In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1902) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902), The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881)
SILAS VAN BIRD, Jr., law student, Springfield. Silas was born in this county Sept. 19, 1857; lived at home, working on the farm and attending school during the winter, until 1875, when he entered Wittenberg College; he graduated in 1880, with the same honors as the rest of his class; by the request of his class, the faculty allowed them to graduate without any “first and second honors,” each one graduating with equal honors. Silas is a young man of good moral habits, and is at present pursuing the study of law, with the expectation of making the practice of law his profession. Silas Bird, the father of Silas, Jr. is a native of Virginia, and came to this county with his parents in 1816, and, at the age of 17, began the trade of millwrighting, at which he worked until 50 years old, when he quit his trade, and has since then devoted his time to farming. He was married, March 8, 1848, to Margaret Tuttle, daughter of Caleb and Mary Tuttle.
As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
SILAS VAN BIRD.
During almost the entire period of his manhood Silas Van Bird has been in office, and at all times his public career has been above suspicion or reproach. He is now surveyor of Clark county, maintaining his residence in Springfield, and in the office is found to be notably prompt, energetic and trustworthy. In both paternal and materof Clark county,:
nal lines he comes of an honored pioneer ancestry of Clark county. He was born upon a farm in this county, September 10, 1857, and is a son of Silas Van and Margaret (Tuttle) Bird. The paternal grandfather, Luke Bird, married. Allie Hoffman, of Virginia, and on leaving the Old Dominion went with his family to what was ther Greene county, Ohio, but is now Clark county.
His son, Silas Van Bird, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia in 1812, and in early life learned the millwright's trade. He wedded Margaret Tuttle, who was born in 1826. After their marriage they located on a farm: four miles east of Springfield. Mr. Bird continued to follow his chosen calling and erected many of the mills in Clark and adjacent counties, his services in an early day being in great demand. He performed every department of the work connected with the construction of a mill, being his own architect, made the ecg wheels, set the burrs, in fact, did everything in connection with the operative department of milling. He continued ‘to follow his trade until 1850, working at various times in the states of Ohio, Indiana and Iilinois and as far south as Nashville, Tennessee. At length he put aside mechanical pursuits and located on a farm near this city, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1892. In his political views he was an old line Whig in early life and subsequently became a Republican. His religious faith was that of the Baptist church and his Christian belief permeated his entire career and guided his actions in all life’s relations. His wife survived him only six weeks, and thus the couple so long united in life were not long separated in death. She, too, belonged to a pioneer family of Clark county, her parents, Caleb and Mary
(Pricket) Tuttle, having located here at an early period in the development of this portion of the state. Her father was born in 1799. Silas Van Bird of this review was ‘one of a family of nine children, eight sons and one daughter, six of whom are yet living: Eunice E., who married George H. Reed and resides on a farm; Caleb A.; John W.; Luke Scott; James; Silas Van; Edwin R.; Frank; and Ross W.
The boyhood days of Silas Van Bird were spent upon the home farm, where he worked in field and meadow through the summer months and in the winter seasons attended the district schools. In 1875 he became a student in Wittenberg College, and was graduated in 1880. After his graduation he returned to the farm, which he conducted for a few years and was then elected township clerk. In 1888 he came to Springfield and was appointed deputy William Sharon. Mr. Sharon being appointed a member of the board of public affairs, Mr. Bird was appointed to fill out the unexpired term as surveyor. In the fall of 1898 he was elected to fill the same position in Clark county for term ‚of “three "years: in, TOOT, wası Le elected, so that his incumbency will continue county surveyor under until September, 1904. He had discharged his duties so capable and promptly during his first term that his fellow townsmen approved of his service by again endorsing him for the office. He has always. been a Republican, having firm faith in the principles which form the party platform.
On the 2nd of November, 1886, occurred the marriage of Mr. Bird and Miss Martha J. Huffman, of Springfield, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Tenant) Huffman. Mrs. Bird was born, reared and educated in this city, and has become the mother of four children: Laura E., Silas, Martha M. and Paul Sharon.
Having spent his entire life in this county and being a representative of two of the oldest families, Mr. Bird of this review is widely known and the fact that many who have been acquainted with him from his boyhood are today numbered among his stanchest friends, is an indication that his career has ever been an honorable and trustworthy one.
As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1902. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.