Butler Bird

BIRD, BLOSSER, DANIELS, DAVIS, FARRIS, GRAHAM, HOWELL, MILES, PATTERSON, SMALL

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 6/28/2006 at 21:54:13

From: “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman Mueller.

Butler Bird, the activities of whose life have covered agricultural pursuits, teaching, general merchandising and preaching as a minister of the Disciples of Christ and also service as a soldier of the Civil war and service as a public official, is today one of the most honored among the venerable citizens of Madison county. He was born at Millersburg, Holmes county, Ohio, November 29, 1838. His father, William Bird, was born in Virginia and his mother, Sarah (Daniels-Davis) Bird, was a native of Maryland. The family comes of English ancestry. The father was a pioneer schoolteacher. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812 and gave whiskey rations to his comrades for other rations but a change in his views led him to vote the abolition ticket. He wedded Sarah (Daniels) Davis, who, born in Maryland, lived for some time in Pennsylvania and afterward removed to Millersburg, Ohio, where she became the wife of a Mr. Davis. Following the death of her first husband she gave her hand in marriage to William Bird and in the year 1849 they removed with their family to Madison county, Iowa.

In early life Butler Bird was identified with agricultural pursuits and in early manhood he engaged in teaching in the rural schools. For many years he was connected with general mercantile interests at Patterson and in that way formed a wide acquaintance and became a prominent factor in the development and up-building of the section in which he lived. His influence was equally strong in other relations, for he is a minister of the Disciples of Christ, having long been a devoted member of the church. He has put forth earnest and effective effort for the extension of the cause of Christianity and has not been denied a full harvest following the aftermath of his labors.

Along still other lines Rev. Bird has contributed to the interests and welfare of his country. In 1861 he responded to the call for troops, enlisting as a member of Company D, First Iowa Cavalry, of which he became quartermaster, serving until honorably discharged because of physical disabilities. He was then holding the office of corporal. In days of peace he has rendered important aid to his community and to his state. In politics he has always been a republican and has been an interested worker for the success of the party and for the benefit and up-building of his city and county along many lines. He was county superintendent of public instruction in Madison county for two terms and he held the first normal institute in the county. He was also postmaster of Patterson for a number of years and in 1881 took his seat as a member of the Iowa state legislature, to which he was elected by the republican party for a two years term. He has thus left the impress of his individuality upon the laws of the state and in the faithful discharge of his duty has furthered public interests. He has held an honorary life membership in the Iowa Woman's Suffrage Association because of his vote for the enfranchisement of women in the state legislature. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

In 1859 in Madison county, Mr. Bird was united in marriage to Miss Mary Scott Graham, a daughter of the Rev. John and Mary (Small) Graham, both of whom were natives of Scotland. On coming to the new world they settled in New York and in 1856 arrived in Madison county, Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Bird have been born five children: Eva, the deceased wife of A. M. Farns; Jessie, the wife of D. F. Miles; Clyde, who married W. D. Patterson; May, the widow of N. S. Howell; and John Graham, who married Grace Blosser.

Such in brief is the life history of Rev. Butler Bird, a man who is accorded and is worthy of the highest respect and goodwill of all with whom he has come in contact. He has made his life count for good along many lines and those who know him bear high testimony to his honorable purpose, his upright deeds and his kindly spirit.
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From: Iowa Official Register

Representative Butler Bird, General Assembly 19 (09 Jan 1882 - 13 Jan 1884)

Born at Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio, and November 29, 1838. The family comes of English ancestry.

In early life Butler Bird was identified with agricultural pursuits and in early manhood he engaged in teaching in the rural schools. For many years he was connected with general mercantile interests at Patterson and in that way formed a wide acquaintance and became a prominent factor in the development and up building of the section in which he lived.

His influence was equally strong in other relations for he is a minister of the Disciples of Christ, having long been a devoted member of the church. He has put forth earnest and effective effort for the extension of the cause of Christianity and has not been denied a full harvest following the aftermath of his labors.

Along still other lines Rev. Bird has contributed to the interests and welfare of his country. In 1861 he responded to the call for troops, enlisting as a member of Company D, First Iowa Cavalry, of which he became quartermaster, serving until honorably discharged because of physical disabilities.

In politics he has always been a republican and has been an interested worker for the success of the party and for the benefit and up building of his city and county along many lines. He was county superintendent of public instruction in Madison County for two terms and he held the first normal institute in the county. He was also postmaster of Patterson for a number of years and in 1881 took his seat as a member of the Iowa state legislature, to which he was elected by the Republican Party for a two years' term. He has thus left the impress of his individuality upon the laws of the state and in the faithful discharge of his duty has furthered public interests. He has held an honorary life membership in the Iowa Woman's Suffrage Association because of his vote for the enfranchisement of women in the state legislature.

Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

In 1859, in Madison County, Mr. Bird was united in marriage to Miss Mary Scott Graham. To Mr. and Mrs. Bird have been born five children.

Madison Biographies maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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