Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-06-09
DEATH OF CHARLES BAIRD.


tion Of the tieart-His Active Career.
Charles Baird died about 3 10 g. IN.
yesterday at his residence, No. 300
Tntnall struBt, after very brief illness.
His death is buth surprise and
shock to the community in which for
many years he haH taken 40 pr0minsnt
a part in business, educational and
religious way.
MIR. Baird had been troubled with
cold for several weeks, but it did not
interfere with his activity, and only |
last Sunday he helped 60 administer
tine communion in Weet Presbyterian
Church 10 the morning. led the
Sunday school in the afternoon and
had charge of the communicants'
prayer meeting in the evening. lie
did not, however, feel at his hest ami
when he reached home. Mira. Baird
noticed that he seemed weak. On
Monday morning, howeyor, he want
ahout his usual business duties, but
loft his office at noon for home
That evening, a meeting of the Della
ware Branch of the National Relief
A Association, of which he wns president,
was held in his room, and Tuesday
morning he arranged with the Rev. A.
n. Keigwin, ID. D., to secure Speakers
TO take part in public meeting in the
interests of the asPnciution's work for
the relief Of the soldiers.
Tuesday afternoon, DIR. II. J.
Stubs, the family physician, found
symptoms of pneumonia, which de-
velupeu with alarming rapidity, and
at midnight Mr.. Baird's condition
hecame very serious. DR.. h. q. Short
lidge, his long time associate 10 school
matters, was called in consultation.
Conscious until the last, MIR. Baird
died at 3. 10 o'clock. Ills death was
due to fatty degeneration Of the heart
and heart failure.
The funeral will take place to morrow
afternoon at O'Clock with services in
West Church
a SKETCH OF MR.. BAIRD.
Charles Baird was born in this city
in 1885 and has re4ided hero all his
life. His early education was secured
in the common srhuols of Wilmington,
his studies being finished nj the Turner
Academy.
He served an apprenticeship as a
niachiniRt, and in 1857 was madu hook.
keeper for MADDEN g. Peterson, remain
ing with them until 1861, when no
accepted similar position with bush,
Clark ~ Co., morocco manufacturers.
Continuing in this establishment until
1861. thoroughly mastering the morocco
business, he FORMED with Msssrs.
Maltrtz aud Taylor tho Grm oi
Maltrit2, Baird Il Taylor. This firm
continued until May, 1872, when Mr.
liaira Withdrew aud enterci into
partnership in tho same line of bust.
ness with Col. Henry S. McC'omb, the
latter being special partner. They were
thus associated until Col. McComb'
death in 1881, since which time Mr..
Baird has continued the morocco bust
mesa for tims on Third street between
Orange and Tatnall and mora recently
on Walnut street between Front anC
Second, tho firm name being CnarleI
, Baird & Go. James c. McComb, son o
! Col. McComh, is Connected with thu
firm: as special partner.
1t is interesting TO note that thu
present Baird factory on Walnut stree
. Is the old stand Of Bush, Clark & Co,
i where MIR, Baird began as clerk il
= 1861.
= MIR, Baird was the oldest morocco
:, manufacturer in Wilmington and hi
relation TO that trade was like hi
|
ne wanted not for himself but WORKER
: for the good of others. he was at one
u the best known, hest loved and mos
trusted man In the morocco trade, sue
. is the tribute paid by one who KNEE
him we'll. In cases Of disputes anon
= the members of that trade, it was I
, Mr.. Baird that all parties in inteIef
:, we're willing to 90 for settlement I
= the difficulty, He had been membt
- of the National Morocco Manufacturer
Association ever since it's conceptio
=, in 1864, and was generally either o
- the executive committee or its chuil
IT, man, that committee heing tho actiy
y body within the association, lie We
~ president OF the local association
- morocco manufacturers.
"a Mr.. Baird was especially prominer
!" as the head Of the Board of Publ
Education. His connection with Thu
body dates from 1871 and he vi
elected its president in 1881. Throug
rs all that time no has been actively u
gagged in the interests of the Soho
" system Of the city. lie represented Il
" Seventh ward in the hoard. OF ate
~ had been taking particular interest
y, the proIert for new high scho
VI building on Delaware avenue.
70 politics he was II stnunch kepublica
70 lie has been director Of the Centr
~ National Bank since 1856. and
'n director also of the Security Trust AZ
uA Safe Deposit 70. lie was memb
of the Royal Arcanum.
", Ii Mr.. Baird has been ointment
III educational work he has been none Il
less prominent in hia church CO
~ nections. lie joined the PresbyterIi
-; denomination at au early age, at fir
~ associating himself with Hanover Pre-
tts bytcrian Church. Later, he was o
oh of the organizers Of Central Churu
oH where no continued until 1868, VIII
.lh he became interested as one Of t
~ founders Of West Presbyterian Churc
'ne in which he has held life eldershi
lie was chosen superintendent of t
Sunday -schnol upon its organization
1868 and held that position until |
,"o death He has been instrumental
H. the forming OF new missions
~ churches and has heen connected wi
n,o the Delaware State Suudly sch,
az Association as member OF the boa
a. a. of directors. Upon the organization
~, III tho Young Mems Christian Associate
II II in 1887 he was made its president a
. continued as such until 1888 and v
~, afterwards director.
;;my In 1860 MIR. Baird married Miss Nj
az NJ. Sseley, granddaughter OF ex- Gt
Iie' Seuley of New Jersey. Mrs Baird a
10. 10 two children, Robert Soeley and Ora
On On survive Mr.. Baird. He leaves {
III brothers also. Henry Baird of
W.. W. National Bank OF Delaware, and Isl
~. S. Baird.
1ey --------.--N
me Old Drawers Presbyterian Church.
The annual services in OH Drawy
nal praahv farinn Church mill bn h,Id