From "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and 
Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902. 

Typed by Laurie Birks Dean. 

pp. 571-572
JOSIAH WALLACE BAIRD, a prominent citizen of Elm Grove, West Virginia, 
where he has been successfully engaged in the livery business since 
1899, has spent the greater part of his life on the ancestral farm.  
This came into possession of the family in 1776, and contains 238 acres, 
situated about two miles from Elm Grove.  It was purchased at that time 
by John Baird, grandfather of Josiah W., and the oath of allegiance, 
which he was required to take when making the purchase, is still in then 
possession of the subject of this sketch, and is kept as a relic of 
former days.  A copy of this oath may be seen elsewhere in this book, in 
the sketch entitled John Baird.
	The grandfather was of Scotch-Irish extraction, and upon 
emigrating from the mother country settled for a time in Pennsylvania.  
As he did not like the land in that state, he did not locate there 
permanently, but purchased the above mentioned tract near Elm Grove, 
which was then in the state of Virginia.  The remainder of his life was 
spent upon the farm, which he improved and cultivated as best he could 
during those early days, when the settlers were almost constantly 
harassed by the Indians.  There was rarely a time when some tribe was 
not on the warpath, which caused the pioneers to be constantly on the 
alert.  They were often compelled, on very short notice, to lay down the 
ax and hoe, and take up firearms in defense of their homes against their 
savage foes.
	Many reminiscences of those early days have been handed down, some 
of them being quite worthy of mention.  When John Baird first settled 
near Elm Grove, chickens were very scarce, and were almost unheard of in 
that locatlity.  He bought with him one hen and one rooster, and in due 
time the hen hatched a brood of fine chickens, which however were 
coveted by a rattlesnake.  In the successful defense of her brood, Mrs. 
Hen lost her life, leaving her chickens motherless.  Strange to relate, 
her companion took her place and reared the chickens until they became 
full grown fowls, and their descendants were on the farm for more than 
half a century.
	Upon the death of John Baird, his son Josiah, the father of Josiah 
Wallace Baird, came into possession of the broad ancestral acrea, and 
spent his entire life in agricultural pursuits there, passing to his 
final rest in 1861.  The farm then fell to Josiah Wallace Baird and his 
brothers and sisters.  His brother, William C., works on the old 
homestead, and is married.  A half-brother, John, was engaged in 
agricultural pursuits, and became well known throughout this part of the 
state for raising thorough-bred Saxony sheep.  He was an extensive 
producer of honey, and kept the best apiary of Italian bees for miles 
around.  Besides this he raised, and introduced in this county the 
famous Bronze breed of turkeys, some of which grow to an immense size 
and weigh from 28 to 35 lbs.  John Baird died at the age of sixty-four 
years; he was a prominent member of the Stone Presbyterian church at Elm 
Grove and held many of the most responsible offices therein.
	Our subject has two half-sisters, Mary and Jane, and one full 
sister, Rebecca Ellen.  Mary is now living on a farm in Belmont, Ohio; 
she married Dr. A. Allison, of Ohio county.  The Doctor moved to 
Belmont, and passed the remainder of his life there, reaching the good 
old age of seventy-five, and being honored by all who knew him.  Jane 
and Rebecca Ellen live on the old homestead with their brother.
	Josiah W. Baird was united in marriage, March 28, 1899, with 
Jessie Creighton, a daughter of John Creighton, who was reared in the 
faith of the Presbyterian church.  They  have one child, Josiah W., Jr., 
born November 19, 1901.  Our subject's mental training was limited to 
the common schools.  He spent his early years on the old farm, and 
remained there until 1897, when he proceeded to West Alexander, and 
worked there until 1899.  He then went to Elm Grove, purchased 
Henderson's livery stock, and has been most successful ever since, with 
his business constantly increasing.
	He has been active in politics, serving the Republican party, 
which elected him mayor of Elm Grove for one term, and also justice of 
the peace.  In fraternal circles, he is a member of K. of P., Lodge No. 
24, of Elm Grove, has passed through the chairs, and has represented his 
lodge at the grand lodge.  He is also a member of the Junior Order of 
United American Mechanics, of Elm Grove.
	Mr. Baird has been a resident of Ohio county all his life, and is 
creditably discharging his duties as a good citizen of his county and 
casting his influence in favor of those movements that he believes to be 
best for the community and city.  He is always gentlemanly and 
unobtrusive in the expression of his opinions.