Provided by Dan Graves, Historian, Mt Hope Library
Transcribed from Mt Hope Clarion, Apr 3, 1917
Submitted to Sedgwick County KSGenWeb by Jan LaMotte, 6 June 2000

PIONEER OBITUARY

Lewis Wilson Baird was born in Brown Co., Ohio, Oct 24th, 1840 and died at Mt Hope Kansas, March 28, 1917. He became a christian early in life and was faithful to his Lord until death, being a member of the Christian church of Mt. Hope from the time of its organization.

He was married to Margaret J. Kirkpatrick, in Brown county, Ohio, Feb. 26, 1868. To this union five children were born; Arthur L., of Wichita; Robert K. and Fred C., of Mt. Hope; Mattie R. and Jane N., both deceased. His wife, Margaret Baird, preceeded him to the Heavenly Father's reward Feb. 19, 1913.

Lewis W. Baird enlisted in Co. A, 70th Regiment of Ohio Infantry Volunteers, Oct. 10, 1861, for three years. He was mustered out January 4, 1864 and reenlisted on Jan. 5, 1864 and served until the close of the war, when he was mustered out at Little Rock, Ark, August 14, 1865.

He came to Kansas in April 1871, and made it his home since that time. He was a loyal soldier in the defense of his country, a brave citizen in redeeming Kansas from the wilds, and a faithful defender of the cause of righteousness and the Kingdom of our Lord. To him we all owe much. He was a kind husband, a loving father and a noble citizen and leaves to mourn his loss the relatives, and will be missed by the entire community ..... recalled his friends.

Rev. J. F. Hay preached the funeral sermon Friday afternoon at the Christian church and interment made in Mt. Hope cemetery.
 
His suffering is over,             
His work here is done.           
His trials are ended,                
His long rest begun.   
           
For God in his goodness   
An mercy and love,
Has called him to glory,
In the great realm above.

He has crossed the dark river                
And reached the golden shore,       
Where sorrows are ended                    
And partings are o'er.                        

Then why should we weep,
And why should we mourn;
For the loved one now gone
To his heavenly home?

He waits but to greet us
As we come one by one,
With a smile that is radient
To welcome us on.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~