OBIT: Cyrus M. BIRD, 1944, Summit Twp., Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer..

Copyright 2007.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/
________________________________________________

CYRUS M. BIRD

Death of C. M. Bird Due to a Cerebral Hemorrhage
Stricken on Christmas Morning, Passed Away At Dawn of New Year

  Stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage early Christmas morning, Cyrus M. Bird, 
junior member of the widely known firm of Bird Bros., passed away at 3:20 a.m. 
on January 1, 1944, at his home in Summit Township, near the south borough limit 
of Meyersdale.
  During his week of illness he had few lucid moments and became gradually 
weaker until the end came.  His passing has overwhelmed his family with grief 
and left a void in the community that is deeply lamented by a host of friends.
  Cyrus Milton Bird was born in Summit Township, Somerset County, Pa., April 13, 
1877.  His parents were Orville and Hulda Shultz Bird.
  He entered the teaching profession at the age of 18 years and taught in Summit 
Township for five terms.
   In 1898 he served his country as a volunteer in the Spanish-American War, Co. 
I, 5th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. Ernest O. Kooser.
  In the year 1900 he and his brother, Charles E. Bird, rented a farm from the 
Consolidation Coal Co., located partly in Elk Lick and partly in Summit 
Township.  Later they purchased this farm and also an adjacent farm to increase 
the acreage they devoted to agriculture and livestock and poultry raising.

Renowned Poultryman

  They engaged in general farming but soon after the firm of Bird Bros. was 
established, they made poultry breeding their major interest, with such signal 
success that they became internationally known as experts in that line.  For 
many years they exhibited their highly developed Goldbank strain of giant bronze 
turkeys in the leading poultry shows of the United States, notably the great 
Madison Square poultry show, in New York City, and annually won the sweepstakes 
championships.
  Breeding pens of their Goldbank strain of turkeys found ready sale in the four 
quarters of the globe.  During the last 40 years they have made shipments of 
their breeding stock to every state in the Union, to Mexico, South America, 
Canada, New Zealand, Australia, England, France, Germany and other foreign 
countries.
  They also developed a strain of partridge Plymouth Rock chickens that added to 
their fame as successful poultrymen.

Had Many Business Cares

  About four years ago, Charles E. Bird, the senior member of the firm of Bird 
Bros., became afflicted with cerebral trouble, starting with a blood clot in the 
brain, which incapacitated him for further work.  He is at present in a 
Philadelphia hospital.  His brother's illness placed a greater burden on C. M. 
Bird, and the added strain no doubt hastened his own breakdown, but, except for 
an occasional illness from which he soon recovered, he remained very active in 
his work and various other duties until the night before Christmas when he was 
fatally stricken during his sleep.
  He was a member of the following organizations: Meyersdale Rotary Club, 
President of the Somerset County Sheep and Wool Growers Association for many 
years; director of the Somerset County Farm Bureau Cooperative Association, 
school director in Summit Township, and a director of the Meyersdale Fair 
Association.  He was also connected with several coal companies.

Active Churchman

  He became a member of the Main Street Brethren Church under the ministry of 
Rev. Wm. H. Beachler, Nov. 17, 1907.  He was an active worker in the church 
until the time of his death, serving as trustee, church clerk, and a Sunday 
School teacher for many years.  He taught the Men's Federation Class for 18 
years.
  Cyrus M. Bird and Laura E. Hostetler, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus 
Hostetler, were united in marriage on Dec. 7, 1910, by Rev. Wm. H. Beachler.  To 
this union were born two children, Anna W. (Mrs. Earl) Walker, and Miriam M. 
Bird.
  Besides his bereaved wife and daughters and the brother above named, Mr. Bird 
is survived also by three sisters - Mrs. Henry Suder and Mrs. J. L. Tressler of 
Meyersdale, and Miss Malinda Bird, a professional nurse, of Pittsburgh.  One 
sister, Mrs. Alice Bowman, preceded him in death.
  Cyrus M. Bird was in all respects a sterling and patriotic citizen, a devoted 
husband and father and brother, and an outstanding Christian gentleman.
  Scores of friends called at the grief-stricken home on Sunday, Monday and 
Tuesday, up to the hour of the funeral, to pay their respect and offer 
condolence.  Numerous floral tributes attested the love and esteem of sorrowing 
friends for this outstanding citizen whose days were numbered at the dawning of 
the New Year.
  
Funeral Services

  The obsequies began with scripture reading and prayer by his pastor, Rev. 
Kenneth Ashman, at the Bird residence, Tuesday at 1 p.m., followed by funeral 
service at 2:30 in the Main Street Brethren Church, of which Mr. Bird had been 
an active member since 1907.  The church was crowded with mourning friends from 
far and near and all walks of life.
  The services opened with a hymn prelude by Mrs. Irvin Shaffer who presided at 
the organ, followed by Scripture reading (Psalm 90, 1-17) and prayer by Rev. 
Ashman, who also made some obituary remarks and extrolled Brother Bird as a 
"cooperating Christian soul, interested in the welfare of the Church, missionary 
in spirit, and ready to do his part and lend a helping hand at every 
opportunity."
  The funeral discourse was delivered by Rev. N. V. Leatherman, former pastor of 
the Berlin Brethren Church and present field secretary of Ashland College, a 
close friend and co-worker with Cyrus M. Bird in church affairs.
  Rev. Leatherman took for his text a favorite passage of Scripture of Brother 
Bird, (2 Tim. 4:6-8) "The time of my departure is come.  I have fought the good 
fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is 
laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, 
shall give me at that day."
  These farewell words of St. Paul, the minister said, were typical of the 
passing of Brother Cyrus Bird, for whom, judged by his good works and fidelity 
to the Church and love of the Master who founded it, a crown of righteousness 
has certainly been laid up.
  A quartet of singers from the Meyersdale Church of the Brethren - Rev. and 
Mrs. DeWitt Miller, Miss Dorothy Miller and Galen Peck - furnished the musical 
interludes of the funeral service by singing several of Mr. Bird's favorite 
sacred musical compositions, "Going Home," "Rock of Ages," and "Beyond the 
Sunset," the latter being a duet by Mrs. and Miss Miller.
  Following the services in the church Mr. Bird's earthly remains were committed 
to the grave in the Union Cemetery, by Rev. Ashman, after which Rev. Leatherman 
pronounced the benediction.
  The pall-bearers were: Charles A. Phillips, Lloyd Peck, Edison M. Hay, John H. 
Blocher, Roy Hetrick and Benjamin Witt.
  W. C. Price & Son were in charge of the funeral and burial arrangements.

Meyersdale Republican, January 6, 1944