have been so zealous of
those good works which realise treasure on the other side of Time. For
nearly half a century the name of Baird has been a household word in the
West of Scotland. Ranking as they have done for many years as the
largest employers of labour in Scotland, they must ever continue to
occupy a foremost place in our commercial annals. But while they have
thus been "diligent in business," they have also been "fervent in
spirit." Possessing the power that belongs to wealth, they have not been
unmindful of its accompanying responsibilities and duties. In the
promotion of education, in the support of Church and missionary objects,
in aiding the amelioration of their less fortunate fellow-creatures, and
in the dispensation of that charity which covers a multitude of sins
they have made their vast wealth subordinate to the service of their day
and generation--the humble but yet potent means to the most beneficent
ends. By every consideration, therefore, the honoured name of Baird is
entitled to a place in these sketches.

Mr. James Baird of Cambusdoon is the only survivor of a family of eight
sons, whose ancestors for several generations followed the primitive
occupation of farming in the parish of Old Monkland. The father of the
proprietors of Gartsherrie Ironworks was tenant of Kirkwood, Newmains,
and High Cross farms. Of his numerous family, William, who died
recently, after having attained the rare distinction of a millionaire,
was the eldest, having been born in the year 1796; James, who was six
years his junior, was born in 1802. The older members of the family
received their education at the parish school of Old Monkland, under the
late Mr. Cowan--one of a class of teachers who were qualified to impart
something more than the mere rudiments of a solid classical education,
and who have assisted so materially to place the parochial school system
of Scotland on the high vantage ground from which, unless present
appearances are deceptive, it is in danger of being hurled by the
operation of the Education Act now under the consideration of
Parliament. For the younger members of his family, Mr. Baird was enabled
to provide the benefits of a University curriculum. It will not be
necessary to refer to the head of the family further than to say that he
lived to assist, by his judicious counsel and shrewd penetration, in
founding the works at Gartsherrie, from which his family have since
derived such a wide-spread