BIRDSALL, George B. 1835-1929

BIRDSALL, MCCAFFEY, CHAPPELL

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 1/24/2013 at 23:23:18

[Waterloo Evening Courier, Thursday, January 31, 1929]

George B. Birdsall, 93, father of Willis N. Birdsall, Santa Fe, N.M., and grandfather of Roger P. Birdsall, Waterloo lawyer, died Jan. 24, in Pomona, Cal., according to information received here.

From 1856, when Mr. Birdsall first came to Waterloo, until the Illinois Central railroad was built into Waterloo, he engaged in freighting goods from Dubuque, first by oxen, and then by horses.

Mr. Birsdall later taught school in this county. He enlisted early in 1865 at Springfield, Ill., as a member of Co. K., Fifteenth Illinois infantry. He was first in the army of which General Sherman had command, but later was transferred to Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

In 1884 Mr. Birdsall bought a farm two miles northeast of Waterloo, which he operated until 1901, when he retired to live in Waterloo.

Mr. Birdsall married Anna McCaffrey, a native of Canada and a school teacher in this county, on Aug. 29, 1870. She preceded him in death.

For the last 20 years Mr. Birdsall had spent the winters in California and because of failing health, he had remained there continuously since 1924. His son, Willis was with him when he died. He was the oldest surviving member of Robert Anderson post G.A.R.

Surviving relatives are the son and two daughters, Miss Alice M. Birdsall, a lawyer practicing in Phoenix, Ariz., and Mrs. Mary B. Chappell, Kansas City; four grandchildren, Roger P., Waterloo; Mrs. Newman Dorr, Des Moines and Charles and Mabeth Chappell, Kansas City, and two great-grandchildren.

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Gravestone at Fairview, Waterloo shows: Sept 21, 1835-Jan 24, 1929