Edmund N. Birdsall, farmer, section 8, Hopkins Twp., is a son of James & Lydia (DeGarmo) Birdsall, natives of New York, who married and resided there till 1845, when they came to Whiteside county and settled in Sterling Twp. They died in the city of Sterling - he July 11, 1866 and she June 27, 1868. They had a family of five children as follows: Edmund N., Elias D., Henry L., Harriet W., and George A.

The subject of this sketch was born in Dutchess Co. NY Feb. 16, 1830 and was 15 years old when he came to Whiteside County. He received a common-school education and lived at home till he was 30 years of age, although he was married some years previously. He has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is the owner of 154 acres of land in Hopkins and Genesee Twps. besides property in the village of Sterling; 140 acres of his land is tillable. In 1876 he erected a fine frame house and in 1881 built a fine barn, and his buildings are second to none in the county.

He was first married in Genesee Twp. Feb. 16, 1854 to Clarissa Danes, a native of this State, who bore him one child, George D., but he died at the age of five months. Mrs. Birdsall died Aug. 9, 1855 and Mr. B. was again married in Carroll Co. Oct. 20, 1860 to Sarah J., daughter of Robert L. and Jane (Wilson) Fleming; her parents are natives respectively of NY and PA and came to Carroll County in 1848 where they lived till their deaths. He died January 27, 1879 and she Sept. 9, 1881. They had a family of eight children - Jasper, Sarah J., Hugh M., Angeline, Margaret, Nancy, Bruce and Eveline. Mrs. B. was born in Washington Co IN Feb. 22, 1836. Mr. and Mrs. B. are the parents of two children - Charles and Pinkie. Charles was married Sept. 6, 1883 to Ida Baker, daughter of George and Mary baker. They have on child, Edmund G. In politics Mr. Birdsall is an Anti-monopolist.

Portraits & Biographical Whiteside County 1885 Pg 315