|
HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI Biographical Appendix |
|
RUFUS BAIRD
Rufus Baird, one of the principal property owners of
Fredericktown, was born in 183, and is the oldest person living there
now that was born in the town. His father, Moses Baird was a
native of Ireland, who settled in Missouri in 1801. He married
Miss Elizabeth Arnet, who was born in 1790 and died in 1857. She
became the mother of ten children, Rufus being one of that number
Moses Baird died of cholera in Cape Girardeau County, Mo., in 1853.
Rufus Baird is by trade a bricklayer, and his earliest years were
spent in contracting and building. In 1859 he married Miss
Levinia Maze. She was born in 1840, and was of English-German
descent. She died in 1880 leaving three children: William,
Milton and Rufus. During the late Civil War Mr. Baird was
commissioned captain in the Southern forces, and took three companies
of men from Fredericktown. Some of the battles in which he
participated were as follows: Helena, Pleasant Grove, Mo.;
Little Rock, Ark.; Saline Creek, Ark.; Pleasant Hill, La., and others.
Mr. Baird is well known throughout the county, and has the respect of
all as an honest, enterprising citizen.
|