During his minority, James P. Baird gave his father the benefit of his labors, and he early acquired an excellent knowledge of agricultural pursuits, while his literary education was obtained in the home school. After reaching manhood he took charge of the farm, and continued its operation until 1887, when he rented the place and removed to Monona county, Iowa, where he purchased a tract of eighty-nine acres of land, of which thirty-two had been placed under the plow, but the remainder was all wild and unimproved. This he cleared and broke, and continued the cultivation of that farm for ten years, when he sold the place and returned to the old homestead in Clinton county. He has made many improvements on this farm, which consists of one hundred and forty acres. He has a fine-large bearing orchard, and also has a thrifty young orchard just beginning to bear. He raises a great variety of fruit, and finds this branch of his business quite profitable.
Mr. Baird was married in the Masonic Temple at Lyons, January 23, 1875, to Miss Adaline Kenny, who was born in Harrison county, West Virginia, and is a daughter of George W. and Susan (Dyke) Kenney, the former also a native of that state, the latter of Virginia. The family made their home in Licking county, Ohio, for ten years, and there Mrs. Baird was principally reared and educated. In 1865 they came to Iowa, and after residing in Scott county for a time, took up their residence in Clinton county in 1867. A year later they removed to Green county, where Mr. Kenney followed farming until his death. His widow subsequently sold the farm and went to Oklahoma, where she and each of her children took up claims. She took her claim in 1900, and is now having it improved, which seems quite an undertaking for an old lady of seventy-eight years.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Baird were born nine children, namely: Maud E., now the wife of John W. Stephenson, of Boneparte, Iowa; Emma J., at home; Zebulon W., who died in 1898, at the age of nineteen years; Charles S., who assists his father in carrying on the home farm; Laura I., Mary E., James P., Jr., Viola E. and Adaline P., all at home.
Politically Mr. Baird has been a stanch Republican since he cast his first presidential ballot for General U. S. Grant in 1872, but at local elections votes for the man and not the party. He has taken quite an active interest in public affairs, but has never sought or desired office, preferring to devote his entire attention to his business affairs. He is widely and favorably known.
During his minority, James P. Baird gave his father the benefit of his labors, and he early acquired an excellent knowledge of agricultural pursuits, while his literary education was obtained in the home school. After reaching manhood he took charge of the farm, and continued its operation until 1887, when he rented the place and removed to Monona county, Iowa, where he purchased a tract of eighty-nine acres of land, of which thirty-two had been placed under the plow, but the remainder was all wild and unimproved. This he cleared and broke, and continued the cultivation of that farm for ten years, when he sold the place and returned to the old homestead in Clinton county. He has made many improvements on this farm, which consists of one hundred and forty acres. He has a fine-large bearing orchard, and also has a thrifty young orchard just beginning to bear. He raises a great variety of fruit, and finds this branch of his business quite profitable.
Mr. Baird was married in the Masonic Temple at Lyons, January 23, 1875, to Miss Adaline Kenny, who was born in Harrison county, West Virginia, and is a daughter of George W. and Susan (Dyke) Kenney, the former also a native of that state, the latter of Virginia. The family made their home in Licking county, Ohio, for ten years, and there Mrs. Baird was principally reared and educated. In 1865 they came to Iowa, and after residing in Scott county for a time, took up their residence in Clinton county in 1867. A year later they removed to Green county, where Mr. Kenney followed farming until his death. His widow subsequently sold the farm and went to Oklahoma, where she and each of her children took up claims. She took her claim in 1900, and is now having it improved, which seems quite an undertaking for an old lady of seventy-eight years.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Baird were born nine children, namely: Maud E., now the wife of John W. Stephenson, of Boneparte, Iowa; Emma J., at home; Zebulon W., who died in 1898, at the age of nineteen years; Charles S., who assists his father in carrying on the home farm; Laura I., Mary E., James P., Jr., Viola E. and Adaline P., all at home.
Politically Mr. Baird has been a stanch Republican since he cast his first presidential ballot for General U. S. Grant in 1872, but at local elections votes for the man and not the party. He has taken quite an active interest in public affairs, but has never sought or desired office, preferring to devote his entire attention to his business affairs. He is widely and favorably known.
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