WI BIO - Dane Co - BIRD, Augustus A., George W., Ira W., & Kate B. Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 1893. Vol I, pp 241-243, 270-272, 418-420 Biography of Augustus A. BIRD (pp 241-243) - father of George W., brother of Ira W. Colonel Augustus A. BIRD, one of the first and most noted settlers of Madison, Dane County, WI, died on 25 Feb 1870. He was born 01 Apr 1802 in Thetford [Orange County], VT, and was a son of Samuel H. and Tabitha BIRD, and a grandson of Ira BIRD, whose father emigrated from England before 1730 and settled in VA. His mother was a daughter of Dr. BURGOYNE, a nephew of General BURGOYNE, and a Major in the British army. When our subject was only three years of age the father moved with his family to Madison County, NY. In Apr 1824 Augustus A. BIRD was married in the town of Westmoreland, NY, to Miss Charity LE CLAIR, a daughter of Louis LE CLAIR, a Frenchman. In 1826 Mr. BIRD moved with his family to Ann Arbor, [Washtenaw County], MI, where he remained a little over two [p 242] years, and then moved back to Madison County, NY. In 1836 he moved to Milwaukee [Milwaukee County], WI, and there engaged energetically in the business of building, as he had early acquired the profession of builder and architect, and long and successfully followed it at Utica, [Oneida County], NY. In Milwaukee he was appointed one of the three commissioners for the erection of the Territorial capitol, at Madison, WI, and was the active and efficient man on the board. On 01 Jun 1837, Augustus A. BIRD, as the head of about 40 workmen and a train of four wagons, loaded with provisions, tools and other articles, started for the Four Lakes, the present site of Madison. There was then no road and the party was obliged to make one for themselves. They had an old map and a compass, and by perseverance and energy Augustus A. BIRD and his party were enabled to pursue their route, chopping their way through the forest, building long corduroy roads over swamps, and fording or bridging streams. They forded Rock River at Johnson rapids, near where Watertown now stands, and forded the Crawfish at Milford. For many uncomfortable days and nights they pushed onward, cheered by the luxuriance of nature by day, the music of wolves by night, and sustained by an unconquerable spirit. here has since sprung up along this route the flourishing villages of Summit, Watertown, Milford, Hanchettville and Sun Prairie, and all along farms in a high state of cultivation, the homes of prosperity and happiness. The incident which gave the name Sun Prairie [Dane County, WI] to the place that bears that name may not be uninteresting. The day Augustus A. BIRD left Milwaukee, rain began to fall and continued every day until he reached the middle of that prairie, just northeast of Madison, when the sun, for the first time shone out clear and bright, and he tore the bark from the first tree he reached and wrote on it, "Let this prairie forever hereafter be called Sun Prairie," and this name it still retains. What with rain, the breaking of roads, and the fording of streams, the party did not arrive at their destination until 10 Jun 1837. Among the party that accompanied Augustus A. BIRD were Darwin CLARK, Charles BIRD, David HYER and John PIERCE and his family. Simeon MILLS arrived the same day from Chicago. Arriving at Madison, the company camped under the trees until a log house could be built for their accommodation upon the banks of the Third Lake. This was the first house built in Madison, although at the same time and during the building of this house a Mr. PECK commenced building a house in the same vicinity, as a boarding house for the commissioners and laborers. As soon as Augustus A. BIRD had his men fairly at work he went to Detroit, MI, to get a steam engine and machinery for a sawmill to saw the lumber for the capitol and built a steam sawmill on the banks of the Fourth lake. The most of the men were married, and as fast as possible they put up buildings of their own and brought on their families, and Augustus A. BIRD laid out the city of the Four Lakes with this small nucleus. He was always an enthusiastic admirer of WI, and was very instrumental in building up Madison and Milwaukee. He was an architect and builder, and among the monuments of his skill were the old capitol building, the old Madison House, the American Hotel, the first courthouse, the south building of the university, and the first depot. Augustus A. BIRD was frequently honored with positions of trust, and in 1837-1838 he was a partner in a mercantile firm in Madison, with [p 243] Governor DOTY, James MORRISON, and John F. O'NEIL, the settlement of the affairs of which involved a litigation of about 20 years. In 1851 and in 1856, he was chosen to represent Madison district in the Legislature, served the city as one of the earliest Mayors, was the first Sheriff of Dane County, and became well known to the prominent men of the Territory and State. In the prime of life he was a man of much energy of character, and was well fitted by his hardihood of character for a pioneer. He passed through many hardships and privations. Augustus A. BIRD left a wife, and several children, who have reached maturity and are engaged in different walks of life. Three of his sons are connected with newspapers in this State and elsewhere, ad are now in positions of usefulness and prominence. Augustus A. BIRD was possessed of a warm nature, generous to a fault, kind to the poor, and honest and upright in his dealings. He was a prominent member of the Masonic order. His death occurred very suddenly, at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr. J. STARKWEATHER, at Green Bay [Brown County], WI, where he had been making a visit. He is supposed to have died from the effect of cancers of which he had several near his heart. In his death WI lost one of her noted and influential pioneers. Biography of George W. BIRD (pp 270-272) - son of Augustus A. Colonel George W. BIRD, among the most prominent and successful members of the Madison, Dane County, WI, bar, was born in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI, 28 Jul 1837, the son of Colonel Augustus A. and Charity (LE CLAIRE) BIRD [note different spelling of LE CLAIR]. The family came to Madison during the same year of our subject's birth, and in this city he was reared to manhood. He graduated from the University of WI in Jun 1860, having taken the ancient classical course. As one of a committee with Senator William F. VILAS, he revised [p 271] the constitution and bylaws of the Hesperian Society, one of the leading literary societies of the university, of which both were members. He was also chairman of the committee of that society that conducted the controversy with the Athenian Society in 1860, well remembered by the older students, as it excited much interest on the Hill at the time. He preserves in careful keeping many interesting mementos of the university's early days; among others, the original draft of a poem written by the first graduate, Charles T. WAKELEY, and famous in college circles at the time; the student's original address of regrets to chancellor LATHROP on his retiring from the institution. The latter is in the handwriting of Colonel VILAS and signed by nearly all the students, but became so worn in passing from hand to hand for signature that it was discarded and one on parchment more carefully and elegantly prepared was presented to the chancellor, and this one preserved by the Colonel. He has also copies of the mock and other commencement schemes of early days. George W. BIRD commenced the study of law in the office of Smith, Keyes & Gay, 05 Jul 1860, and after two years of study was admitted to the bar of the Circuit Court of Dane County, then presided over by Judge Harlo S. ORTON, now an honored justice of the Supreme Court. Subsequently he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Courts, including the Supreme Court of the U. S. Among the noted cases with which he has been connected as leading counsel and attorney may be mentioned the following: The Watertown Bond Litigation, which involved something over $3 million and continued for some 15 years. It was prosecuted through all the State Courts, Circuit and Supreme, and also the Federal Courts, District, Circuit and Supreme of the U. S. George W. BIRD conducted the defense for the city, and was entirely successful at every step, thus finally relieving the city of an immense and crushing debt. The ablest legal talent of the country was arrayed against him in the progress of litigation, among others Senator Matthew H. CARPENTER, Senator William F. VILAS, Senator EDMUNDS of VT, G. A. JENKS of PA, and JENKINS, WINKLER and FLANDERS of this State. The defense of the Jefferson and Waterloo Bond Litigation was also entrusted to George W. BIRD, and resulted successfully for those municipalities. In the CURRAN murder case, originating in Portage and tried in Waupaca County, he was employed by the county to assist the district attorney. The case excited great interest throughout the State. The CURRAN brothers, Henry and John, prominent capitalists at Stevens Point [County], were charged with the murder of W. W. HASELTINE, a leading lawyer of that city. John CURRAN shot and instantly killed the latter on one of the main streets of the city in the forenoon of town meeting day, 1888, and Henry CURRAN was claimed to have aided and assisted in the shooting. The defendants admitted the shooting, but claimed that it was done in self defense. The trial lasted upward of two weeks and involved the relation of the parties and their conduct toward each other reaching over a period of 10-12 years. A very strong case of self defense was made out the proofs and an acquittal on that ground followed. George W. BIRD was also associated with John C. SPOONER and C. E. ESTABROOK in the WI gerrymander cases, in which was settled the important principle that courts are properly clothed [p 272] with jurisdiction to pass upon the constitutionality of apportionment laws. That decision is considered of vital importance to the continued existence of free popular government. George W. BIRD made extended research and examination into the principles of law involved, and his arguments were pronounced by the court, it is said, among the ablest ever made before it. George W. BIRD was also the attorney for N. S. and Walter S. GREENE, the owners of the Milford Water Power, in the defense of the mill dam litigation against them. It was the most important litigation of the kind ever instituted in the State. More than a dozen suits were pending at one time in the different courts, State and National, and involved in their trial the condition of the country for 30 miles about the mill power since 1837. The defense was entirely successful in every case, the right to maintain and use the dam as it was being maintained and used being fully established by the judgment of the court. George W. BIRD was also the attorney for the defendants in the Watertown, Jefferson, Ixonia, and other important mill dam litigations. George W. BIRD resided at Madison, Dane County, WI, until 1863, when he removed to Jefferson, Jefferson County, WI, and continued in the practice of law there until Dec 1886, when he moved back to Madison, where he still resides. In May 1864 he enlisted in Company D, 14th WI Volunteer Infantry, and was 2nd Lieutenant of that company. George W. BIRD was married on 02 Oct 1864 by Rev. N. E. CHAPIN at Aztalan, [Jefferson County], WI, to Miss Maria S. SAWIN, who was born 12 Jul 1845 at LaPorte [LaPorte County], IN, and whose mother taught the first school in the city of Madison. Four children, all born in Jefferson [Jefferson County], WI, were the fruit of this marriage: Claire Brayton, born 27 Oct 1868; Guy Sawin, 16 Apr 1871; Hobart Stanley, 10 Sep 1873; and Maria Louise, 05 Apr 1876. George W. BIRD was County Superintendent of Jefferson County, WI, for four years, from Jan 1866 to Jan 1870; was private secretary of Governor TAYLOR from 1874 to 1876; was chairman of the town of Jefferson and member of the County Board two years, and has been a delegate in four Democratic National conventions. During the TAYLOR administration, George W. BIRD kept a diary of large dimensions in which were entered all that occurred in his presence in the capitol or elsewhere respecting public affairs. All conversations heard or participated in by him with public men in the executive office and other departments are entered at length,, and the doings and schemes concocted and carried out, or attempted by be carried out, in the State House during that two years, are there given in full. This diary would make an interesting chapter in the history of that period. In a conversation there recorded, between Judge SLOAN and George W. BIRD, which the writer was permitted to hear as an interesting account of the POTTER-PRIOR affair at Washington, Judge SLOAN then being a member of Congress and of POTTER's so-called body guard. The history of the railroad war, connection of prominent men therewith on both sides and what they said about it are also given. Biography of Ira W. BIRD (pp 418-419) - brother of Augustus A., father of Kate B. Ira W. BIRD, Madison, Dane County, WI, was born in Oneida County, NY, 07 Aug 1829, son of Allen and Hannah (MILLER) BIRD. His father was born and reared in Dane County, WI, and his mother, a native of England, was reared in NY from her tenth year. Allen BIRD died when Ira W. was three years old, and Hannah (MILLER) BIRD was subsequently married to Mr. SPENCER. The family then moved to Auburn, [Cayuga County], NY, where Ira W. BIRD attended school for a time. He was one of a family of four children, two sons and two daughters, and subsequently removed with them to Skanealeles, [Onondaga County], NY, where he began to learn the trade of a carriage maker. After serving an apprenticeship of seven years he began the manufacture of carriages at that place, did a successful business, and remained there until 1855, when he removed his business to Madison, WI. Upon locating here Ira W. BIRD became a partner with his brother, who had established a carriage manufactory here, and they conducted the business together until 1861, when our subject was appointed Chief of Police and Street Superintendent, and disposed of his interest in the business to his brother. He served as chief one year and street superintendent two years. After that he engaged in the dry goods business for about four years, since which time he has been retired from active business. Ira W. BIRD was married in 1852 to Miss Christina L. STONER, of Skaneateles, [Onondaga County], NY, whose father was a drum major in the war of 1812. Ira W. and Christina L. (STONER) BIRD have had four children: Spencer A., Truman E., Allice [Allice with two "l"s in the printed text] and Kate B. Only two are living, Truman E. and Kate B. The former is married and resides at Salt Lake City, [Salt Lake County], UT; the latter is an accomplished musician, and one of Madison's attractive ladies. Politically Ira W. BIRD is a Democrat, and at one time served as Deputy Sheriff of Dane County. He was appointed one of the Commissioners on the WI Farm Mortgage Land Commission by Governor TAYLOR, in 1875, and remained on said commission until it was closed in 1884. The commission was organized by an act of the WI Legislature in 1868 for the purpose of reimbursing as far as possible those farmers who were deceived by false representation of certain railroad companies, whereby many of the farmers lost their homes. The claims that came before the commission amounted to one and a half million dollars. Ira W. BIRD is a 32nd degree Mason and a prominent member of the order. Mr. BIRD's grandfather, Ira W. BIRD, and his brother, Augustus A. BIRD, went west together as far as Ann Arbor [Washtenew County], MI, where the Ira W. remained, Augustus A. proceeding westward about the year 1832, in the primitive mode of that time, and traveling over the country by wagon; after a season of gloomy weather, and resting on their journey, some 12 miles from their destination, the sun shone bright and clear over the prairie, they called the spot Sun Prairie. Arriving at Madison he became a contractor for, and built the first capitol for the State of WI. Biography of Kate B. BIRD (pp 419-420) - daughter of Ira W. Kate Bingham BIRD, daughter of Ira W. and Christine L. BIRD [spelled Christina in the above biography], was born at Madison, Dane County, WI, 24 Jul 1861. She is a musician (pianist) by profession, having received a thorough and finished education in private and school work. Her preparatory work began in her seventh year and continued some years under the instruction of the first teachers of Madison. Later she took advanced work under the instruction of the first teacher of the city, spent three years of finishing study in Chicago under a prominent professor of one of the leading musical institutions of that city, spent one year of practical work in teaching, and then took a six year course of study in Leipzig, Germany, from 1886 to 1892. Her work at Leipzig embraced a thorough course in piano, theory, history and all that belongs to a broad knowledge of music and the chosen instrument, in the first school of music in the world, "Das Konigliche Conservatorium der Musik zu Leipzig," having received private and school instruction under the first masters of that institution, receiving teacher's and large diploma in 1891. She also took a five year special course under the leading and first lady teacher in Leipzig. Having spent years of steady perseverance in the acquiring of a broad education, she has reached a point fitted to take a place with others in the broad field of art, prepared to devote all energy, education and life's work in the cause of true individual and national American art. She has had unusual advancement and experience in study and travel, her travels including the north, east and west of America, three different tours of all European countries, and one extended tour from Europe as far south as Australia and North and South Islands of New Zealand. The young, intelligent man or woman in the long endless search after education and knowledge, in the study of the progress and development of the industries, arts, and mankind in foreign countries and our own, must realize the wonderful and rapid development of America, the individual energy, enthusiasm, and indomitable will necessary to the continuance and higher development of America. To the young, energetic, patriotic American falls the work of furthering and developing the interests of America and carrying on the work so grandly conceived and made possible through the determined efforts of our brave and patriotic forefathers. Frontier life still goes on, but with less privation and hardship than formerly, and to this is added an age of remarkable mental achievements, an age of great strivings and competition. To every American is given the grand gift of a free birthright, a life to be devoted to America and her people. Individual success means national success. Submitted by Cathy Kubly