How do you make history?
Elizabeth Baird was a strong woman with fierce determination living on the Wisconsin frontier. Born a native French speaker, Elizabeth taught herself English and worked as an interpreter in her husband’s law firm, all while operating her family’s farm and recording her memoirs. Her rich descriptions about the fur trade, 1800s Green Bay, and the Peshtigo Fire provide a window into life in early Wisconsin.
Meet Elizabeth Baird
Questions to Consider
When she moved, Elizabeth needed to learn new ways of living (and even a new language) to communicate with her neighbors. Think about a time when you joined a new group. How did that feel? What were some of the new things you needed to learn?
Many people asked Elizabeth and Henry Baird for help after the Peshtigo Fire happened. Why do you think people looked to them? Who are they leaders in your community today? How do they help others?
We know about Elizabeth’s life in territorial Wisconsin because she wrote about her experiences, and those accounts were published. Do you record your own stories and experiences? Why do you think keeping records of our lives is important?
Peek Into the Past
Elizabeth Baird
Elizabeth’s formal portrait from around 1879.
Image courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-5210.
Madeleine Laframboise
Elizabeth’s great-aunt Madeline, a successful fur trader in the central Great Lakes area.
Image courtesy of the Lowell Historical Library.
Thérèse Schindler
Elizabeth’s maternal grandmother Thérèse Schindler, a successful fur trader in the central Great Lakes area, in 1855.
Image courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-58711.
Henry L. Baird
Elizabeth’s husband, Henry L. Baird, was born in Ireland and came to Wisconsin in 1824. He was 45 years old at the time of this photograph.
Image courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-27578.
Home Sweet Home
Elizabeth and Henry Baird’s house in Green Bay.
Image courtesy of the City of Green Bay.
Law Office
Henry Baird’s law office.
Image courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-31424.
Peshtigo Fire
The Peshtigo Fire burned about 1.5 million acres in eastern Wisconsin.
Image courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-101577.
Elizabeth the Author
Elizabeth’s author image. Elizabeth wrote books about life in Wisconsin during the 1800s.
Image courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-58712.
Read On
Elizabeth Baird: Life in Territorial Wisconsin
Get the full story with this biography book. Audio files are available on each page if you’d like to listen along!
Project Credits
Producer
Becky Marburger
Associate Producer
Joe Young
Animation
The Brave Union
Illustrator
The Brave Union
Animation Voice Over
Margaret Sodomy
Audiobook Narration
Aika Zabala
Audiobook Editing
Kerman Eckes
Captioning
Catie Pfeifer
Vicki Way Kipp
Translation Services
University of Wisconsin-Madison Cultural Linguistic Services
Educator Support Materials
Mia Forslund
Web
John Vieth
Erika Kachama-Nkoy
Tim Schneider
Design
Charles Barrows
Executive Producer
Dan Kaplan
Special Thanks
Peggy Garties
Kristin Leglar
Story Advisors
Brenda Autz
Park Elementary School
Middleton, WI
(2015)
Charlene Dupler
Lakeview Elementary School
Wind Lake, WI
(2015)
Kurt Griesemer
Wisconsin Historical Society
Madison, WI
(2015)
Kristen McDaniel
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Madison, WI
(2015)
David J. O’Connor
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Madison, WI
(2015)
Amanda Price
Marshall Elementary School
Marshall, WI
(2015)
Carol Rumpel
Arcadia Elementary School
Arcadia, WI
(2021)
Tanya Schmidt
Oshkosh Area School District
Oshkosh, WI
(2021)
Corey Thompson
Cardinal Stritch University
(2015)
Stephanie Unertl
Lake Mills Area School District
Lake Mills, WI
(2015)