17. Documentation for Jane Eliza Baird(Aug 10, 1835 to May 03, 1914)mother of James Grant Older(Mar 14, 1864 to Mar 31, 1946)

Jane Eliza Baird was born August 10, 1835, in Ohio.(1) She was the daughter ofJames and Eliza Baird Jr.(2) James Baird Jr married Eliza Anderson in July 1827 inAdams County, Ohio.(3) James Baird Jr. and Eliza (Anderson?) Baird are believed to beburied in the Minonk Township Cemetery in Minonk, Woodford County, Illinois.(4)However, the date of birth of given in the Cemetery Index for Eliza (Anderson) Baird of1831 could not be correct. According to census records, Eliza Anderson was born about1801 in Virginia.(5) James Baird Jr. probably was born in Ohio about 1802 based oncensus records.(6)

The James Baird Jr household appears in the 1850 Federal Census for Ohio, RossCounty, Bourneville.(7) James Beard is listed as age 45, a butcher, born in Ohio. ElizaBeard is listed as age 48 and born in Virginia. Jane E (Eliza) Beard is listed as age 15 andborn in Ohio. Also listed as living in the Beard household in 1850 is Albert Myers, age 5,who was born in Ohio and attended school during the year.

Jane Eliza Baird married Samuel Clarence Older on August 14, 1856, in RossCounty, Ohio.(8) Samuel Clarence Older was born January 15, 1837, in Ontario, Canada,the son of George Older and Sarah Gilbert.(9)

Samuel Clarence Older and Jane Eliza Baird were the parents of Rose Older andJames Grant Older.(10) Anna Rosebelle Older was born July 26, 1862, in Illinois. Shemarried John H. Butner, February 27, 1883, in Vermilion County, Illinois.(11) She diedFebruary 28, 1942. James Grant Older was born March 14, 1864, in Mechanicsburg,Illinois and died Mar 31, 1946, in Dearborn, Michigan. He married WilhelminaFredericka Lorenz May 21, 1885, in Danville, Vermilion Co., Illinois.(12)

The 1860 Illinois Federal Census for Sangamon County, Mechanicsburg PostOffice, District #16, enumerated August 6th, lists the S. C. Older household.(13) S. C.Older is listed as a male, 23 years old. His place of birth is given as Canada, and hisoccupation is that of broom maker. Also residing in the household are: J. E. Older, age24, female, who was born in Ohio; James Baird, 54 years old, male, butcher, born inOhio; Eliza Baird, 58 years old, female, born in Virginia; Henrietta Drury, age 17,female, born in Ohio; and Albert Baird, age 14, male, born in Ohio. Albert Bairdprobably was the Albert Myers listed in the 1850 census for this household. Theoccupation of butcher listed for James Baird in the 1860 census is consistent with theoccupation listed for him in the 1850 census.

The 1870 Illinois Federal Census, Vermilion County, Danville Township, datedJuly 4, by James A. Davis, lists Samuel Older as age 34, a broom maker who was born inCanada. His wife, Eliza, is listed as age 36, a housekeeper born in Ohio. Two children,Rose, age 8, born in Illinois, and James, age 6, born in Illinois, also are listed in thehousehold.(14)

The 1880 Illinois Federal Census for Vermilion County, Germantown, Post OfficeDanville, enumeration district 208, lists Samuel Older as age 43, a painter who was bornin Canada. Both of his parents are listed as born in England. Eliza Older is listed as age46, born in Ohio. Her father is listed as born in Ohio and her mother is listed as born inVirginia. Rosa, age 17, a daughter, is shown as born in Illinois, her father is listed as

born in Canada and her mother as born in Ohio. James, age 16, a son, is listed as anapprentice painter who was born in Illinois. His father was born in Canada and hismother was born in Ohio.(15)

The 1890 Federal Census records were lost in a fire and cannot help identify thewhereabouts of Samuel C. Older in 1890. The Peoria, Illinois City Directory lists a SamuelOlder at 2019 S. Adams, Peoria, Illinois, a painter, for the years 1890 and 1891.(16)

"Jane Eliza Baird Older married David B. Wire on 18 Feb 1896 in Vermilion Co.,IL.(17) David Wire was a Civil War soldier. He enlisted in Co. G, 28th Illinois Infantry,and claimed a pension on his service.(18) On January 15, 1898 David B. Wire filled out aquestionnaire for the Bureau of Pensions. Jane, his wife of two years appears to be anafter thought:

First. Are you married If so, please state your wife's full name and her maiden nameAnswer: Mary E. Goodner Dead...Fourth. Were you previously married? If so, please state the name of your former wifeand the date and place of her death or divorceAnswer: No wife died 1892 Vermilion County Indiana

Fifth. Have you any children living? If so, please state their names and the dates of theirbirthAnswer. Viola born Dec 1860 Mahala born Sept 5, 1863 Etha E born Feb 25, 1865Alexander born Feb 1867

Present wife Jane E. Living now [emphasis is mine]

When asked if he was married he indicated that his wife was dead, and then as an afterthought mentioned that he did have a wife named Jane who was living! There was noadditional reference to Jane in the pension file."(19)

Eliza Wire (or Weir) is listed in the James G. Older household in the 1900 U. S.Census for Indiana, Vigo County, city of Terre Haute.(20) Her relationship to the headof the household is given as mother. The month and year of her birth are given asAugust 1836. Her age is listed as 63. Her state of birth is given as Ohio and the state ofbirth of both of her parents is listed as Ohio. Eliza Older does not appear in the JamesG. Older household in the 1910 U. S. Census for Illinois, Macon County, city ofDecatur.(21)

Jane Eliza Baird, died May 3, 1914.(22) The date of death of Samuel ClarenceOlder is not known. We can assume he died before February 18, 1896, when Jane ElizaBaird Older remarried. The place of death and the place of burial are not known foreither Samuel Clarence or Jane Eliza Baird Older.

Children (Older), born in Illinois:i. Anna Rosebelle, born July 26, 1862; died February 28, 1942ii. James Grant, born March 14, 1864, in Mechanicsburg; died March 31, 1946

REFERENCES1. Source not known. Probably obtained from Janet Zillman Shinkle, daughter of WilmaJane Older Zillman. Wilma Jane Older was a granddaughter of James Grant Older, ason of Samuel Clarence Older and Jane Eliza Baird Older.

2. 1850 Ohio Federal Census for Ross County, Union township, city of Bourneville,enumerated September 25th, page 358, roll M432_725. Household of James Beard, age45, male, butcher, birthplace Ohio; Eliza Beard, age 48, female, born in Virginia; Jane E.Beard, age 15, female, birthplace Ohio; Albert Myers, age 5, male, born in Ohio.

3. Ohio, Adams County, Marriage Records, Anderson, Eliza, Baird, James, Jr., Aug 16,1827.

4. Index of Minonk Township Cemetery, Minonk Township, Woodford County, Illinois.This record gives the names of James Baird and Eliza Baird. However, the year of birthfor Eliza is given as 1831 and the date of death as 11-13-1881. There is no informationgiven for James Baird.

5. 1850 Ohio Federal Census, Ross County, Union township, city of Bourneville.

6. Ibid.

7. 1850 Ohio Federal Census, Ross County, Union township, city of Bourneville.

8. Ross County, Ohio, marriage records, Samuel Older and Jane Eliza Baird, August 14,1856.

9. The Descendants of Samuel Older by Susan L. Bingler, copyrighted February 2000.

10. Illinois Marriage Records, James Grant Older and Minnie F. Lorenz, married May21, 1885, in Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois. Volume V, Vermilion County, IL,Marriages, Vermilion County Court Records, Film #1298746:1298749, lists S. C. Olderand Elisa Baird as his parents; Illinois Marriage Records, John N. Butner and RosabelleOlder, married February 27, 1883, Vermilion County, Illinois; 1870 Illinois FederalCensus, Danville Township, Vermilion County, enumerated July 4, 1870; 1880 IllinoisFederal Census, Village of Germantown, Vermilion County; 1900 U. S. Census forIndiana, Vigo County, Terre Haute, Harrison Township, Ward #8, enumerated June 2,1900, house number 1658, dwelling number 51, and family number 52, James Olderhead of household.

11. Illinois Marriage Records, John N. Butner and Rosabelle Older, married February 27,1883, Vermilion County, Illinois.

12. Illinois Marriage Records, James Grant Older and Minnie F. Lorenz, married May21, 1885, in Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois. Volume V, Vermilion County, IL,Marriages, Vermilion County Court Records, Film #1298746:1298749.

13. 1860 Illinois Federal Census for Sangamon County, Mechanicsburg Post Office,District #16, enumerated August 6th.

14. 1870 Illinois Federal Census, Vermilion County, Danville Township, dated July 4, byJames A. Davis.

15. 1880 Illinois Federal Census for Vermilion County, Germantown, Post OfficeDanville, enumeration district #208.

16. Peoria, Illinois, City Directory, 1890 and 1891, Samuel Older.

17. Jane Eliza Baird Older Entry, Vermilion County, Illinois marriages v. 3 p. 100.

18. Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service, David B. Wire, 28thIllinois Infantry, Union, Company G, Soldier's Rank_In - Private, Soldier's Rank_Out -Private, Film Number M539 roll 99.

19. Bingler, Susan L., CGRS, Samuel Older of Sussex, England and His descendants inAmerica, draft version, June 2005, page 35.

20. 1900 U. S. Census for Indiana, Vigo County, city of Terre Haute, James Olderhousehold.

21. 1910 U. S. Census for Illinois, Macon County, city of Decatur, Decatur Township,Ward #6, enumerated April 21, 1910, enumeration district #117, Sheet 10 A, housenumber 1657, dwelling number 226, and family number 271.

22. Source not known. Probably obtained from Janet Zillman Shinkle.

1850 Federal Census for Ohio, Ross County, Bourneville, enumerated September 25, 1850,Page 358, Roll M432_725

Dwelling 719, Family 720

James Beard, age 45, male, butcher, born in OhioEliza Beard, age 48, female, born in VirginiaJane E Beard, age 15, female, born in OhioAlbert Myers, age 5, male, born in Ohio, attended school during the year

, ...................... .

1860 U. S. Census for Illinois, Sangamon County, Post Office - Mechanicsburg, Page 347,District No. 16, enumerated August 6, 1860, by J. H. Currier

Dwelling #2467, Family #2467

1860 U. S. Census for Illinois, Sangamon County, Post Office - Mechanicsburg, Page 347,District No. 16, enumerated August 6, 1860, by J. H. Currier

Dwelling #2467, Family #2467

S. C. Older, age 23, male, Broom Maker, personal property = $100, born in CanadaJ. E. Older, age 24, female, born in Ohio, over 20 years of age and cannot read or writeJames Baird, age 54, male, Butcher, real estate = $75, born in Ohio, over 20 years of age and cannot

read or writeEliza Baird, age 58, female, born in VirginiaHenrietta Drury, age 17, female, born in OhioAlbert Baird, age 14, male, born in Ohio

1870 U. S. Census for Illinois, Vermilion County, Danville Township, Post Office - Danville,page number 15, enumerated July 4, 1870, by James A. Davis

Dwelling 124, Family 123Samuel Older, age 34, male, white, Broom Maker, born in Canada, male citizen of U. S. 21 years oldEliza Older, age 36, female, white, keeping house, born in OhioRose Older, age 8, female, white, born in Illinois, father foreign bornJames Older, age 6, male, white, born in Illinois, father foreign born

1880 U. S. Census for Illinois, Vermilion County, Germantown, Roll T9_255,Family History Film 1254255, Page 290D, Enumeration District 208, Image 0069

Dwelling 284, Family 305

1880 U. S. Census for Illinois, Vermilion County, Village of Germantown, Roll T9_255,Family History Film 1254255, Page 290D, Enumeration District 208, Image 0069

Dwelling 284, Family 305

Samuel Older, white, male, age 43, married, painter, born in Canada, parents born in EnglandEliza Older, white, female, age 46, wife, married, at home, born in Ohio, father born in Ohio,

mother born in VirginiaRose Older, white, female, age 17, daughter, single, at home, born in Illinois, father born in

Canada, mother born in OhioJames Older, white, male, age 16, son, apprentice to painter, born in Illinois, father born in Canada,

mother born in Ohio

1900 United States Census, Indiana, Terre Haute, Harrison Township, Ward #8, enumerated June 2, 1900, by William L. Canary,enumeration district 119, page 3B

house number 1658, dwelling number 51, family number 52,

Older, James G., head, white, male, March 1864, age 36, born in Ohio, father born in England, mother born in Ohio, painter, canread, can write, can speak English, rent, house

Older, Minnie, wife, white, female, born March 1867, age 33, born in Illinois, father born in Germany, mother born in Germany, canread, can write, can speak English

Older, Roy, son, white, male, born February 1886, age 14, born in Illinois, father born in Ohio, mother born in Illinois, attendedschool 9 months, can read, can write, can speak English

Older, Nella, daughter, white, female, born March 1889, born in Illinois, father born in Ohio, mother born in Illinois, attendedschool 9 months, can read, can write, can speak English

Older, Mable, daughter, white, female, born November 1892, born in Illinois, father born in Ohio, mother born in Illinois,attended school, 9 months

Weir (Wire), Eliza, mother, white, female, born August 1834, age 63, married, mother of three children, two of these children nowliving, born in Ohio, father born in Ohio, mother born in Ohio, can read, can write, can speak English

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JANE ELIZA BAIRD (#17), MOTHER OF JAMES GRANT OLDER

Curt, I had planned to do four files today. Unfortunately, I did Jane’s file first, coming tosome conclusions that I wouldn’t have come to, if I had read Samuel’s file first. Therefore,I had to do some re-evaluating. This is because some of the data relating to Jane’s possibleBAIRD parents were in Samuel’s file, instead of Jane’s.

Therefore, my first suggestion is that your footnotes in Samuel’s file relating to theBAIRD research, should be moved to Jane’s file. Here I am referring specifically tofootnotes 22, 23, 24, and 25. These relate not to Samuel Clarence Older, but to Jane ElizaBaird, his wife, and much of the material is not in her file at all. I will talk more aboutJane’s parents in her file later in this report.

JANE ELIZA BAIRD (#17)

This report is a nice example of how consistent census reports can be usedas proof of parentage, even without one other definitive document that namesJane Eliza as the daughter of James Baird and Eliza!

First paragraph: You state that James and Eliza Baird are “believed to beburied” in the Minonk Township Cemetery and cite the cemetery index. Thatpretty much guarantees that they are buried there – otherwise, how would theindex’s compiler have known the names? The main problem is if this is the“correct” James and Eliza! Perhaps the “1831” date is a transcriptional error for“1801.” You might want to say that they are “listed as buried” in the cemetery,rather than “believed to be,” which sort of casts a doubt on their burial location.

NOTE: There seems to be quite a bit of conflicting data – I am completely befuddled byfootnote #22 in Samuel Clarence Older’s file! Are you saying that James Baird, born1764, and Mary Robinson, died 1849, are the parents of James Baird, Jr.? I think allreferences to the BAIRDS should be in THIS file, not in Samuel’s. If you will turn tofootnote #22 in Samuel’s file, just a couple of minor points. On the first line, the“c” in Guernsey County should be capitalized. Also, about _ of the way throughthis footnote, there is an odd explamation point just before the word “source.”

Now, back to Jane Eliza….

It’s a shame that Jane Eliza Baird’s marriage license doesn’t give herparents’ names, but her census reports are almost entirely consistent with herbeing the daughter of James and Eliza Baird. First of all, you have her in herparents’ household in the 1850 census. That census reports states that her fatherwas born Ohio and her mother in Virginia, two diverse locations. Let’s go next tothe 1860 census, where fortunately James and Eliza Baird, born in Ohio andVirginia respectively, are living with daughter Jane Eliza Older and her husbandSamuel! Again, the birthplaces of James and Eliza are consistent with the 1850census. Leaping ahead to the 1880 census, Eliza states that her father was born inOhio and her mother in Virginia. A perfect match with the 1850 birth placelocations. The match is not quite so perfect in the 1900 census, but James G.

Older, Jane Eliza’s son, most probably gave that information to the census taker,since she was living in his household. That record gives both Eliza’s parents asborn in Ohio. James may not have known that his grandmother was born inVirginia.

If you are able to locate this family in 1840, they would have at least onedaughter age approximately five years. .

Of course, there is also the matter of Jane Eliza’s name – her mother’sname was also Eliza! Speaking of names, Jane Eliza’s only son was namedJames, her father’s name. Another nice match.

Where the paragraph begins “Jane Eliza Baird Older married David B.Wire…” – if this is all one big quote from Susan L. Bingler (footnote 19), I wouldput a space between the start of this and the end of the preceding paragraph thatdiscusses the 1890 census. That would set it off better as a quote. Also, I wouldmove this sentence from the end of your narrative to a spot immediately beforethe discussion of Jane Eliza’s remarriage: “The date of death of Samuel ClarenceOlder is not known. We can assume he died before February 18, 1896, when JaneEliza Baird Older remarried.” This would make the narrative flow better andlead nicely into the part about her second marriage. (It was so abrupt, I couldn’tfigure out what happened to Samuel!)

You are correct – poor Jane Eliza does indeed sound like an afterthoughtin her second spouse’s deposition. That was most interesting!

In the very last sentence, technically her name is Jane Eliza Baird OlderWire.

CONCLUSION: Proof of the parentage of Jane Eliza Baird has been establishedthrough census reports showing her within her parents’ household in 1850; theyare in her and her husband’s household in 1860; the parents’ birthplaces (Ohioand Virginia) are also repeated consistently in the 1880 census for Jane Eliza.Additionally, she is named for her mother and her only son is named for herfather (not proof of itself, but certainly more than coincidence). She is definitelythe daughter of a James and Eliza Baird, James being born in Ohio and Eliza, inVirginia, based on these census reports, especially the 1850 and 1860 listings.

HOWEVER – based on the info regarding Baird families in Samuel C. Older’snew file, it is not yet possible to determine if the James and Eliza Baird in the1870 Woodford Co., IL census (later buried in the Minonk Cemetery) are theright couple, since this Eliza seems to have been born in Pennsylvania. I suspectthat they are the right people, but it needs more evidence.