Obit: Baird, Hastings R. #2 (1901 - 1973)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Baird, Vogel, Clouse, Shupe, Steiger, Engle, Larson, Picus, Plautz, Antrim

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 8/16/1973

Baird, Hastings R. (11 January 1901 - 7 August 1973)

Funeral services were held in Greenwood, Saturday for Hastings R. Baird, 72, long-time chairman of the Clark County Board of Supervisors who died late Tuesday, August 7, in a Marshfield hospital. Mr. Baird had suffered from an extended illness and re-entered the hospital three days before his death.

The Rev. Eugene Antrim officiated at services from Grace Methodist Church. Burial was made in the Greenwood Cemetery.

Members of the County board, County officers and a number of associates in County government from other areas were among those in attendance. Mr. Baird served for 22 years as chairman of Clark County, and was a member of the County board for 25 years. He was a member of that group, representing the City of Greenwood, at the time of his death. He had declined nomination to succeed himself for another term when the board met for reorganization in April.

Mr. Baird was born in Loyal January 11, 1901, to the late Duane and Anna (Vogel) Baird. For many of his early years he lived with his mother and step-father, Lee Clouse, in Loyal; attended Loyal Grade school and high school, graduating in 1919.

After finishing high school, he went to work in the Ben Picus Store in Loyal and remained there until 1927. On April 6, 1926, he was married in Loyal to Ione Shupe, who survives.

For many years Mr. Baird was engaged in the retail business, owning and operating stores in Loyal, Granton, Colby and Greenwood. He retired from active business in 1955, and afterward worked for several years for the Plautz Bros., Willard road contractors.

Always interested in civic affairs, Mr. Baird served for 11 years as a member of the Greenwood Board of Education. He entered county politics with his election as supervisor from Ward 2 of Greenwood in 1948. During the ensuing 25 years on the County board, Mr. Baird presided over many of the county reforms and expansionary developments which have take place since. He was chairman at the time the new courthouse was built and was actively interested in that construction.

Mr. Baird was a member of the Greenwood Masonic Lodge, a past member of the Greenwood Rotary Club and served for several years as County Chairman for the Mental Health association.

Surviving in addition to Mrs. Baird are three daughters, Mrs. Kenneth (Janice) Steiger of Greenwood, Mrs. Richard (Virginia) Engle of La Mesa, Cal., and Mrs. Norman (Donna) Larson of Madison; two sons, Jerry of Stevens Point and Robert of Eau Claire; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.