In many ways Hon. John L. Baird has left the impress of his individuality upon the history of Wyoming. Not only has he served as treasurer of the state, but has been connected with various business interests which have had to do with its material development and upbuilding and he has been an active factor in advancing legislation highly beneficial to the commonwealth. He is now president of the First National Bank of Newcastle and is a prominent stockman.
    He was born in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, on the 12^th of October, 1857. and is a son of John F. and Amanda J. (Criss) Baird. He was educated in the public schools of his native county and in the State Normal School at Platteville, Wisconsin, being thus accorded liberal educational opportunities which well qualified him for life's practical duties and responsibilities. He was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with the labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and in 1876 he left the middle west for the Black Hills, locating at Dead-wood, South Dakota, where he served as a clerk in a mercantile establishment for two years. On the expiration of that period he developed a telephone system in the Black Hills, with which he was identified until 1884, when he came to Wyoming, settling at Sundance. There he concentrated his efforts and attention upon stock raising and ranching and in 1888 he established himself in the mercantile business in Sundance. The following year he removed to Newcastle, where he opened a branch store, and he also became identified with the banking business, organizing the First National Bank, of which he was made cashier. In 1904 he was elected to the presidency of the institution and has since served in that capacity. His activities in the field of banking have constantly extended and, he is now also president of the Bank of Upton. His wide experience and close study have given him thorough familiarity with all phases of the banking business and he most carefully safeguards the interests of depositors by the methods which he follows in the management of the institutions of which he is the head. He is also extensively engaged in the live stock business in Weston county and is heavily interested in oil development work in the state.
    In politics Mr. Baird is a stalwart republican and has served as county treasurer of Crook county, filling the position from 1887 until 1889. He was also county treasurer of Weston county from 1899 until 1903 and for eight years served as a member of the city council of Newcastle. In 1905 he was elected to represent his district in the Wyoming state senate, where he served for a four years' term, and in 1911 he was made the candidate of his party for the office of state treasurer, to which he was elected and thus became custodian of the public funds of the commonwealth for four years. Over the record of his official career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil and his efficiency has been of great worth to the state. Fraternally Mr. Baird is a thirty-second degree Mason, holding membership in Wyoming Consistory, No. 1, A. & A. S. R., of Cheyenne, and he is also identified with Kalif Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Sheridan. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge and also to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and his pronounced traits of character are those which make for personal popularity as well as for public prominence.