My Genealogy Hound

David H. Laird is living in the village of Arispe, while deriving a gratifying annual income from his valuable and well improved farm of three hundred and twenty acres situated not far distant. He has been a resident of this state and county since 1875. His birth occurred in Ohio, the place of his nativity being in Guernsey county and his natal day May 15, 1836. He is a son of James Laird, a native of Ireland, who crossed the Atlantic to America when a young man. Settling in Delaware, he followed the occupation of farming there and lived in the east until after his marriage to Miss Sarah England, a native of Delaware. Subsequently they removed to Guernsey county, Ohio, and on going to Indiana took up their abode in Owen county, where the father opened up the farm on which he and his wife spent their last years.

David H. Laird was the seventh in order of birth in a family of eight children and was reared upon the home farm, while the public schools constituted the medium which brought to him a knowledge of the common branches of English learning. After putting aside his text-books he learned the trade of the carpenter and cabinet-maker.

As a companion and helpmate for life’s journey he chose Miss Mary E. Jordan, whom he wedded in Indiana, her native state. She was born in Owen county, December 27, 1859, and following their marriage Mr. Laird there engaged in farming until 1875. For a time he cultivated rented land and then with the money he had secured by the sale of his crops and his careful expenditure he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in his native state.

At the time of the Civil war, Mr. Laird enlisted, on the 13th of February, 1865, as a member of Company E, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers. They proceeded southward to Louisville and on to Nashville. Mr. Laird participated in no battles but was in several skirmishes and for a time was ill in the hospital. He remained at the front altogether about a year and was then discharged in Huntsville, Alabama. On the expiration of his term of service he returned to his home in Indiana, where he engaged in farming until 1875, when he came to Iowa, settling in Union county. He took up his abode in Sand Creek township, two miles south of Arispe, where he began farming with seventy acres of land. This he at once cultivated and improved and as he prospered in his undertakings he purchased one hundred and sixty acres additional and subsequently another tract of twenty acres. He broke the raw prairie, which he transformed into cultivable fields, and he has set out every tree and bush upon the place, adding thereby to its attractive appearance. He also erected a good dwelling and substantial barn and in fact has two sets of buildings upon his place. He continued to reside upon the farm until 1900, when he removed to Arispe, where he erected a comfortable residence. In addition to tilling the soil in the production of crops best suited to climate conditions he also raised good grades of stock.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Laird have been born six children but Cora died at the age of four years, Effie died in infancy and Albert R. at the age of thirty-four years. Those still living are: Sarah, the wife of James McKee, of Clinton, Missouri; James R., who married Minnie Newbro and is living on his father’s farm; and Elmer D., who married Theresa Miller and is upon his father’s farm. They also have four grandchildren.

Mr. Laird proudly cast his first presidential ballot for John C. Fremont, the initial presidential candidate of the republican party. He has never failed to vote for the candidate at the head of the ticket since that time but locally casts his ballot independently if he so desires, for he does not consider himself bound by party ties. He has been a delegate to various county conventions and has served as road supervisor and as a member of the school board for a number of years but has never sought nor desired office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, in which he has met with signal success. He was a member of the Grand Army post at Tingley, Iowa, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His has been an honorable and upright life, crowned with that success which comes as the reward of earnest endeavor, faithful purpose and honorable business methods. He is now enjoying well earned rest, having a good farm property, which under the management and care of his sons is bringing to him a substantial financial return and supplies him with all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life.