Hiram Baird, Jr. Obituary


From the Mountain Eagle, December 3, 1890
Submitted by Robin Sterling



Died, six miles east of town, at 10 o'clock Friday night, 28th ult., Mr. Hiram Baird, a useful and good citizen. He leaves a wife and several children to mourn his death.


From the Mountain EagleDecember 17, 1890:

In Memory of Hiram Baird. What he said to his wife and children before he died.

To his wife he said "You have prayed for me a thousand times, and I have resisted. I have caused you a heap of trouble, will you forgive me?" she said "yes." And he continued, "I thought I was worse than Paul who persecuted the churches. It took three days for the scales to be washed from his eyes. I though that I was one of the lost tribe, but you have prayed for me or I would have been lost. the doctors may not come but King Jesus will carry us through. I feel good---let me up--I feel happy. I feel better than I ever felt in my life. Did I know there was such a thing. There is Brother Crumpton, he prayed for me many times, I wish I could hear him laugh. There is Brother Adkins, he has prayed for me many times, I wish I could see him. I want to be baptized. I want Uncle Sim Smith or Billy Barton to baptize me. I must confess that I have lived wrong. Just to think that God has let me live in disobedience to His will for fifty years! If the Lord's will I should live I will live a better life than I have. "Then the song "Amazing Grace! how sweet it sounds that save a wretch like me." And he took a neighbor girl's hand, and said, "Will you go with me and be baptized and be a good girl and you will have a home in Paradise." Son, this is my neighbor's child, I want my neighbors and their children to go to Heaven. (His son enters) Jesus Christ has come and has forgiven my sins." He said "Carey will you go and be baptized with me, I have Roxie to go with me. I will attend to these things when I get well. When I was a boy I would go to church and run out and say "that old fellow thought he was mighty smart but he didn't get me." Don't you do that. Just believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and that's all. i want all my children to lead a Christian life, be baptized and be teachers of the gospel." From then he suffered terrible until Friday night. He died Friday night, November 29th [sic], 1890, at 11:25 o'clock.


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