BIRD. BIRD. 57 Cooke, who died Feb. 5, 1835. He again married, June 20, 1S43, in Boston, Abby Frances, daughter of Joseph R. and Alary (Reynolds) Newell. Of this union were six children : Frances Newell, F. W., Jr. (deceased 1S74), Mary Reynolds, Charles Sumner, Caroline Augusta and Rebecca Hill Bird. Mr. Bird was a member of the House of Representatives, 1847, '48, '67, '77, and '78 ; a member of the state Senate 187 1. He was a member of the Executive Council with Governor Boutwell, 1852, and Gover- nor Andrew, 1863, '64 and '65. He was especially active in matters that pertained FRANCIS W. BIRD. to the general public policy; fought Know- nothingism with a will in 1854 ; was stren- uously opposed to the Hoosac Tunnel scheme. He has been a typical independ- ent in his political associations. He was a Whig till 1846 ; a Conscience Whig till 184S ; Free Soiler till 1856 ; Republican till 1872 ; Liberal Republican till 1874, and Independent Democrat to date. Mr. Bird was a member of the Massachu- setts Constitutional Convention, 1S53. He has ever been a man of great nervous en- ergy and strong individuality. He has the courage of his convictions, and always moves in accordance with their promptings. He is a man very widely known in com- mercial and politica. circles, and probably has enjoyed the friendship of as many of the leading men of the State as any living man. Not a stain rests upon his character, not a suspicion attaches to the sincerity of his purpose. Outliving most of his com- rades who have made the State so illustri- ous by their wise counsel and patriotic labors, he still takes a keen and lively in- terest in all that tends to keep Massachu- setts in the van of every philanthropic cause and movement towards true reform. BIRD, Samuel Bradford, son of Ebenezer and Sally (Knowlton) Bird, was born in Ashby, Middlesex county, Septem- ber 3, 1831. He availed himself of the advantages of the common schools to gain a good English education, and was enabled to fit himself for a teacher of district schools. He taught during the winter months for six years, when he chose farming as his future voca- tion. Mr. Bird was married in Boston, Novem- ber 28, 1861, to Sarah Ann, daughter of Ashbel and Laura (Nichols) Howe. They have no children. Mr. Bird has been member of the Fram- ingham school board twelve years ; mem- ber of the board of selectmen ten years, six years chairman ; member of board of assessors twelve years, during nine of which he acted as chairman; president of Mid- dlesex South Agricultural Society four years ; member of board of agriculture nine years ; director of South Framingham National Bank, until he resigned to be- come director of the Framingham National Hank, which position he now holds ; vice- president of the Savings Bank ; director and treasurer of the Framingham Union Street Railway Company, a road built and equipped largely by the efforts and influ- ence of Mr. Bird ; treasurer of the town of Framingham the past four years ; trustee of the public library ; member of the Republi- can state central committee two years ; has presided at the town meetings, with few exceptions, for the last fifteen years. He was representative to the General Court 1886 and '87. Mr. Bird is an active business man, holds various trust funds, commands the respect of his townsmen, and is keenly alive to the interests of Fram- ingham, his present residence. BIRD, WARREN A., son of Charles and Caroline F. (Frost) Bird, was born in Cam- bridge, Middlesex county, October 14, 1837. His early education was acquired in the common schools of Somerville and
