Hiram T. Bird

As printed in 1906

HIRAAI T. BIRD.

Hiram T. Bird, who for a quarter of a century has been engaged in the furniture and undertaking business in Mount Pleasant, where his position in commercial circles is among the foremost because of his unremitting diligence and his employment of methods that neither seek nor require disguise, was born in Knox county, Ohio, July 14, 1846. His parents were Dr. Wellington and Sarah (Thornton) Bird, -ho came to this state with their son Hiram in his early boyhood days and here he acquired his early education, afterward attending the Iowa Wesleyan L'university until 1863. He then enlisted for service in the medical department of the Eighth Iowa Cavalry as surgeon's steward, joining his regiment at Davenport, going south with that command, which was attached to Sherman's army and went with him on the celebrated march to the sea. Mr. Bird was captured at Atlanta, on the 30th of July, 1864, and was imprisoned at both ]Macon and Charleston, but afterward was released with a number. of surgeons at the latter place and again joined his regiment, which was stationed on the Tennessee river, just Ijefore Hood crossed that stream on his way to Nashville. Mr. Bird participated with his regiment in the battles of Frank- Hn and Nashville, and in the following spring took part in the Wilson Cavalry raid through Alabama and Georgia, being engaged on that raid at the time of the close of the war. He was then mustered out at Macon, Georgia, in the fall of 1865. Part of the cavalry corps captured Jefferson Davis.

With a creditable military record ]\Mr. Bird returned to his home to enter business life in Mount Pleasant, where he has since figured as a leading and trustworthy representative of commercial interests. He first engaged in the drug business, with which he was connected for fourteen years, conducting a store on the Brazelton House corner. On selling out there he purchased an old-established business on North Jefferson street that has now been conducted as a furniture store for fifty years. Since 1879 he has been alone in his mercantile operations there, occupying the three floors of the store on Jefferson street opposite the Harlem House, the store being one hundred and fifty feet deep. The undertaking business was also established previous to the time of his purchase, but he has made improvements along that line and no\\' has a fine chapel, in which funeral services may be held by those who are residing temporarily in the city. In the face of competition and not without difficulties and obstacles, ]\Mr. Bird has succeeded in building up a business of great volume and importance, having a thoroughly equipped furniture store, in which he carries a large line of furniture of various grades, meeting the varied tastes of his patrons. As the years have passed he has added largely to his furniture stock.

keeping in touch with the modern progress of the trade, and his annual sales are represented by a large figure. He has also made a study of embalming, and is the possessor of certificate No. 25, which was accorded to the first class examined according to state law in 1898. During the quarter of a century' with which he has been connected with the undertaking business he has superintended nearly four thousand interment, and there are now almost as many names upon his books as there are living inhabitants in the city.

On the 1 8th of August, 1868, Mr. Bird was united in marriage to Miss Florence AIcLaran, of Mount Pleasant, a daughter of James McLaran, one of the early merchants of this city. They have one daughter, Clara, now the wife of F. Kopp, a rising young attorney and postmaster of Mount Pleasant. The parents are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which !\Mr. Bird has served as stead and also as treasurer of the board of trustees. Identified with various social organizations, he now belongs to Mount Pleasant Lodge, No. 8, Ancient Free and Acepted Masons; Mystic Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and McFarland Post, Grand Army of the Re])public. In politics an earnest republican, he has twice served as a member of the city council of the second ward. His home is on North [Main street and he has lived within one block of the present site for fifty-six years. His parents' old home site is now occupied by the public library building. There is perhaps no resident of Mount Pleasant who has more intimate knowledge of the history of the city, its advantages, improvements and advancement than has Mr. Bird, who for more than a half century has witnessed its growth and through long years has taken an active part in the progress that conserves commercial development and the general prosperity of the community. He has made a business record as creditable as it is honorable, and in the healthful growth of trade has won the success which constitutes the goal of all business endeavor.

As printed in Biographical review of Henry County, Iowa, containing biographical and genealogical sketches of many of the prominent citizens of to-day and also of the past .. (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.