WELLINGTON BIRD, M. D.  No biographical review of Henry county would be complete without mention of Dr. Wellington Bird, deceased, who for many years was a leading representative of the medical fraternity in Mount Pleasant and the surrounding districts. He came here at a day when the practice of medicine was frought with many personal hardships and difficulties, necessitating, long rides with sparsely settled districts over poor roads. He was born in Columbiana county, Pennsylvania, in 1817. His paternal grandfather was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. William Bird, the father, was a resident of Columbiana county, Pennsylvania, and there followed the blacksmith's trade for many years but in old age he and his wife came to the west and died at the home of their son. Dr. Bird, in Mount Pleasant.  In the county of his nativity Dr. Bird began his education. His father desired that he should learn and follow the blacksmith's trade but this did not prove congenial and giving up the work he entered a store. While thus employed he devoted every leisure moment to reading and studying. His employer noticing this asked his purpose, and finding that he wished to become a physician, said that he would give him the necessary assistance, and did so, sending him to Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, from which institution he was graduated about 1840. He then located for practice at Fredericktown, Ohio, and his capability in accordance with the standard of medical practice at that time brought him a good patronage. He was married to Miss Thornton, of Columbiana county, Pennsylvania, and they began their domestic life at Fredericktown, where they resided for a brief period, after which they came to Mount Pleasant, arriving here in the year 1849. He was the first regularly educated physician to enter upon practice here, and for many years he continued as a follower of his chosen calling, devoting his time and energies to the active work of the profession until within a few years of his death. As is usual in a frontier community he had a large country practice which called him to the four corners of the county, occasioning him to make long drives through the hot summer sun or the winter's cold. He regarded no personal discomfort or sacrifice on his part too great if it would enable him to alleviate human suffering or restore health and through his scientific interest in the profession and his desire to gain a competence through years of practice he displayed broad humanitarian principles and deep sympathy. At the time of the Civil war he became assistant surgeon in the Fourth Iowa Cavalry but later resigned on account of his age.  Dr. Bird was one of the organizers of the Forest Home cemetery, securing the plans for this and personally superintending their adoption and in the practical work of laying out the cemetery, which is still in use. At that time it was owned by a corporate concern but now belongs to the city. Dr. Bird was also one of the active trustees of the Iowa Wesleyan University and acted in that capacity when it needed the helpful co-operation of its board in order to place it upon a paying basis. Both he and his wife held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and he was also one of its officers and a liberal contributor toward its first house of worship. His life was indeed filled with good deeds and worthy actions and was characterized by high and manly principles. His wife, who was born in 1818, passed away August 13, 1895, at the age of seventy-seven years, while he survived until August, 1897, having reached the age of eighty years when called to his final rest. His memory, however, is enshrined in the hearts of many who knew him and who benefited by his professional services or his charity and enjoyed his companionship and friendship.  ©2009 Genealogy Trails