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EARLY SETTLERS OF SANGAMON COUNTY - 1876
By John Carroll Power

These biographies were submitted by a researcher and evidently abstracted from the 1876 History of Sangamon County, IL. Errors could occur, so one should always verify the correctness by obtaining copies of vitals and performing all necessary research to document what is contained herein.




BIRD, RICHARD, was born Nov. 19, 1804, in Mason county, Ky. He united with the M. E. church, in 1824, and commenced preaching in 1827. His first circuit was in the southern part of the State, and extended into Tennessee. By a singular coincidence, his colleagues bore such names as to indicate that the trio belong to the feathered species of animated nature, Crow, Martin and Bird. Rev. Richard Bird was married, March 8, 1832, in Shelby county, Ky., to Lucinda N. Fullinwider. They had two children in Kentucky, and came to Sangamon county, Ill., settling near Mechanicsburg, and at once united with the Ill. Conf. M. E. church, and commenced the work of a traveling preacher. They had seven children in Illinois, three of whom died under seven years. The two born in Kentucky died in Illinois, one at five and the other at two years of age. Of the other four--

FRANCES M., born Aug. 23, 1836, in Sangamon county, married Thomas Scott, and had four children; two died in infancy. CHARLES W. and HARRIET B. reside with their mother. She was married Jan. 10, 1867, to Rev. Reuben Gregg, of the M. E. Church. They have three living children, ARTHUR B., EDA F., ALLEN C. and LURA R. They reside at Augusta, Ill.

RICHARD C., born August 8, 1838, in Tazewell county, Ill., married, Sept. 26, 1860, at Chatham, Sangamon county, to Addie Hesser. He enlisted in 1862, for three years, in Co. A., 73d Ill. Inf. He was injured, Sept. 26, 1862, in Louisville, Ky., by a drunken driver upsetting an army wagon, which fell upon him and came near causing his death. He was discharged on account of physical disability, Feb. 23, 1863. He lost his right hand by firing a salute at Mechanicsburg, July 4, 1864. Mr. and Mrs Bird had three children in Sangamon county, and in the fall of 1866 moved to Kansas, where they had four. Their names are EDWARD T., ALLISON E., HENRY E., RICHARD N., JOHN M., LUCINDA A. and HARRIET F., and reside near Ottawa, Kansas.

JACOB F., born August 5, 1846, in Sangamon county, married Sept. 16, 1873, at Payson, Ill., to Mrs. Anna E. Vickers, whose maiden name was Hughes. She was born Dec. 31, 1849, in Butler county, Ohio. They reside at the family homestead, adjoining Mechanicsburg on the south.

THOMAS M., born Sept. 10, 1848, in Sangamon county, married, Oct. 19, 1871, at Decatur, to Florence M. Wood, who was born Sept. 10, 1851, at Clarenceville, Lower Canada. They have two children, JOHN RICHARD and ETHEL LUCINDA, and reside one and a half miles southwest of Mechanicsburg.

Rev. Richard Bird considers the vicinity of Mechanicsburg his home, but continues to travel as a preacher in the M. E. church, in the Illinois Conference. His residence for the conference year of 1875-6 is Easton, Mason county, Ill.




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