Francis Van Buren Laird and Hetty D. Welty

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Husband Francis Van Buren Laird ^{1 2 3}

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           Born: 30 Dec 1840 - Murrysville, Westmoreland Co, PA 2
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         Father: John Moore Laird, Esq. (1802-1887) 1 4 5 6
         Mother: Rebecca Moore (      -1875) 1 4 6

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       Marriage: 19 Apr 1871 2

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Wife Hetty D. Welty ²

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            AKA: Hettie Welty 3
           Born: 
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         Father: Daniel Welty (1820-1882) 2 3 7 8
         Mother: Mary Ann Drum (      -      ) 2 3

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Children

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1 M Richard Drum Laird ⁹

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           Born: 30 Jun 1872 - Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA 9
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         Spouse: Clara Dalby (      -      ) 9
           Marr: 15 Nov 1904 9

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2 F Mary Rebecca Laird ⁹

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           Born: 18 Feb 1874 - Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA 9
     Christened: 
           Died: 
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         Spouse: Frank W. Highberger (      -      ) 9
           Marr: 24 Oct 1900 9

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General Notes: Husband - Francis Van Buren Laird

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He attended school at Murrysville, Westmoreland County, PA, until the age of ten years, when their father removed to Greensburg. He at­tended the common schools there, working in the printing office mornings and evenings. After the death of his father, he looked after and successfully managed the business affairs of the printing office (besides assisting in the composing and job printing department) and also as proof reader and ex­change editor of the “Argus.”

His limited education was received in a country school at Murrysville, Westmoreland County, PA. He removed in 1850 with his parents to Greensburg, where he entered his father's printing office, remaining there for many years, with one temporary absence in the early sixties, when he took charge of the “Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, Monitor,” a paper started by a stock company at that place. His eyesight failing, he was obliged to quit the printing business for several years, joining an engineer corps engaged on the survey of the Pan Handle railroad, near Pittsburg. He was afterwards en­gaged on the surveys of the West Penn and the Baltimore and Ohio railroads, respectively. His eyesight having somewhat improved he again entered his father's printing office, where he remained until his father's death, when, in association with his brother, James M., they succeeded in the publication of the “Argus.” F. V. B. Laird was elected to council on the Democratic ticket in Greensburg in 1876. Twenty years later, in March, 1896, he was returned to council from the Third ward, Greensburg, where he honorably served his con­stituents until March 1903. During most of this time he was chairman of the police committee and brought the force up to a remarkable degree of efficiency, oftentimes sacrificing time and business to personal direction of his officers. He was unanimously elected president of council in 1898. He ruled the body with grave deliberation, and some of his rulings were and are yet frequently referred to. He upheld the dignity of his office with becoming grace, and declined a re-election, insisting that his fellow members were entitled to the honor. During President Johnston's administration he was appointed deputy United States marshal. He was not a member of a church, but attended regularly the Sab­bath services in the Presbyterian church.

1 Samuel T. Wiley, Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: John M. Gresham & Co., 1890.), Pg 120.

2 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 462.

3 Fenwick Y. Hedley, Old and New Westmoreland, Vols. III & IV (New York, NY: The American Historical Society, Inc., 1918), Pg 736.

4 Editor, History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania (Newark, OH: J. A. Caldwell, 1880), Pg 393.

5 George Dallas Albert, History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: L. H. Everts & Co., 1882), Pg 297.

6 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 458.

7 Samuel T. Wiley, Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: John M. Gresham & Co., 1890.), Pg 175.

8 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. III (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 475.

9 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 463.