A CEREMONY TO honor George Washington Baird, the “Last Living Grand Army of the Republic Veteran buried in the county,” will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Florence, Wis.

FLORENCE, Wis. — The American Civil War may seem like ancient history today, but a group of descendants of Civil War veterans, along with the Florence County Historical Society and local veterans’ organizations, will make sure the last Florence County soldier of that war will be remembered.

A ceremony to honor George Washington Baird, the “Last Living Grand Army of the Republic Veteran buried in the county,” will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Florence.

The Woodlawn Cemetery grave and veteran’s plaque for Baird will be marked with a specially designed bronze star to signify his status. Members of the Historical Society, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3536 and the American Legion Post 222 will participate in the GAR service to honor Baird.

Baird was born on March 9, 1848, in East Troy, Walworth County, Wis. He died on Nov. 13, 1927, at the age of 79. He enlisted into the Company G Forty-first Wisconsin Voluntary Infantry at age 15, serving during the Civil War from 1863 to 1865. His unit was assigned to the Third Division Sixteenth Army Corps, seeing battle in a number of skirmishes. He received a gunshot wound during the battle of LaGrange and spent time in a hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

After his honorable discharged, Baird worked for a time in Neenah before coming to Florence in 1880. In the company of Alex McNair, the two opened a mercantile business long before the railroads came to this mining community. After eight years in business together, Baird bought out McNair and conducted the store in his own name. Along with this business, he also worked in logging, farming and construction.

Baird is credited with building the M.E. Church, later St. Mary’s Parish Hall, the First Presbyterian Church and the first Florence High School.

This designation of marking the last known buried Union veteran in each county is part of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War national project aimed at commemorating graves of these fallen heroes.

Wisconsin, with its 72 counties, is making progress in marking each of these graves through the efforts of Robert Koenecke, commander of Col. Hans C. Heg Camp 15, Department of Wisconsin, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

The listing of all GAR veterans buried in cemeteries across the county also will be read during this event.

The public is invited to attend this ceremony to “relieve George Baird of his Post.” After the ceremony, refreshments will be served by the Florence County Historical Society.

Those attending are reminded to bring a lawn chair.