits the prosperity that has come to him.
To Mr. and Mrs. Baird were born the following children: Thomas, who is now engaged in the lumber business in Albia; Mrs. Victoria Jenkins, a resident of Van Buren county; Adam, at home with his father; Mrs. Barbara Berry, who was formerly a teacher and is now living in Wapello county, Iowa; Hezekiah, who died at the age of twenty-six years, leaving a widow; Mrs. Mary Heald, a resident of Schuyler county, Missouri; Jennie, at home; and Schuyler C., who assists his father in the operation of the home farm and is now serving as township assessor. The children were all provided with good educational privileges and the family is one of which any parents might well be proud.
During the Rebellion Mr. Baird manifested his patriotism and loyalty by enlisting, in 1862, in the Thirty-sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Kittridge. His company was first commanded by Captain Varner and later by Captain Porter. He participated in the engagements at Camden and Prairie De Han, besides other battles and skirmishes, and was taken prisoner at Marks Mills, being incarcerated in the rebel prison at Tyler, Texas, for ten months. After his exchange he returned home on a furlough and later rejoined his regiment at White River, Arkansas. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged at Davenport, Iowa, and returned to Monroe county to resume the more quiet pursuits of farm life. During his absence his wife had bravely carried on the work of the farm and provided for their seven children, being a noble woman, of patriotic spirit and kindly impulses.
Mr. Baird affiliates with the Republican party and has filled offices in Urbana township, being trustee for several years. For years he was a member of the school board. His religious faith is manifest by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and he has ever taken a very active part in its work, serving as class leader, steward and superintendent of the Sunday school. His life has been in harmony with his professions and he is justly entitled to the respect and confidence so freely accorded him.