David H. Baity was born in North Carolina, in 1842, the son of Isom and Nancy (Ploman) Baity, who were both of the North Carolina state. His paternal grandparents were David and Nancy Baity, who were also natives of North Carolina and lived on a farm. His maternal grandparents, Plomans, were also North Carolinians; these ancestors all lived and died in that state.

Isom Baity was reared on a farm in North Carolina and obtained such education as was afforded by the schools of his neighborhood. He had a family of thirteen children. Of these there were three of his sons in the Confederate army and one in the Union army, during the Civil War. Those in the Confederate army were William D., Henry W. and Alexander. David H. was in the Union army. All lived through the war and for some years after. Henry H. left the Confederate service and came through the lines and got to Greenfield, where he lived until his death. Alexander was for eighteen months a prisoner in Point Lookout and he was furnished money and provisions by the family of David H. Baity, his brother, on the Union side.

David H. Baity was reared and educated in North Carolina and lived on a farm until he was eighteen years of age. Then he came to Hancock county, Indiana, to live with an uncle who had come to this state some years previous. After coming here David H. Baity attended school for some time. In February, 1865, he enlisted as a soldier in the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under the last call for volunteers in the Civil War. He served in Company F, of that regiment, until the close of the war, about seven months, and was mustered out at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. After his discharge from the army he came to Hancock county and engaged in the business of farming. He bought a small farm in Green township and increased his land possessions from time to time until he accumulated a large body of land, comprising two hundred and twenty-nine acres. Part of this land was government land originally entered by his uncle. Mr. Baity has built a good comfortable residence, erected barns and farm buildings and has his farm well improved. He is engaged in general farming and is making a success at it.

David H. Baity was married in 1870, to Rachel L. Wilson, of Green township. One child of this union, Charles C., died at the age of three years. Orville E., the only living child, is employed in the "New York" store, at Indianapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Baity are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Baity is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and also a member of the Post No. 228, Grand Army of the Republic, at Fortville.

Transcribed from History of Hancock County, Indiana, Its People, Industries and Institutions by George J. Richman, B. L., Federal Publishing Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1916. Page 1072-1073.

Submitted by Sylvia (Rose) Duda, Laingsburg, MI November 12, 2001.

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