Marcus J. Laird, 94, whose parents were Atchison County pioneers, died at the home of his granddaughter, Mrs. C. E. Sanders. Death was due to pneumonia. He had been ill four months and his condition was critical the past six weeks.
Funeral services will be held at the Stanton chapel, the Rev. Louis Nelson, assisted by Rev. L. A. Indlecoffer, will officiate. Burial will be in the Cummings cemetery.
Mr. Laird was born in the Cummings community and lived there until 1939, when he came to Atchison to make his home with the Sanders family. Until two years ago he accompanied Mr. Sanders to his service station at 7 o'clock every morning and worked for a few hours. He spent the remaining day at home.
A son of James Buchanan and Marinda Jane (Martin) Laird, Marcus was born August 26, 1860. There were eight boys and seven girls in his immediate family.
After finishing his education, he became a farmer. He was always active in the Republican party politics and for thirteen years was postmaster of the Cummings post office. During the time he was postmaster, he also operated a general merchandising store in Cummings.
He married Britamore Cummings, daughter of William and Sarah Ann (Quiett) Cummings, on October 14, 1884. The town of Cummings was named for Britamore's father. Britamore died in 1931.
Mr. Laird was a member of the Baptist church, the Masonic Lodge of Nortonville and the Odd Fellows Lodge.
Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Leslie N. (Meda) Reynolds, Cummings; Mrs. Anna McKanna and Mrs. Edith Jessee, both of Atchison; and Mrs. Blanche Gordon of Tulsa. Also surviving is a son, J. W. Laird, Parkville, Missouri; two sisters, Mrs. Mable McDonald, Muscotah; and Mrs. Emma Leland, Cummings; as well as a large number of grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren.