Kentuckiana Genealogy: Biographies: Bird, Dr. William C.

By Dee Pavey (Dee) on Wednesday, July 21, 1999 - 07:07 pm:

Dr. William C. Bird was born in Smith county, Tenn., March 14, 1883, and is a son of
M. B. and Nancy (Mitchell) Bird-the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of
Smith county, Tenn. Dr. William C. Bird worked on the farm until he was 21 years old, when
he entered a store in English, Ind., and clerked for four years. He was married to Mary
Newkirk in 1854, who bore three children, Mina B., John K. and Charles J., and then died.
He entered the army in 1861, in Forty-Ninth Indiana Volunteer infantry, and served three years.
He began the study of medicine in 1866, and left the medical college in Indianapolis in 1870,
entering upon practice in Brownstown, Ind., where he remained two years, and then came to
English; here he is the leading practitioner. In 1869 he married Melissa Turner, of Crawford
county. She had three children: Dora M. Bird (deceased), James W. and Queen Victoria. Dr.
Bird has served as township trustee and township treasurer. He has been a member of the
Masonic Order since 1866, and has filled all the offices in the lodge.