The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 780 

JEROME T. BAIRD.

Few men have contributed in as large or in more substantial manner to the
development of ranching interests in Yakima county than has Jerome T. Baird,
whose efforts have been directly resultant in the upbuilding of the section in
which he lives. He is a man of resolute purpose who accomplishes what he
undertakes and his actions are at all times guided by sound judgment. He was
born in Wayne county, Ohio, October 16, 1858, a son of Cyrus and Amy (Tyler)
Baird, who were also natives of the Buckeye state. The ancestral line is traced
back to Cyrus Baird, the grandfather, and Aaron Baird, the great-grandfather,
who became one of the early pioneer settlers of Ohio, taking up his abode in
that state in 1812. The mother of Jerome T. Baird was a daughter of Benjamin
Tyler, who arrived in Ohio in his boyhood days -- also in the year 1812. Indians
were numerous there and Jerome T. Baird was named for an Indian who had espoused
the Baptist faith. The family took up government land and old Fort Hill was
situated on the farm of Benjamin Tyler. Cyrus Baird was also a farmer by
occupation and he had financial interests and investments in Iowa, but both he
and his wife passed away in Ohio. In politics he was a prominent democrat but
never an office seeker.

Jerome T. Baird acquired a limited education and when but fourteen years of age
started out in the business world in connection with the drug trade, serving all
apprenticeship in a store at Wooster, Ohio. Subsequently he purchased a drug
store in that city and conducted it for a few years, while later he established
a livery business at Wooster and conducted it for twelve years. He next went
upon the road as a traveling salesman and afterward engaged in the insurance
business. In 1899 he became a resident of Iowa but in 1900 came to Yakima
county, where he has since made his home. Here he found conditions,
opportunities and advantages such as he sought and desired. He bought forty
acres of land seven miles west of Sunnyside. It was all covered kith sagebrush,
but with characteristic energy he began its development. In the fall of 1900 he
removed to Sunnyside and engaged in clerking in a drug store there until 1906,
during which period he was developing his ranch. He now has twelve acres planted
to apples, while the remainder is used for the growing of alfalfa, of which he
annually produces large crops. His business affairs have been conducted along
most progressive lines. In 1912 he built a fine packing house and warehouse upon
his place with a capacity for ten car loads of fruit. He also has a railway
station on his place called Baird. He has erected an attractive residence and
added to his ranch all modern improvements indicative of the progressive spirit
of the twentieth century as manifest in agricultural and horticultural lines.

On the 11th of February. 1914, Mr. Baird was married to Mrs. Eunice (Finnegan)
White. She was born in Missouri, a daughter of Patrick and Margaret (Kite)
Finnegan, the former a native of Ireland, while the latter was born in Iowa, in
which state they were married. Her father was a railroad man and both he and his
wife are now deceased. By her former marriage Mrs. Baird had a daughter, Helen
White, who was born October 3, 1910, and is now in school. By his first marriage
Mr. Baird had three sons: Herbert and Hiram, twins, the former now in school,
while the latter died on the 19th of February, 1917; and Ora, who was born April
23, 1907, and is now in school. The sons were the first twins born in
Sunnyside, their natal day being May 10, 1903.

In politics Mr. Baird is a republican. He has served as school director for two
terms but has never sought or desired political office, preferring to give his
thought, time and attention to his ranching interests. He is a charter member of
the Yakima Fruit Growers Association, is a trustee of the main organization and
the president of the local branch. He keeps in close touch with everything
bearing upon conditions relative to the agricultural and horticultural
development of the district and his progressive spirit has constituted a
contributing factor to the success which has been achieved along these lines in
Yakima county.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.