He built the stone house on Main street in 1766.
Mr. Baird was a man of intelligence and comparative wealth. He was a signer of the non-importation pledge of 1775, and lived and died in Warwick in warm esteem.
He died in the latter part of 1799 or the first part of 1800, and left a will disposing of his property. His children were William Eagles, Samuel, John, Abia Francis, Anna and Margaret (wife of Joseph Walling).
The last named are the ancestors of the Walling family in this town.
William Eagles Baird married Sarah De Kay, a daughter of Thomas De Kay, and from this marriage were the following: Nathaniel Wheeler, Abia Francis, Fanny (married Blain), Mary (or Polly, married Thomas Hathorn Burt), Jane, Sally (married Nathaniel Pelton), Christine (married David Barclay).
The descendants of Nathaniel Wheeler Baird, who married Abigail Denton, reside principally in this town. They are: John Baird (married Mary De Kay), Julia (married Thomas E. De Kay), Samuel Denton (married Sarah Parks), Mary (married Ogden Howell), Frances Amelia (married George W. Sanford, 1847), Sarah (married Thomas J. Taylor), William Henry (married Mary ____), Charles Roe (married Anna M. Jayne).
In 1819, William Eagles Baird, oldest son of Francis, built the stone house between Warwick and New Milford, which is still in excellent preservation and is owned by a descendant, William Parks Baird, a son of Samuel Denton Baird, deceased, who resides there with his mother, Sarah. The other descendants of Samuel D., who were also born here, are Samuel D., Jr., Nathaniel Wheeler, Susan (married Pierre Demerest), Fred J. and George M.
FRED BAKER, who since 1883 has been manager of the Newburgh branch of Swift & Company, is one of Orange County's popular citizens. He was born in Germany in 1834, and came to America in 1853. He was engaged for many years with his father in the conduct of a slaughter house on the Plank road, and since his connection with Swift & Company has built up an extensive trade in Newburgh and vicinity. Fred, his eldest son, conducts a farm at Marlboro. His son William conducts a meat market at 52 Water street, and another at 127 Smith street, Newburgh, and John J. has a meat market on South Street. Mr. Baker is prominent in Masonic circles, a member of Hudson River Lodge, the Chapter, Commandery and Shrine.
GEORGE W. BALL was born May 13, 1868, in Monroe, Orange County. He was educated in the public school and Chester Academy. Then he was clerk for David Roe at Bellvale, N. Y., and for Frank Hall, of Greenwood Lake. In 1888 he became station agent at Allamuchy, N. J., and Buttsville, N. J., for the Lehigh & Hudson Railroad, and was transferred to Greycourt, N. Y. In 1891 he became clerk in the Erie Railroad office at Bergen, N. J., and went from there back to Greycourt to be station agent for the Erie. He left the employment of this road July 15, 1904, and started a real estate and insurance business at Chester. He also started and still publishes a weekly paper, the Independent.
Mr. Ball has been village trustee four years, justice of the peace four years, and village clerk two years. He has been a member of the Chester Band twenty years, and is at present its leader. He was chief of the Chester fire department from 1894 to 1896. He is a charter member of the Chester K. of P. Lodge No. 363, and a member of the Standard Lodge No. 711, F. & A. M. His wife was Anna M. Smith, and a daughter of the late C. P. Smith, of Chester. Their children are Mae T., Susan R., Katheryn M. and Caroline P.