The Red Cloud chief., 1889-08-23

Although the death of Congress
man Laird has been expected for
some time, the news will be . shock
to many people in Nebraska. His
physique wal 50 powerful, his vitality
up to the besin,ng of his long illness
so superabundaat, that it seemed al
most impossible to conceive of him
dying at an age when most men are
just beginning 10 live.
Laird was a picturesque and strik-
ing character. He was full Of . dra-
matte intensity which Was very at.
~tractive. He had to an extraordinary
degree that peculiar quality which
is known as personal magnetism.
His mind was q rich one and his COM
mand Of striking metaphor was I'M
usual. He Was . brilliant speaker
and his conversational charm was
exceedingly great. His influence
over those NTH whom he came in con-
tact was immediate and strong. Nat
urally aggressive, he was a frank and
a manly fighter, . forgiving enemy
and a loyal friend.
There is no need for rea1ing .
homily over lis coffin. He was what
the Almighty made him, and training
would have had little influence in
modifying his chaotic nature. He
lived every moment Of his life up to
the time he was stricken down. If
he had BEN in any way different he
would not have heer Jim Laird. Neb-
-aska loved and admired him for what
he vas, and much Of the charm of
his nature was due to the very I'M
evenness which hylercriticism would
cali a fault.
For his years he had accomplished
much. He was gallant soldier when
Lot much more than a boy. In his
relation TO the public he did his duty.
His seemed to know things by a sort
Of inspiration. 1t his with profound
regreat that melancholy news Of his
death will be reccived.-Omaha Rep
ublican.
James Laird was born at FOwlerville,
Livingston county, New YORK, June l0,1s49
and several years later accompanied his
parents to Michigan, residing in Washte-
nav and Lenawee counties. He enlisted
July "a, 1861, in General Stocton's Inde-
pendent infantry, which a year later was
changed to the Sixteenth Michigan in
fantry. He enlisted as a private, but
was promoted to second lieutenant of
Company G, for gallant and meritOrious
conduct, and less shan a year later to
captain of the Company, serving until
rGstered out August :S, 1865. During
service in the war he received four mus
ket-shots wounds and a saber cut, the
ator at Laurel Hi, Va, May s, 1864.
At the battle Of Gaines Hill he was shot
trrc-.h the bcdy go ,ett fc- dead on
the field; was picked OF By the confed-
crates, made prisoner, but thirty days
later made his escape. After the wal
he turned his attention to the study of
law ct the Wesleyan college, Adrian, Mich.
In 1863 he went to Ann Arbor university,
Michigan, and continued mis- studies there.
He graduated in the law college with the
close of the term of 1871, and in June of
that year was admitted to the Michigan
state bar, after which he practiced law
for a short time AT Lansing. He
came to Nebraska in July, 1872, located
at Juniata and at once began the practice
of Law in partnership with A. H. Bowen.
In 1877 he associated himself with B. F.
Smith. In 1879 the firm moved their
Law Office to Hastings. He has always
taken an active interest in state politics,
was a member of the state constitutional
! convention of 1876. and in 1880 was one
of the republican presidential electors of
Nebraska, In 1882 he was nominated
by the republicans of the Second con
gressional district, and elected to the
Forty-eighth congress, receiving 1883
votes as against lO,O12 cast for 8. v.
Moore, the Farmers alliance candidate,
and 800 votes cast for F. C. Harmon,
democratic candidate. Renominated in
| 1884 for . second term, he vas reelected
by q vote Of 2l,1s1 votes against 1850
votes for John Sickle, anti monopoly
candidate, and 1,176 votes for B. Crabbe;
prohibitionist. In 1856 he was again re.
nominated and re elected to the Fiftieth
congress by a vote of 21.373, against
1925 votes for McKeighan, democrat
and anti-monopoly. In November last
| Mr.. Laird was elected for the fourth time,
to the F~iftY-first congress, by a vote Of
o. csO AGAINST 10 11O for Hastin0s- NJ.