Tabor (Iowa) Beacon,  23 July 1909

William Thomas Laird, eldest brother of H. R. Laird and F. M. Laird of Tabor, died July 10th at his home in Yreka, Calif. in his 75th year.  The deceased was the oldest of eight brothers and the first to die.  He went to California in 1862 and has lived there ever since.  His wife died about a year ago.  Two grown sons and seven brothers are left to mourn his death.

The following obituary is taken from the Siskiyou (Calif.) News.

Mr. Laird was born at Erie, Penn., on August 17, 1834, and was the oldest son of John[ston] and Mary Laird.  When a small boy he moved with his parents to Illinois and later to Iowa.  The young man soon branched out for himself and became a Nebraska pioneer, serving as a member of the legislature of that territory in 1856.  Going back to Iowa, he served as sheriff of Fremont county.  In 1862, he made the first overland trip to Trinity county Calif with an ox team, the trip lasting five months.  For protection against the Indians, many other emigrants gradually joined his train until it numbered 150 wagons.  He worked in the mines of Trinity county for two years and moved to Siskiyou county in 1864 where he made his home for the remainder of his life.  In Yreka, he renewed his acquaintance with J. W. Thompson, who was a telegraph operator here many years ago, and was a page in the Nebraska territorial legislature at the time Mr. Laird was a member.

His occupation in Siskiyou county was always that of rancher and stock raiser, in which he was successful and acquired a competency.  He was a democrat in politics and took an active interest in public affairs, serving one term as county supervisor and two years as deputy sheriff under the late Sheriff Riley.  He was chosen many times foreman of the grand jury, and was a member of the Masonic Order for 44 years.

Mr. Laird was a man of strong character and pronounced in his views.  He hated hypocrisy.  His life was plain and simple, as became a man who despised ostentation and display.

Seven brothers are living in the western middle states and two sons in Siskiyou county - Charles J. Laird of Brownell and William H. Laird of Ager.

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