Biography of John U. Bird, Pinellas County, FL

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Transcribed from:  The History of Florida:  Past & Present, The Lewis Publishing Co., Vol. 
III, page 189, 1923.

BIRD, JOHN U., present county judge of Pinellas County, has been a practicing lawyer here 
for the past ten years, and a large part of this time has been devoted to official duties 
in one office or another connected with his profession.  His experience and abilities give 
him first rank among the attorneys at Pinellas County.

Judge BIRD was born in Jefferson County, Florida, three miles from Monticello, September 12, 
1888, a son of PRESTON B., and MARIA (ULMER) BIRD.  His parents were both born in Florida.  
The BIRD family has lived in the state for several generations and is of English ancestry.  
His grandfather was a Confederate soldier.  The ULMERs came to Florida in early times from 
Mississippi.

JOHN U. BIRD is the third in a family of nine children, six daughters and three sons all 
of whom are still living.  He was reared on a farm at Monticello, educated in the public 
schools there, and studied law in a private office at Monticello.  He was admitted to the 
bar in 1910, and after about a year of practice in his native county moved to Clearwater in 
1912.  Besides handling a general practice he served as city attorney here for eight years 
and prosecuting attorney for about eight years and prosecuting attorney for about eight years.  
He was then elected county judge, and has given a very careful and efficient administration 
of county affairs.

Judge BIRD is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and Elks.  In 1913 he married KATHARINE 
DILLARD of Clearwater.