My Genealogy Hound

CAPT. SAMUEL LAIRD, a native of Giles County, Tenn., was born August 26, 1828, being the youngest of seven children born to the marriage of Matthew Laird and Mary Leaper, both of whom were natives of Ireland, where they were also wedded. After two children had been born to these parents, they removed from their native country to Scotland, and from the latter place, about the year 1827 immigrated to America. After a short residence in Canada, they removed to the United States, and settled in Tennessee, where the subject of our sketch was born. In 1834 the family moved to Clark County, Ohio, and at this place the father was called to his final resting place about a year later. The mother survived the death of her husband until 1873, when she died in Hamilton County, Ohio. Samuel Laird was raised on a farm to manhood, and in youth secured a fair education. In 1852 when the gold excitement of the Pacific Slope was yet raging, he contracted the fever, and crossing the plains to California, worked in the mines for a time, and later was engaged in blacksmithing and wagon-making at Sacramento. In 1856 he returned to the States, and the same year began “store boating” down the Ohio River. At Rockport, Ind., his boat became frozen in the ice and sank, but not before he had transferred his goods to the town where he began merchandising. This he continued two years, then engaged in brick-making, farming and flat-boating on the river. He was at Vicksburg when the war broke out, but returning to Spencer County, he helped recruit Company K, of the Twenty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, of which he was elected first lieutenant. In September 1861, he was promoted to the captaincy of his company, in which capacity he served until October, 1862, when he resigned on account of disability, caused by a severe wound received at Fort Donelson. In 1863 he was elected Auditor of Spencer County, by the Republican party, serving as such four years. He subsequently was engaged in the grocery trade two years, and since has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1874 he was elected trustee of Ohio Township, by his party, being afterward re-elected serving until 1880. Capt. Laird has been fairly successful in the acquisition of this world’s goods, having secured by good management and industry 380 acres of good farming land in Ohio Township, besides valuable property in Rockport. He has added to the advancement of all laudable public enterprises with a liberal hand, and is one of the county’s best citizens. December 25, 1862, Irena Snyder became his wife, and by him the mother of three sons and three daughters. He is a member of the Blue Lodge in Masonry, the G. A. R., and is a stanch Republican in politics.