JOHN LAIRD, a worthy representative of one of the oldest families of Donegal township, is a native of the same, born June 4, 1828. His paternal grandfather, John Laird, was born in Ireland in 1758, and was there married to Mary Snodgrass, who bore him children as follows: Alexander, Margaret (wife of Joseph Hayburn), Robert, Jesse, James and John. He came to the United States about 1792, alone, and finding employment on a farm, worked diligently until he had earned sufficient means to bring his family from the "auld sod." Receiving the necessary welcome remittance, Mrs. Laird, Alexander, Jesse, Margaret and John, Jr., crossed the broad Atlantic, and about 1800, after landing, with some difficulty found their father, who had set out to meet them with a team. He brought them to his new home in Lancaster county, Penn., and the following year they moved by wagon to Washington county, where they made a settlement near Taylorstown, Mr. Laird having purchased a tract of land in Donegal township. John Laird died June 3, 1838, his wife having preceded him to the grave in February, 1829. Politically he was a Democrat, and took a lively interest in the advancement of his adopted country. Robert and James Laird, uncles of the subject of this sketch came over subsequently.
John Laird, son of this pioneer, was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in April, 1792, and when yet a boy came with the rest of the family to the United States and to Washington county, where he received his education. When yet young man he was married to Margaret, daughter of William and Margaret (Todd) Snodgrass, of Donegal township, the former a native of Ireland the latter of Scotland. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Laird were Jesse, Robert, James, William A., John, Mary J. (wife of Samuel Dougherty), Grizella and Margaret (Mrs. S. B. Lindley). The mother of this family dying December 15, 1835, Mr. Laird married, for his second wife, Agnes Maxwell, who died February 8, 1878, leaving one child, Ann E. (wife of Dr. John W. Kelly). Mr. Laird departed this life July 18, 1847. He was one of the first members, and all his life a substantial supporter, of the Presbyterian Church at Claysville. Politically he was a Democrat, and took an active interest in educational matters in his locality. Enterprising and energetic, he was self made, succeeding by hard labor and unceasing toil in amassing, before retiring from active work, a comfortable competence.
John Laird, the subject proper of these lines, was reared to farm life, and what education he succeeded in securing, was obtained at the subscription schools, but he is chiefly self-educated, having devoted much of his spare time to reading at home. On January 8, 1852, he was united in marriage with Eveline Potter, who was born in Marshall county, W. Va., March 11, 1828, a daughter of John Potter, a native of Washington county, Penn., where he married a Miss Supler, a native of Donegal township, same county. Soon after their marriage they moved to Marshall, county, W. Va., where they purchased a large tract of land and where the father also followed milling. They reared a large family of children, and resided there until their deaths. Mrs. Laird died September 14, 1876. Mr. Laird remained on the old home farm in Donegal township until 1872, in which year he came to Claysville, where he has since resided. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics is a lifelong solid Democrat.
Text taken from page 1320 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]