BAIRD, DOSSET FAMILIES GO BACK TO EARLY 1800S IN CAMPBELL COUNTY, SAYS GOODSPEED'S HISTORY

Reprinted with Permission from Dallas Bogan. This article was published in the LaFollette Press.

The following biographies were taken from "Goodspeed's History of Campbell County," dated '1887.

Jesse Baird farmer, was born in Whitley County, Ky., November 24, 1826, the son of Lewis M. and Elizabeth (Woosley) Baird. The father, a native of North Carolina, was of Irish origin, and left fatherless when a child. He was born August 22, 1795, and farmed nearly all his life, coming to Kentucky soon after his father's death. In 1862 the Confederate soldiers took him from his home, in Tennessee, and tried, in vain, to make him take the oath of allegiance, and consequently imprisoned him, and he died in a North Carolina prison, in May, 1864. The mother of our subject was a Virginian, born of English parents December 28, 1797. She bore eleven sons and three daughters. Our subject, the sixth child, was reared on a farm in Kentucky, and since twelve years of age has been in Campbell County, Tenn. His country school education enabled him to teach, when of age, for two terms, and then after some employment in a distillery, he began his career as a farmer, in Campbell County, on his present homestead, in Elk Valley. In 1853 he married Louisa a daughter of John Smith. She was born in Whitley County, Ky,, (sic) November 9, 1836. Nine sons and four daughters have been born to them, but one of the former deceased. Our subject has been successful in life, and is a member of the United Baptist Church.

S. C. Baird county clerk, was born November 16, 1841, in Campbell County, the son of William and Nancy (Barron) Baird; the former born in Whitley County, Ky. October 19, 1819, and deceased in April, 1886. He was a farmer, and Lewis his father, was a native of North Carolina. The mother, born in 1821, in Campbell County, was the daughter of Joseph Barron a Virginian, who removed to Tennessee, and finally to Texas. She died in December, 1861. Both parents are Baptists,(sic) Our subject grew up with country school advantages, and when nineteen years of age went to Williamsburg, Ky., where, August 2, 1861, he joined Company A, First Tennessee Infantry (Federal), and served with that regiment, until mustered out at Nashville, September 29, 1864. For two or three years he farmed, and in March, 1868, he became trustee of Campbell County, and in 1870 was re-elected. He then farmed, at the expiration of that term, and dealt in stock until 1878, since which time he has held his present office with characteristic efficiency. He is a member of the G. A. R., Milton L. Phillips Post, No. 27, of which he is Senior Vice-Commander. December 17, 1865, Sarah Bowman became his wife. She was born January 9, 1844, in Campbell County, the daughter of Elias Bowman. They had six children: Synthia E., Winston, Calaway, H. Maynard, Annie J. and Jimmie N.

Alfred Dossett was born in Campbell County January 18, 1813, and is the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Willoughby) Dossett. The father was born in North Carolina in 1787, and was the son of William Dossett a native of North Carolina, who immigrated to Tennessee in 1804, and settled in Powell's Valley, Campbell County, at a time when the Indians were in full force. At that time the county was a vast cane brake and forest, and the life of the hardy pioneers was full of trials and tribulations. Robert the father, followed in the footsteps of his sire, and was a farmer. He served in the war of 1812, under Gen. Jackson. He was an honest upright citizen, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was highly esteemed and respected by his neighbors. He died May 12, 1879, in his one hundred and first year. The mother was the daughter of John Willoughby of Campbell County. She was a pious Christian lady, and died June 19, 1836. Our subject was reared on the farm, and acquired his education in the neighboring schools. His education was limited, as the schools of his boyhood were poor, and the opportunities for attending them very poor. He has a good practical education. He was chosen lieutenant of a company organized for the Florida war in 1836, and also of a company organized for the war with Mexico in 1847, neither of which was accepted. He has made a success of life. He was elected justice of the peace in 1882, and holds that office at present. He was united in marriage, February 1, 1838, to Julia A. W. Elliot who was born April 10, 1819. To this union ten children were born, eight of whom are living. The wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died May 1, 1867. He was married a second time, July 2, 1878, to Martha J. Smith who was born in Campbell County, September 13, 1835, and died March 18, 1875. He was again married, November 17, 1878 to Rhoda Bowls nee Kitchen. Our subject and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.