Benjamin Harrison Baird

M, b. 1 January 1809, d. 24 October 1864
Benjamin Harrison Baird|b. 1 Jan 1809\nd. 24 Oct 1864|p245.htm|Isham Harrison Baird|b. c 1771\nd. a 1839|p546.htm|Clarissa Bushnell|b. 9 Oct 1775\nd. a 1830|p547.htm|Ephraim Baird|b. c 1715\nd. b 28 Dec 1787|p9288.htm|Hannah Harrison|b. s 1723|p9289.htm|Eusebius Bushnell|b. 1 Feb 1748/49\nd. c 1812|p11248.htm|Borodel Latimer|b. 12 Apr 1755\nd. b 1792|p11249.htm|
     Benjamin Harrison Baird was born 1 January 1809 in Snowy Creek, Maury County, Tennessee.1,2 He was the son of Isham Harrison Baird and Clarissa Bushnell. On the census of 1830 in Fayette County, Tennessee, Benjamin Harrison was probably a male of 20 and under 30 years of age residing with Jams Baird. He appeared on a muster role of the US Mounted Rangers as a private under Capt. Bean on 7 August 1832 in Arkansas.3 He married Mary Rosetta Craig on 30 January 1834 in Van Buren County, Arkansas..1 Benjamin Harrison Baird moved to a residence in Washington County, Arkansas, before December 1834.1,2
The census of 1840 in West Fork Township, Washington County, Arkansas, listed B. H. Beard as a head-of-household with tallies 30001-10001 which indicates:
A male of 20 and under 30 years of age, probably Benjamin Harrison.4
A female of 20 and under 30 years of age, probably his spouse Mary Rosetta.4
A female under 5 years of age, probably his daughter Elizabeth Jane.4
A male under 5 years of age, probably his son John Franklin.4
A male under 5 years of age, probably his son Carroll.4
A male under 5 years of age, probably his son Onesimus Aresiuess.4

Benjamin Harrison Baird moved to a residence in Clatsop Plains, Clatsop County, Oregon, between 1848 and 1850 which is now the city of Astoria.
On 15 march 1848, Benjamin and Mary Baird and 8 kids left Arkansas in a wagon train, said to have been composed of allied families -- Craig, Reed, Baird, Lafferty, and Robison. They followed the same route as the unfortunate Donner Party, and suffered many hardships and privations.
     They stopped near Stockton, California for the winter of 1848-49. In the spring of 1849, Benjamin went by horseback up into Oregon where he took up a Donation Land Claim at Monroe in Lane County.
     That claim is recorded on Page 22 Volume 10 Roseburg; Old Oregon Donation Land Claims, Certificate #1434, Notification #2649 --S 1/2 Section 24 Township 15S Range 6W, 320 acres; W 1/2 Section 19 Township 15S Range 6W, 334.3 acres. Containing in aggregate 654.3 acres; 1/2 for husband. 1/2 for wife.
     Benjamin H. Baird attests that he is a natural citizen, born in Maury County, Tennessee, 1 January 1809. That he married Mary Craig et. Witnessed by Benjamin P. Richardson, Oregon City; David Hanan, Joseph B. Ferguson.
     This was near Eugene and Junction City, Oregon. By the spring of 1850, Benjamin had returned to California for his family. He and his family took passage on a sailing vessel bound for Astoria, Oregon. A terrific storm took the vessel off its course as far as the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) and it was 3 months getting to Oregon. 3 days after landing in Astoria, Mary gave birth to twins.2

The census of 1 June 1860 enumerated on 15 August 1860 in the Franklikn post office area of the Long Tom Precinct, Lane County, Oregon, listed the following:
B. H. Baird, 51-year-old male head of household, a farmer; b:Tennessee.5
Mary R. Baird, 46-year-old female, a housewife; b:Kentucky.5
Harriet E. Baird, 16-year-old female; b:Arkansas.5
Nancy L. Baird, 14-year-old female; b:Arkansas.5
Ewing C. Baird, 12-year-old male; b:Arkansas.5
Benjamin C. Baird, 10-year-old male; b:Oregon.5
Mary E. Baird, 10-year-old female; b:Oregon.5
Belush B. Baird, 8-year-old female; b:Oregon.5
James Baird, 6-year-old male; b:Oregon.5
Joseph S. Baird, 4-year-old male; b:Oregon.5
Clara L. Baird, 2-year-old female; b:Oregon.5
Harrison Baird, 2-month-old male; b:Oregon.5
He lived in Grants Pass, Josephine County, Oregon, in 1861.1 He died on 24 October 1864 in Grants Pass, Josephine County, Oregon, of a grizzely bear attack.1 He was buried in the Croxton Pioneer Memorial Park, Grants Pass, Josephine County, Oregon.

     A Letter to the Editor of the Jacksonville Times (Oregon) Dated at Rogue River, Oregon 31 October 1864
     Dear Sir
     The following is a reliable statement of the melancholy death of Mr. B. H. Baird, of the northern part of jackson County, Oregon.
     Messrs. B. H. Baird, James mcDonough, B. Nensch and J. S. W. Smith went out on a deer hunt and stayed that night with a Mr. mcMichael on Grave Creek, about 3 miles below Grave Creek House. In the morning (October 24) Mr. Baird started out about sunrise in pursuit of game, leading his faithful dog, Rover. When he proceeded about a mile and a half Rover bayed 3 grizzly bears, in their bed, under a large fir tree. Mr. Baird got within 15 yards of them and shot the largest one, only wounding it. The bear attacked Mr. Baird, who ran about 200 yards, when the bear caught him, and knocked his gun 15 or 20 feet from him. Mr. Baird, getting loose from the bear, sprang to the limb of a tree, the bear passing under and hitting his feet, went a short distance down the hill, when he stopped to fight the dog. Mr. Baird got his gun, reloaded it and shot the bear the 2nd time. The bear then came at him more furiously than before and knocked his gun out of his hands the second time. Mr. Baird swung around a bush to keep out of the bears reach and drew one of his butcher knives and stabbed the bear in the body. The bear struck him several severe blows, knocking his knife out of his hand. Mr. Baird then drew his other knife, when the bear seized the hand in which he held the knife, causing him to drop it. The bear now got the mastery over Mr. Baird, getting him down, biting him in the face, cutting several gashes in his left side, tearing out his right eye, and also tearing off all the right side of his face.
     The bear bit several large holes in his side, in fact bit him nearly all over his body down to his boots. The bear now turned to fight the dog that had so far saved Mr. Baird from being killed on the spot. The bear and the dog then rolled down the hill some distance still fighting, when Mr. Baird gathered up his gun, 2 knives, the rope with which he had been leading his dog and started for Mr. McMichael's cabin, distant about 1-1/2 miles, where he arrived much exhausted, about 10:00 am and was assisted into the house, when he related the melancholy event to McDonough. Being conscious that he could not long survive, he spoke of his family and his desire to see them before he died.
     He was reconciled to meet death and spoke of future happiness. He died about 9:00 pm on the same day. Mrs. Baird was sent for and hastened with all possible speed, the distance of 18 miles, over a very rough, hilly road, but arrived about 5 minutes too late to see her husband alive. He was brought home and buried near his farm, some 4 miles north of Rouge River, near the stage road. He leaves a wife and 16 children of whom, 8 are young and live at home.
     Note added to copy:
About 1910 his body was removed to the Pioneer Cemetery in Grants Pass. One account also reports that the men went out to the scene of the fight and found the bear dead about 200 yards from the spot. I don't know the source -- but it makes a nice ending for the family legend -- AAL - 1993.6,7
He's wife, Mary Rosetta Ross, died in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, having remarried after his death.1

Children of Benjamin Harrison Baird and Mary Rosetta Craig

Citations

  1. [S182] A Baird Family in America by Josie and Delila Baird.
  2. [S858] Research of Mary K. Sullivan.
  3. [S858] Research of Mary K. Sullivan, "Territorial Papers of the U.S., Volume XXI, number 20 on the Muster Roll."
  4. [S2927] 1840 U.S. Census, Washington County, Arkansas, page 257 line 27.
  5. [S2928] 1860 U.S. Census, Lane County, Oregon, page 264 line 25 dwelling 822 family 822.
  6. [S288] Research of Diane Rosena Blevins.
  7. [S4451] FindAGrave.com, Memorial # 35893336.
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