John Laird was born about 1790 and came to Lycoming county after the Revolutionary War at the time that the Little family and other early settlers arrived there. His first cousin Sarah Laird married John Little, an early arrival in the Laporte area. Mary Little, the granddaughter of John and Sarah (Laird) Little, would marry J. William Laird, the son of Thomas S. Laird and Sarah Glidewell Laird. It was the Laird family for whom the town of Lairdsville in Lycoming County, about six miles south of Muncy Valley, was named.

John Laird and the Laird family came to the Laporte and Davidson area to live about 1836. John Laird was one of the three original surveyors for the Sullivan County line when the county was formed in 1847. His son James Laird of Franklin Township, born in 1815, was married to Ruth Carver of Hughesville, PA in 1841. The Muncy Luminary of May 8, 1841 reported the marriage, presided over by the Reverend John Thomas.

According to Karen Walizer, James Laird, son of John Laird, was a merchant and lumberman in the early part of his life. In 1869, in company with his sons, he built the first furniture factory in Hughesville. He married Ruth A. Carver, and died January 1, 1882, followed by his wife on June 7, 1891. They were the parents of five children:

James Laird helped to build the first Lutheran church in Hughesville, organized the first Sunday school in 1850, and was its superintendent for twelve years. His son, John C. Laird, foreman of Rishel's furniture factory, was born at Hughesville, May 21, 1844. He was educated in the common schools, and in 1863 engaged in the lumber business, which he continued for six years. He then became interested in the furniture factory as a partner until 1878, when he sold and became foreman of that enterprise. He served in the town council, and was burgess of Hughesville and school director. On June 6, 1867, he was married to Miss Sophia S. Tallman, and to them was born one child, Frank L., on October 28, 1872. John C. Laird and family were members of the Lutheran church and he was assistant superintendent of the Sunday school.

Lairdsville was the only village in Franklin township. It has two churches, three stores, one hotel, one wagon maker shop, one steam planing mill, one grist mill **, two blacksmith shops, and two physicians. It was pleasantly located on Little Muncy creek, on a beautiful alluvial flat, among the Muncy Hills. Benjamin C. Morris erected the hotel and opened a store in 1841, and these were the first improvements. There has been a post office at Lairdsville off and on. The fist post office, known as Chestnut Grove, was abandoned. Lairdsville post office was established, February 20, 1829, and John Laird was appointed postmaster.

** Editor's Note: In February 2006, Sue Shaner sent us the following picture of the grist mill at Lairdsville. It was originally built by Henry Funston, burned and then rebuilt twice, the second time by her great grandfather Calvin Edgar Myers. Calvin was the husband of Mary Pearl Ritter. They lived at the mill during this time. Their daughter Catherine married James Frank Minier.

Mill at Lairdsville
Built by Henry Funston
Rebuilt twice and then owned and run by Calvin Edgar and Mary Pearl (Ritter) Myers
Photo contributed by Sue Shaner