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LAIRD, HIRAM M., son of William and Caroline (Moody) Laird, was
born in East Barton, Massachusetts, in 1857. Mr. Laird is a hardy, canny
Scotchman, and is a scion of a family who for several generations have
been stone-cutters in their native Scotland. His father died when he was
fourteen years old, and three years later he began to learn the trade of
granite-cutter of his uncle, Peter B. Laird, the pioneer in the granite
business at St. Johnsbury. After serving his three years apprenticeship,
Mr. Laird worked as a journeyman twenty-three years for several prominent
firms in the granite centers, obtaining a valuable experience.
In 1896 he began business for himself at St. Johnsbury, with four
men, but the business has steadily and rapidly developed and at the present
time and for the past two years his force has averaged thirty men.
His plant is located on the sidetrack of the Boston and Maine railroad,
directly opposite the St. Johnsbury depot, and is equipped with the air
compressor, the pneumatic tools, and all the modern improvements. Mr. Laird's
stock is mainly obtained from the celebrated dark Barre quarry of Hon.
James M. Boutwell of Montpelier, but he is prepared to fill orders for
work of any dimensions from any New England granite. Mr. Laird married
Clara Ward of North Danville, and three sons and two daughters have been
born to them: Caroline is the wife of Frank Taylor of St. Johnsbury; Hiram
Jefferson died in March, 1902, at the age of twenty-one; Thaxter and Ralph
are stone-cutters, as foreman and assistant of their father; Elizabeth
is a student at the St. Johnsbury academy.
H.M. Laird also works "on the square" in speculative masonry, being
a member of Palestine commandery.
Source:
Successful Vermonters, William H. Jeffrey, E. Burke, Vermont, The Historical
Publishing Company, 1904, page 115-116.
Prepared
by Tom Dunn, September 2005
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