Appleton Post-Crescent
29 Mar 1932
Mrs. Baird Dies in New London at Age of 97
Pioneer Woman Experienced Real Adventure in Younger Days
New London – Mrs. Lucinda Williams Baird, 97, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Walter Brandow, Oshkosh St, Monday afternoon. Mrs. Baird probably experienced more fully than any other woman of the community real pioneer adventure. It was evident from what she has said, however, that she did not look upon these experiences as unusual, though her history would read like the pages from that pioneer novel, “The Covered Wagon.”
She told about the camp at Council Bluffs, in 1851, where for months wagons bearing families from the east and middle west congregated to wait for the ice to leave the Missouri so that the great trek into the west might begin. It was in this group that Lucinda Monjar, whose French descendants claimed relationship with Lafayette, met Oliver Williams. Later, while on the trail, he became ill, and the girl of 17 cared for him, brewing medicines from herbs found on the prairies. She married him on July 4, 1854.
There were no frills to grace that wedding, Mrs. Baird, often stated. For flowers there were wild roses, verbenas and indigo and guests were the friends made in the long weeks of travel in the ox train. Her recollections were vivid of the bugle blowing at dawn to waken the weary travelers, of the boys scattering to bring up the stock and milk cows, of the shouting and arguments over positions in the train.
Game Furnished Food
She recounted too the game hunts, when in the rich lands of Kansas men hunted to provide food for the families. Babies were born; there were deaths with hurried ceremonies performed over the shallow trail-side graves. Twelve miles was the utmost the oxen, heavily burdened could cover in a day. It was soon after her marriage that the dread cholera broke out, and the story of graves which crowded one another, heartbreak and horror remained with Mrs. Baird always. At Chimney Rock, she recalled, the hope that had filled the hearts of many failed, sending families, broken by death or discouragement, back to the homes they had deserted.
The Monjars and Williams, however, continued on and three months later arrived at Salt Lake City. Here they remained for a time until conflict with the Mormons sent them toward the goldfields of California. Here too the William’s first child, a son, was born, but died.
Gold was discovered at Marysville, Cal., and when enough had been accumulated it was placed in a rude chest and the families started for the west coast. Pursued by thieves the party continued and dreading a return across the plains embarked to follow the Pacific coast southward. During these years in Marysville a second son, Perry, was born, and the young couple was happy and prosperous. Holding her child in her arms the young mother crossed the Isthmus of Panama on mule back. The dream of happiness continued until five days out of New York, when Perry died and was buried at sea. There followed a long arduous journey westward, which took the travelers by rail, boat, and stage coach to Chicago. After becoming mired in a sea of mud on what later became Michigan Blvd. the party turned northward and finally reached their destination of DePere, where Dr. Williams, father of Oliver, later built a hotel known for years as the California house.
This hotel, built of stone, still stands, and was only recently remodeled. Oliver Williams died and only four of the ten children born to Mrs. Baird survive their mother. These are A. B. and James Williams, Tacoma, Wash.; Mrs. C. h. Buell, Seattle, and Mrs. Almira Brandow of this city. Mrs. Baird outlived her second husband, George Baird, after whose death she made her home with her daughter. She has been a resident of New London for the past 18 years.
The funeral will be held at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Methodist Episcopal church, with burial in the family lot at DePere. The Rev. C. A. Tuttle will be in charge of the services. Mrs. Baird was born in Hancock Co., Missouri, Nov. 17, 1834.
29 Mar 1932
Mrs. Baird Dies in New London at Age of 97
Pioneer Woman Experienced Real Adventure in Younger Days
New London – Mrs. Lucinda Williams Baird, 97, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Walter Brandow, Oshkosh St, Monday afternoon. Mrs. Baird probably experienced more fully than any other woman of the community real pioneer adventure. It was evident from what she has said, however, that she did not look upon these experiences as unusual, though her history would read like the pages from that pioneer novel, “The Covered Wagon.”
She told about the camp at Council Bluffs, in 1851, where for months wagons bearing families from the east and middle west congregated to wait for the ice to leave the Missouri so that the great trek into the west might begin. It was in this group that Lucinda Monjar, whose French descendants claimed relationship with Lafayette, met Oliver Williams. Later, while on the trail, he became ill, and the girl of 17 cared for him, brewing medicines from herbs found on the prairies. She married him on July 4, 1854.
There were no frills to grace that wedding, Mrs. Baird, often stated. For flowers there were wild roses, verbenas and indigo and guests were the friends made in the long weeks of travel in the ox train. Her recollections were vivid of the bugle blowing at dawn to waken the weary travelers, of the boys scattering to bring up the stock and milk cows, of the shouting and arguments over positions in the train.
Game Furnished Food
She recounted too the game hunts, when in the rich lands of Kansas men hunted to provide food for the families. Babies were born; there were deaths with hurried ceremonies performed over the shallow trail-side graves. Twelve miles was the utmost the oxen, heavily burdened could cover in a day. It was soon after her marriage that the dread cholera broke out, and the story of graves which crowded one another, heartbreak and horror remained with Mrs. Baird always. At Chimney Rock, she recalled, the hope that had filled the hearts of many failed, sending families, broken by death or discouragement, back to the homes they had deserted.
The Monjars and Williams, however, continued on and three months later arrived at Salt Lake City. Here they remained for a time until conflict with the Mormons sent them toward the goldfields of California. Here too the William’s first child, a son, was born, but died.
Gold was discovered at Marysville, Cal., and when enough had been accumulated it was placed in a rude chest and the families started for the west coast. Pursued by thieves the party continued and dreading a return across the plains embarked to follow the Pacific coast southward. During these years in Marysville a second son, Perry, was born, and the young couple was happy and prosperous. Holding her child in her arms the young mother crossed the Isthmus of Panama on mule back. The dream of happiness continued until five days out of New York, when Perry died and was buried at sea. There followed a long arduous journey westward, which took the travelers by rail, boat, and stage coach to Chicago. After becoming mired in a sea of mud on what later became Michigan Blvd. the party turned northward and finally reached their destination of DePere, where Dr. Williams, father of Oliver, later built a hotel known for years as the California house.
This hotel, built of stone, still stands, and was only recently remodeled. Oliver Williams died and only four of the ten children born to Mrs. Baird survive their mother. These are A. B. and James Williams, Tacoma, Wash.; Mrs. C. h. Buell, Seattle, and Mrs. Almira Brandow of this city. Mrs. Baird outlived her second husband, George Baird, after whose death she made her home with her daughter. She has been a resident of New London for the past 18 years.
The funeral will be held at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Methodist Episcopal church, with burial in the family lot at DePere. The Rev. C. A. Tuttle will be in charge of the services. Mrs. Baird was born in Hancock Co., Missouri, Nov. 17, 1834.
Appleton Post-Crescent
29 Mar 1932
Mrs. Baird Dies in New London at Age of 97
Pioneer Woman Experienced Real Adventure in Younger Days
New London – Mrs. Lucinda Williams Baird, 97, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Walter Brandow, Oshkosh St, Monday afternoon. Mrs. Baird probably experienced more fully than any other woman of the community real pioneer adventure. It was evident from what she has said, however, that she did not look upon these experiences as unusual, though her history would read like the pages from that pioneer novel, “The Covered Wagon.”
She told about the camp at Council Bluffs, in 1851, where for months wagons bearing families from the east and middle west congregated to wait for the ice to leave the Missouri so that the great trek into the west might begin. It was in this group that Lucinda Monjar, whose French descendants claimed relationship with Lafayette, met Oliver Williams. Later, while on the trail, he became ill, and the girl of 17 cared for him, brewing medicines from herbs found on the prairies. She married him on July 4, 1854.
There were no frills to grace that wedding, Mrs. Baird, often stated. For flowers there were wild roses, verbenas and indigo and guests were the friends made in the long weeks of travel in the ox train. Her recollections were vivid of the bugle blowing at dawn to waken the weary travelers, of the boys scattering to bring up the stock and milk cows, of the shouting and arguments over positions in the train.
Game Furnished Food
She recounted too the game hunts, when in the rich lands of Kansas men hunted to provide food for the families. Babies were born; there were deaths with hurried ceremonies performed over the shallow trail-side graves. Twelve miles was the utmost the oxen, heavily burdened could cover in a day. It was soon after her marriage that the dread cholera broke out, and the story of graves which crowded one another, heartbreak and horror remained with Mrs. Baird always. At Chimney Rock, she recalled, the hope that had filled the hearts of many failed, sending families, broken by death or discouragement, back to the homes they had deserted.
The Monjars and Williams, however, continued on and three months later arrived at Salt Lake City. Here they remained for a time until conflict with the Mormons sent them toward the goldfields of California. Here too the William’s first child, a son, was born, but died.
Gold was discovered at Marysville, Cal., and when enough had been accumulated it was placed in a rude chest and the families started for the west coast. Pursued by thieves the party continued and dreading a return across the plains embarked to follow the Pacific coast southward. During these years in Marysville a second son, Perry, was born, and the young couple was happy and prosperous. Holding her child in her arms the young mother crossed the Isthmus of Panama on mule back. The dream of happiness continued until five days out of New York, when Perry died and was buried at sea. There followed a long arduous journey westward, which took the travelers by rail, boat, and stage coach to Chicago. After becoming mired in a sea of mud on what later became Michigan Blvd. the party turned northward and finally reached their destination of DePere, where Dr. Williams, father of Oliver, later built a hotel known for years as the California house.
This hotel, built of stone, still stands, and was only recently remodeled. Oliver Williams died and only four of the ten children born to Mrs. Baird survive their mother. These are A. B. and James Williams, Tacoma, Wash.; Mrs. C. h. Buell, Seattle, and Mrs. Almira Brandow of this city. Mrs. Baird outlived her second husband, George Baird, after whose death she made her home with her daughter. She has been a resident of New London for the past 18 years.
The funeral will be held at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Methodist Episcopal church, with burial in the family lot at DePere. The Rev. C. A. Tuttle will be in charge of the services. Mrs. Baird was born in Hancock Co., Missouri, Nov. 17, 1834.
29 Mar 1932
Mrs. Baird Dies in New London at Age of 97
Pioneer Woman Experienced Real Adventure in Younger Days
New London – Mrs. Lucinda Williams Baird, 97, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Walter Brandow, Oshkosh St, Monday afternoon. Mrs. Baird probably experienced more fully than any other woman of the community real pioneer adventure. It was evident from what she has said, however, that she did not look upon these experiences as unusual, though her history would read like the pages from that pioneer novel, “The Covered Wagon.”
She told about the camp at Council Bluffs, in 1851, where for months wagons bearing families from the east and middle west congregated to wait for the ice to leave the Missouri so that the great trek into the west might begin. It was in this group that Lucinda Monjar, whose French descendants claimed relationship with Lafayette, met Oliver Williams. Later, while on the trail, he became ill, and the girl of 17 cared for him, brewing medicines from herbs found on the prairies. She married him on July 4, 1854.
There were no frills to grace that wedding, Mrs. Baird, often stated. For flowers there were wild roses, verbenas and indigo and guests were the friends made in the long weeks of travel in the ox train. Her recollections were vivid of the bugle blowing at dawn to waken the weary travelers, of the boys scattering to bring up the stock and milk cows, of the shouting and arguments over positions in the train.
Game Furnished Food
She recounted too the game hunts, when in the rich lands of Kansas men hunted to provide food for the families. Babies were born; there were deaths with hurried ceremonies performed over the shallow trail-side graves. Twelve miles was the utmost the oxen, heavily burdened could cover in a day. It was soon after her marriage that the dread cholera broke out, and the story of graves which crowded one another, heartbreak and horror remained with Mrs. Baird always. At Chimney Rock, she recalled, the hope that had filled the hearts of many failed, sending families, broken by death or discouragement, back to the homes they had deserted.
The Monjars and Williams, however, continued on and three months later arrived at Salt Lake City. Here they remained for a time until conflict with the Mormons sent them toward the goldfields of California. Here too the William’s first child, a son, was born, but died.
Gold was discovered at Marysville, Cal., and when enough had been accumulated it was placed in a rude chest and the families started for the west coast. Pursued by thieves the party continued and dreading a return across the plains embarked to follow the Pacific coast southward. During these years in Marysville a second son, Perry, was born, and the young couple was happy and prosperous. Holding her child in her arms the young mother crossed the Isthmus of Panama on mule back. The dream of happiness continued until five days out of New York, when Perry died and was buried at sea. There followed a long arduous journey westward, which took the travelers by rail, boat, and stage coach to Chicago. After becoming mired in a sea of mud on what later became Michigan Blvd. the party turned northward and finally reached their destination of DePere, where Dr. Williams, father of Oliver, later built a hotel known for years as the California house.
This hotel, built of stone, still stands, and was only recently remodeled. Oliver Williams died and only four of the ten children born to Mrs. Baird survive their mother. These are A. B. and James Williams, Tacoma, Wash.; Mrs. C. h. Buell, Seattle, and Mrs. Almira Brandow of this city. Mrs. Baird outlived her second husband, George Baird, after whose death she made her home with her daughter. She has been a resident of New London for the past 18 years.
The funeral will be held at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Methodist Episcopal church, with burial in the family lot at DePere. The Rev. C. A. Tuttle will be in charge of the services. Mrs. Baird was born in Hancock Co., Missouri, Nov. 17, 1834.
Gravesite Details
Possibly the Williams Family Lot
Family Members
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