Baird article by Karen!

Maud (Stanley) Baird
By Karen Cuccinello 6/2019
Maud was a lifelong Stamford resident with roots going back to the beginning of Stamford and a benefactor of the Stamford Village Library. She lived in Harpersfield at the edge of Stamford Village at 39 River Street, now the home of Paul and Janet Wenner. The Wenners believe the original part of the house was built in 1805 which fits the scenario of her Cowley family settling in Stamford in 1797.
Maud was born April 14, 1886-87 in Stamford to Herbert (1861-1893) and Orline (Zeh 1858-1950) Stanley. She had four sisters: May (1883-1889), Grace (1885-1951, Mrs. Peter J. Mattice), Harriet/Hattie (1889-1961, Mrs. Uncas E. Richter) and Miss Caroline C. (1890-1973). Following her father’s death her mother married Niram Rossman of Breakabeen, NY on August 4, 1899 in Stamford.
Her paternal grandparents were Miles W. (1817-1880) and Mary (1825-1889 Cowley) Stanley. The Cowley family built a mill on River Street across from 39 River (Paul Wenner showed me the foundation) and when Herbert married into the family the Cowley Mill became known as the Stanley Mill. In 1878 Herbert opened a jewelry shop in Robert McLaughlin’s store in Stamford but in the 1892 census he lists as a miller. How much he actually worked the mill is uncertain as in 1883 he hired Thomas Fulton, of Athens to take charge of his flour mill. Herbert bought a house and lot in the Brooklyn part of the village (probably near the school) in 1892, owned by Mrs. Helen Salisbury, and planned to open a jewelry store in the building.
Niram Rossman was a miller and farmer and was awarded the contract for a stone arch bridge on the town line stream on River street in 1906. Niram was not with Orline in the 1920-1930 Stamford census reports but she listed her status as married.
March 2, 1944 (Stamford Mirror-Recorder)- The gristmill located at the head of River St. and built by St. Leger/Ledger Cowley, more than 100 years ago, which has remained in the family for six generations, was sold recently by Mrs. Orline Rossman to Maynard Menhennett who demolished the building.
Back to Maud; she married Newell Winthrop Baird October 1911 in Grand Gorge or Stamford. Newell was born in Jefferson, July 20, 1888, the son of Albert and Harriet (Gallup) Baird. After graduating from Jefferson School he taught school for a year then came to Stamford about 1910 and was a bookkeeper for Cornell and Baird. After they got married he was employed for a time as bookkeeper for George D. Taylor and in 1920 he went to work for the Stamford National Bank. He worked his way up the ladder until he became president of the bank in 1948. Following a long illness, he died at home January 21, 1952.
Maud, for the most part, was never alone at home even after her husband died. Her mother was with her until her death in 1950; her sister Caroline was always with her until her death in 1973 and she had numerous visits from family and friends. She and Caroline started going to St. Petersburg, FL, during the winter, after Newell passed. Maud never had a job that I could tell.
At the age of 95 Maud Baird passed away at Stamford Community Hospital on July 30, 1982. She was a member of the former Grace Episcopal Chapel (it had closed in 1979) in Stamford and the last of her siblings. She was survived by a niece, Mrs. John (Elizabeth) Schmidt of Albany; two nephews, Uncas E. Richter of Ghent, and Donald W. Richter of Delhi; and several grandnieces and grandnephews. She, her husband and parents are buried in Stamford Cemetery.
Following her death, the home was sold to Edward R. Loomie, of Seaford, NY, in 1983 then sold to the Murphy Foundation in 1988. The Wenners purchased it in 2000.