From the WPA Project in the late 1930's.
1 1/2 miles northeast of Plainview

The Baird Cemetery is an old cemetery which was laid out in 1849. It is said that this cemetery was deeded to the public for a burial grounds by Peter Waggoner in 1843 and was known as the Waggoner Cemetery. Previous to 1875 Mr. S. Baird owned the land on which the cemetery is located and the cemetery became known as the Baird Cemetery.

Land records of Macoupin County have been searched for a deed to the Baird or Waggoner cemetery but none can be found. We have however found an excemption to the burial grounds in the transfer of the land on which the cemetery is located. No previous exception is made.

In 1861, Mr. Hallford sells land in Section 4 of Hilyard Township which excepts the cemetery and gives the description. The deed reads (in part) as follows:
THIS INDENTURE, made this 9th day of September, 1861 between William H. Hallford and Mary A, his wife, of Macoupin County and State of Illinois, of the first part and Samuel Welch of the same county and state of the second part, WITNESSETH, that the said party of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of $740.00 to them paid by the said party of the second part, the receipt thereof is hereby acknowledged has granted, bargained, sold, released and conveyed and by these presents does grant, bargain, sell, release and convey to the said party of the second part, to his heirs and assigns forever, all that certain piece or parcel of land situate, lying and being in the County of Macoupin and State of Illinois and known, designated and described as follows to-wit:
The E. 1/2 of the NE. 1/4 of Section 4, T.8 N. R.8, West of the Third Principal Meridian continuing 73 acres and .93 of an acre more or less, except a Burying Grounds continuing 1 1/2 acres described as follows, to-wit:
Beginning at a stake 44 rods West of the NE. corner thence South 20 rods; thence West 12 rods; thence North 20 rods; thence East 12 rods to the place of beginning.
(This deed is dated September 9, 1861 and was recorde in the office of the Recorder of Deeds for Macoupin County, Illinois on September 9, 1861 in Book "WW" of Deed Records at page 526)

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The Baird Cemetery as measured by the fieldmen is 7 feet longer than the deed conveys. It measures 330 feet on the east and west sides and 205 feet on the north and south sided.

In 1899, the last election of trustees was held and following were elected at that time.
Wm. Rhodes
Erastus Witt
Truman Rhodes

The Baird Cemetery is not incorporated.

The trustees of the Baird Cemetery have all passed and no new ones have been appointed.

The Baird Cemetery is in poor condition and needs a thorough cleaning. The weeds and brush has grown very high. One hundred four graves have been counted in this cemetery and they are in fair condition but they are covered with brush and weeds till one can hardly see the stones. Twelve tombstones are leaning and need resetting and eleven tombstones are weather-worn and the inscriptions need recutting. The barb-wire fence which had enclosed this burial grounds is in poor condition. There is no fence on the north side (which is the entrance) at the present time. There is no driveway in the cemetery. There is timberland to the South and West and plow land on the east. The land is almost level with slight drain to the south.

To reach the Baird Cemetery one travels 1 mile north and 1 mile east of Plainview on a dirt road to the cemetery. The burial grounds is situated along the South side of the public road.

There are 2 veterans in the Baird Cemetery

*Has government marker.

The oldest grave that we can locate by the dates on the markers is that of "Peter Waggoner" who was born in 1786 and died in 1849.

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Name of Cemetery Baird Cemetery
Location Sec. 4 T.8 R.8
Oldest Grave Peter Waggoner 1786-1849
Number of lots ?14
Number of graves 124
Number of graves to be filled
Number of graves to be leveled
Number of Veterans graves that need stones 1
Number of stones in cemetery that need resetting 12
Number of stones that need recutting 11
Rods of fence around cemetery about ?hard to read
Condition of fence Very Poor
Rods of fence to be repaired none
Rods of fence to be replaced ?65.6
Number of people interviewed 5
Inquire to find if any veterans grave in cemetery has no marker.

(handwritten on above typed page "See if not is wrong sectins 4-8-8"

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Work Sheet No. RC
County Macoupin
City or Twp Hilyard Twp                Cemetery Baird

Name (First) Smith                    (Last) Pruitt                    (Middle) M.

Field Check
A.
1. Grave No.         Lot No.          Block No.
2. Marker: Flat______   Upright     X         None ____________
3. Information on Marker: (Copy exactly) Smith M. Pruitt Co. K 7th Ill. Inf.
Field Foreman blank
B.
Cemetery Record Date
4. Grave No.blank    Lot. No.blank        Block No.blank
5. Date of Burial blank Remarks left blank
6. Book No. left blank           Page No. left blank
left blank
(Clerk)

Death Certificate Data
(C)
Certificate No. ________________blank

7. Address ___blank______ 
                   (Street)                     (City or Town)
8. Date of Death 1879  Place blank            Cause blank

9. Date of birth 1854   Place blank
10. Next of Kin     name blank      Address blank
_____________________
Clerk blank

Service Record
(D)
11. Date enlisted blank    Date Discharged blank    Serial No. blank
12. Branch of Service    blank
13 Company, outfit or ship Civil War
Sources blank
_blank_______________
Clerk

Sources: (a)Inspection of burial plot   (b) Section or cemetery record (c) Death certificate or burial permit  (d) Patriotic organization (Name)  (e) Official U. S. Records (f) Other
(specify). Has Govt Marker

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Work Sheet No. RC 2
County Macoupin
City or Twp Hilyard Twp                Cemetery Baird

Name (First) Peter                    (Last) Sauerwein                    (Middle) F.

Field Check
A.
1. Grave No.   4      Lot No.  3        Block No.
2. Marker: Flat______   Upright     X         None ____________
3. Information on Marker: (Copy exactly) Peter Sauerwein Born 1846 Died 1921
Field Foreman blank
B.
Cemetery Record Date
4. Grave No.blank    Lot. No.blank        Block No.blank
5. Date of Burial May 27, 1921 Remarks left blank
6. Book No. left blank           Page No. left blank
left blank
(Clerk)

Death Certificate Data
(C)
Certificate No. ________________blank

7. Address ___blank______ 
                   (Street)                     (City or Town)
8. Date of Death May 25, 1921  Place blank            Cause  cancer of Stomach

9. Date of birth 10-5-1844   Place Germany
10. Next of Kin     name blank      Address blank
_____________________
Clerk blank

Service Record
(D)
11. Date enlisted blank    Date Discharged blank    Serial No. blank
12. Branch of Service    blank Rank Pvt.
13 Company, outfit or ship Civil War Co G 150 Illinois Inf. (Civil War)
Sources blank
_blank_______________
Clerk

Sources: (a)Inspection of burial plot   (b) Section or cemetery record (c) Death certificate or burial permit  (d) Patriotic organization (Name)  (e) Official U. S. Records (f) Other
(specify). Has no Govt Marker

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