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James F. Baird – Nova Scotia Born, Buried in Williamstown
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on July 24, 2018
James Francis Baird was born 25 May 1842 in Sidney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, the son of Alexander Baird. He died at York, York County, Pennsylvania, on 26 November 1934 and is buried at the United Methodist Cemetery,
During the Civil War he served in the 11th Illinois Infantry, Company H, as a Private from 18 August 1862 to his discharge on 11 August 1865. According to information on the Illinois Civil War Site, he enrolled at LaSalle, Illinois, where he was living at the time. He was 30 years old and gave his occupation as miner.
On the 26 May 1934, the Gazette and Daily of York, published the following story about him on the occasion of his 92nd birthday:
UNION VETERAN 92 YEARS OLD
James Baird One of Eight Surviving Members of General John Sedgwick Post
WAS IN SEVEN BATTLES
James Baird, 31 North Manheim Street, a Civil War veteran, celebrated his ninety-second birthday anniversary yesterday. Mr. Baird, who is one of eight surviving members of General John Sedgwick Post No. 37, Grand Army of the Republic, will participate in the church service tomorrow night at the First Moravian Church in memory of his departed comrades.
Mr. Baird will also participate in the annual Memorial Day parade and services at the Soldiers Monument, Prospect Hill Cemetery, on Wednesday morning. Wednesday afternoon he will motor to Gettysburg, where he will attend the Memorial Day celebration on the battlefield. He is the Chaplain of the General Sedgwick Post.
He served in Company H, Eleventh Illinois Infantry, enlisting at LaSalle, Illinois, 18 August 1862. He was mustered out of the service at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 14 July 1865. He was wounded twice during his service to the country.
He participated in the following major battles: Fort Donaldson; Mobile; Yazoo City; Liverpool Heights; Pittsburgh Landing; Siege of Vicksburg; and Champion Hills.
Only months later, the Gazette and Daily reported his death in its 27 November 1923 paper:
James Baird, a veteran of the Civil War, died yesterday morning at 2 o’clock at the home of his son and daughter-in-law. Mr. and Mrs. J. Frank Baird, 31 North Maneim Street. Death was caused by infirmities of age. The deceased was 92 years, six months and one day old. His passing leaves only a few veterans of the Civil War now living in York. During the war he served in Company H of the 11th Illinois Infantry, having enlisted at LaSalle, Illinois, on 18 August 1862. He was wounded twice during the war. The engagements in which he participated at: Fort Donaldson; Mobile; Yazoo City; Liverpool Heights; Pittsburgh Landing; and the Siege of Vicksburg. He was mustered out of service at Baton Rouge, Louisana, on 14 July 1865. Besides his son with whom he lived, he is survive by one sister, Mrs. Christina Woods, of Wilmore, Kansas, and two granddaughters, Mrs. Jane Baird and Frances Ann Baird, both of 31 North Manheim Street. He was a member of the local General John Sedgwick Post of the G.A.R.
The body will be take to Williamstown, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, where the funeral will be held at the Dodson Funeral Home, Wednesday at 2 p.m. Interment will be made in the Methodist Episcopal Cememtery, Williamstown.
Two days later, the Gazette and Daily reported on the funeral:
James Baird
The funeral of James Baird, Civil War veteran, who died on Monday at the home of his son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. J. Frank Baird, 31 North Manheim Stret [York], was held at 2 p.m. yesterday at the Dodson Funeral Home, Williamstown, Pennsylvania. Interment was made in the Methodist Episcopal Cemetery, Williamstown.
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News articles and photo from Newspapers.com.
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