California Biographies Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time. Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905 Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176 ISAAC BIRD. The agricultural interests of central California have no more worthy or able exponent than Isaac Bird, of Merced, who thoroughly understands the vocation which he is pursuing, and, as manager of the Chowchilla stock farm, is carrying on an extensive business as a stock and grain raiser. Possessing in an eminent degree the executive ability and the force of character requisite for the responsible position which he holds, he handles the large body of land entrusted to his care with great success, having by his energy, discretion and good judgment brought it up to its present state of excellence. He is also identified with the finan- cial prosperity of city and county as one of the directorate of the Security Savings Bank of Merced. A son of the late Isaac Bird, Sr., he was born, March 17, 1855, in San Jose, Cal., of English ancestry. His grandfather, also named Isaac Bird, emigrated from England, the coun- try of his nativity, to America, settling in Alabama, where he was engaged as a planter until his death. Born in Whitehaven, Cumberland county, England, Isaac Bird, Sr., remained in his native land until after attaining his majority. Coming with his parents to Alabama, he lived in the south many years, prosperously engaged in agricultural pursuits. Coming in 1849, with the army of Col. Jack Hayes, to California, he located in Santa Clara county, buying two hun- dred and fifty acres of land that is now included within the limits of the city of San Jose, and soon returned to Alabama for his family. There he and D. C. Vestal, a California pioneer, were the first to engage in fruit culture in this part of the state, setting out orchards of apples, peaches and pears. Subsequently selling out his orchards, he purchased forty acres of land in the Pajaro valley, near Watsonville, and was there successfully employed as an orchardist until his death, in 1899, at the advanced age of eighty-five years. He was a man of upright moral character, and a valued member of the Presbyterian Church. He married Alabama Welch, a daughter of John Welch, who emigrated from Wales to Alabama, where he became owner of a large plantation, on which his daughter was born and reared. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, serving under General Jackson in New York. Mrs. Bird died, March 17, 1904, in San Jose, and her body was laid to rest in the cemetery at Watsonville. She bore her husband six children, namely : Calvert T., an attorney in San Jose; George W., engaged in the fruit business in Watsonville ; Mrs. Mary Bowen, a widow, living in San Jose; Isaac, of this brief review; Mrs. Belle Wood, of Tulare county; and Mrs. Maggie Keesling, of San Jose. Brought up on the San Jose ranch, Isaac Bird obtained his early education in that place, attend- ing the public schools and the San Jose Institute. Beginning life for himself as an agriculturist, he established a ranch in Monterey county in 1874, and was there employed in sheep raising for five years. Selling out in 1879, he was employed in general farming in the San Joaquin valley for the next two years. In 1881 Mr. Bird entered the employ of the California Pastoral and Agricultural Company as superintendent of the Chowchilla Stock Farm, a posi- tion which he has since filled with great credit to himself, and to the perfect satisfaction of the company. This ranch contains one hundred and eight thousand acres of land, and is largely de- voted to the raising of stock, a specialty being made of breeding and raising Short-horn cattle. Under the efficient management of Mr. Bird this branch of industry has well-nigh reached a state of perfection. He has also introduced a new system of irrigation throughout the farming lands of this vast estate, making them rich and productive, and now raises large crops of both alfalfa and barley, the grains best adapted, in his judgment, to this section of the country. The leading" agriculturist of this section. Mr. Bird is prominently identified with the leading agricul- tural organizations, being one of the organizers, and a director, of the State Short-Horn Breed- ers' Association, and of the Thirty-fifth District of the State Agricultural Association. In San Jose, Cal., Mr. Bird married Josephine Blanchard, a native of Iowa, and they are the parents of three children, namely : Bernice, Isabella and Henrietta. Politically Mr. Bird is well known as a firm supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, and is an ex-member of the county central committee. Fraternally he is a member of LaGrange Lodge No. 99, F. & A. M. of Merced; of Merced Chapter No. 12, R. A. M. ; and of the Knights of Pythias. He is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, toward the support of which he con- tributes generously.