Source: Portrait & Biographical Album of Whiteside County, IL
Originally published 1885 Chapman Bros., Chicago, IL

Transcribed by: Becky Jones

Pages 253-254

Henry L. Birdsall, farmer, section 4, Hopkins Township, is a son of James and Lydia (DeGarmo) Birdsall, natives of New York State, who came to Whiteside County in the spring of 1845, settling in Sterling Township, where they lived until their death. They had five children, named Edmund N., Elisa D., Henry L., George A. and Harriet.

The subject of this sketch was born in Mendon, Monroe Co., N. Y., Sept. 11, 1834. He received a common-school education and came when he was ten years old, with his father, to this county, where he has since lived, engaged in farming. He first bought a farm on section 8, Hopkins Township, where he settled and lived about eight years, when he sold and bought 147 acres on section4, where he at present resides. He has erected fine buildings on his farm, and most of his land is in a state of good cultivation.

He was married first in Carroll Co., Ill., Nov. 19, 1857, to Mary A. Flemming, a native of Indiana. They have had one child, Clara J., who is now the wife of Henry Stevens, and resides in Stephenson Co., Ill. Mrs. B. died in Hopkins Township, Jan. 28, 1863, and Mr. Birdsall was again married March 15, 1864, in Monroe Co., N. Y. to Joanna Wood, daughter of Robert and Ann (Moran) Wood, natives of Ireland, who married and settled in Rochester N.Y. Mr. Wood was a member of the 140th N.Y. Vol. Inf., and died in the army, in the fall of 1863; Mrs. Wood died Dec. 18, 1883, in Mendon, Monroe Co., N.Y. They had a family of eight children, namely, John, Mary A., Joanna, Thomas, Frank, Margaret and Anna; one died in infancy. Mrs. B. was born in Monroe Co., N.Y., Nov. 3, 1843. Mr. and Mrs. B. are the parents of four children: Alonzo G., Loren E., Estella and Harry L.

Mr. Birdsall has been School Director and Overseer of Highways. In politics he is identified with the National party.

As a prominent citizen of Whiteside County, and one who has been intimately identified with the best interests and growth of the county, we take pleasure in placing the portrait of Mr. Birdsall in this ALBUM. Coming to the county when a mere boy, he has grown and developed in all that goes to make a representative citizen of this splendid portion of the great Prairie State. As a fitting companion picture we place beside his that of his estimable wife. These pictures were made from photographs taken in 1885.