The sun., 1898-06-09
PROMINENT CITIZEN BEAD.
Charles Baird, President ofthe Board
Of Education, Dies After
a Short Illness.

Short Illness.
Charles Baird, aged 63 years, one OF
the most prominent and progressive
citizens of the City of Wilmington and
president of the Board OF Education,
died early yesterday morning at his
home No. 800 Tatnall street, after a very
brief illness Of pneumonia.
For a number OF weeks Mr.. Baird had
been suffering with a severe cold but
this did not interfere with his usual
activity and on Sunday last he assisted
in administering the communion in the
West Presbyterian Church of which he
was one OF the leading members.
On Monday morning Mr.. Baird was
slightly indisposed but he attended to
his usual business matters and returned
home at the noon hour. In the evening
he attended Il meeting of the National
Relief Association, of which he was
president and on Tuesday morning he
arranged with the Rev. A. n. keigwin,
d. D., to secure speakers to take part in
a double meeting in the interests OF the
associations work for the relief of the
soldiers.
In the afternoon DR.. II. J. Stubbs,
the family physician, found symptoms
OF pneumonia, which developed with
alarming rapidly, and at midnight Mr..
Bairds condition became very serious.
DR.. Il. q. Sholtlidge, his long associate
in school matters, was called in consuta-
ton.
Conscious until the last, Mr.. Baird
died at 3.lj O'Clock. His death was dne
to fatty degeneration of the heart and
heart failure.
The funeral will take place tomorrow
afternoon at o'clock with services in
West Church.
a special meeting OF the Board OF Edu-
cation has been called for this even
ing for the purpose OF taking action ON
the death OF Mr.. Baird.
The deceased was born i'll Wilmington
in 1885 and he has always resided here.
His early education was secured in the
public schools OF this CITY and completed
at Turner Academy.
He subsequently served an apprentice
ship as Il nachiEst, and in 1857 he was
made bookkeeper for Hadden 4 Peter
son, remaining with them until 1861.
when he accepted similar position with
Bush, Clark q Co., morocco manufac-
turers.
He remained in this establishment
until 1865, thoroughly mastering the
morocco business, when he formed with
Messrs. Maltritz and Taylor the firm of
Maltritz, Baird x Taylor. This firm
continued until May, 1872, when Mr..
Baird withdrew and entered into partner
ship in the same line of business with
Col Henry S. McComb, the latter being
special partner.
They We're thus associated until Col
McColnb's death in 1881, since which
time Mr.. Baird has continued the me-
rocco business for a time on Third street
between Orange and Talnail and more
recently on Walnut street between
Front and Second the firm name being
Charles Baird d Co. James g. McComb,
son OF Col. McComb, is connected with
the firm as special partner.
In cases OF disputes among the mem-
bers OF that trade, it was to Mr.. Baird
that ali parties i'll interest were willing
to go for settlement OF the difficulty.
lie had been member Of the National
Morocco Manufacturers Association ever
since its conception in 1864, and was
generally either on the executive COM
mittee or its chairman, that commit
tee being the active body within the
association. He was president OF the
| local association OF morocco manniac-
turers.
| Mr.. Baird was especially prominent us
the head OF the Board of Public EIuca-
tlon. Ills connection with liiat body
dates from 1871 and re was elected i.s
president i'll 1881. Through ali that time
ne has been actively engaged in the in
| teleSis y! the school system of the city.
! iic represented the Seventh ward in the
board. Of late he had been taking par
llcular interest III the project for new
high school building On Delaware ave
nue.. In politics he was Il staunch
Republican,. He has been director OF
the Central National Bank since 1856, and
director also Of the security Trust and
Sale Deposit Company. lie was Il m-m-
Der OF the Royal Arcanum.
! II MIR. Baird had been prominent in
educational work he has been none the
less prominent in his church c,nnec-
lions lie joined the Presbyterian de-
| nomination at an early aye, at first as
soclating himself with hanover Presb,-
terrain Church. Later, he was one of tie
organizers OF Central Church, where he
continued until 1865, when he became
| Interested as one Of the founders of West
Presbyterian Church, in which he has
held Il lie eldership. He was chosen
! superintendent 0! the Sunday school
upon lis organization in 1868 and held
that position until his death.
In 1860 Mr.. Baird married Miss Mary
NJ. Seeley, a granddaughter OF ex-Gov.
Seeley ol New Jersey. MIS-. Baird and
two children, Robert Seeley and Grace,
sdrvive Mr.. Baird. lie leaves two
Dro'hers also, Henry Bard Of the N;l-
tlonal Bank OF Delaware, and Isaac ).
| Bard.