John Comly Birdsell (March 31, 1815 – July 13, 1894) was an American manufacturer and businessman from New York. He was known for inventing the Birdsell Clover Huller and founding the Birdsell Manufacturing Company.
John Comly Birdsell was born on March 31, 1815, in Westchester County, New York, to Charity (née Carpenter) and Benjamin Birdsell. In 1822, Birdsell moved to western New York. He attended the district school and the village academy in West Henrietta, New York. In 1836, Birdsell rented a farm near Mendon.[1][2][3]
CareerEdit
In 1839, Birdsell purchased a farm of 284 acres (115 ha) in Rush.[1] In 1855, Birdsell invented the Birdsell Clover Huller, a machine for threshingclover. His machine received first prize at the 1857 New York State Fair. He also received awards at the Ohio State Fair and Michigan State Fair.[1][2] He built a small factory for his machine at Quaker Hill in West Henrietta, but the business was not successful. By the end of 1858, Birdsell had sold 26 hullers.[2][3] He attempted to sell his patent to C. Altman, a manufacturer of reapers in Canton, Ohio, but Altman declined.[2] Birdsell built shops in South Bend, Indiana, in 1863. In 1864, his offices in West Henrietta burned down.[2]
Birdsell moved to South Bend in April 1864. Birdsell sold his farm in New York for US$30,000 in 1865.[3] He incorporated Birdsell Manufacturing Company in 1870.[1][2] In 1872, Birdsell built a new factory on South Columbia Street.[4] In April 1874, Judge Noah Haynes Swayne of the Northern Ohio District Court upheld Birdsell's patent. Birdsell won a US$100,000 verdict against patent infringers, including Angus McDonald & Co. and the Ashland Manufacturing Company.[2][3] By the 1880s, the Birdsell Manufacturing Company was successful.[1]
Birdsell was a Republican and later supported the Prohibition movement.[2] He was one of the organizers and served vice president of the St. Joseph County Savings Bank.[2]
Personal lifeEdit
Birdsell House in South Bend (2012)
Birdsell married Harriet Lunt on June 7, 1838. They had five children, including Varnum Ogilvie (1841–1875), Joseph Benjamin (born 1843), Byron A. (born 1847), Harriet Elizabeth (1856–1863) and John "Jed" Comly Jr. (born 1859).[1][2][3] His wife died in April 1869. In June 1879, Birdsell married Susan Snelling of Boston.[2][3][5] In 1880, Birdsell and his wife traveled abroad to Europe, Egypt and the Holy Land.[3][6]
^ abcdefghBirdsell, Roger. . Archived from the original on May 6, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
^Palmer, John (2003). South Bend: Crossroads of Commerce. p. 83.
^ ab"Birdsell Mfg. Co. 59 Years in Business 50 Years in South Bend". South Bend Tribune. May 2, 1914. p. 11. Retrieved May 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^Fassett, C. N. (October 21, 1916). "Personal Recollections of Noted People". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved May 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
External linksEdit
Media related to John Birdsell at Wikimedia Commons
September 01, 2023
john, birdsell, john, comly, birdsell, march, 1815, july, 1894, american, manufacturer, businessman, from, york, known, inventing, birdsell, clover, huller, founding, birdsell, manufacturing, company, birdsell, 1894, newspaperbornjohn, comly, birdsell, 1815, m. John Comly Birdsell March 31 1815 July 13 1894 was an American manufacturer and businessman from New York He was known for inventing the Birdsell Clover Huller and founding the Birdsell Manufacturing Company John BirdsellBirdsell in 1894 newspaperBornJohn Comly Birdsell 1815 03 31 March 31 1815Westchester County New York U S DiedJuly 13 1894 1894 07 13 aged 79 New Carlisle Indiana U S Resting placeSouth Bend City CemeterySouth Bend Indiana U S OccupationsManufacturerinventorfarmerKnown forinventing the Birdsell Clover HullerPolitical partyRepublicanSpousesHarriet Lunt m 1838 died 1869 wbr Susan Snelling m 1879 wbr Children5 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Legacy 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditJohn Comly Birdsell was born on March 31 1815 in Westchester County New York to Charity nee Carpenter and Benjamin Birdsell In 1822 Birdsell moved to western New York He attended the district school and the village academy in West Henrietta New York In 1836 Birdsell rented a farm near Mendon 1 2 3 Career EditIn 1839 Birdsell purchased a farm of 284 acres 115 ha in Rush 1 In 1855 Birdsell invented the Birdsell Clover Huller a machine for threshing clover His machine received first prize at the 1857 New York State Fair He also received awards at the Ohio State Fair and Michigan State Fair 1 2 He built a small factory for his machine at Quaker Hill in West Henrietta but the business was not successful By the end of 1858 Birdsell had sold 26 hullers 2 3 He attempted to sell his patent to C Altman a manufacturer of reapers in Canton Ohio but Altman declined 2 Birdsell built shops in South Bend Indiana in 1863 In 1864 his offices in West Henrietta burned down 2 Birdsell moved to South Bend in April 1864 Birdsell sold his farm in New York for US 30 000 in 1865 3 He incorporated Birdsell Manufacturing Company in 1870 1 2 In 1872 Birdsell built a new factory on South Columbia Street 4 In April 1874 Judge Noah Haynes Swayne of the Northern Ohio District Court upheld Birdsell s patent Birdsell won a US 100 000 verdict against patent infringers including Angus McDonald amp Co and the Ashland Manufacturing Company 2 3 By the 1880s the Birdsell Manufacturing Company was successful 1 Birdsell was a Republican and later supported the Prohibition movement 2 He was one of the organizers and served vice president of the St Joseph County Savings Bank 2 Personal life Edit nbsp Birdsell House in South Bend 2012 Birdsell married Harriet Lunt on June 7 1838 They had five children including Varnum Ogilvie 1841 1875 Joseph Benjamin born 1843 Byron A born 1847 Harriet Elizabeth 1856 1863 and John Jed Comly Jr born 1859 1 2 3 His wife died in April 1869 In June 1879 Birdsell married Susan Snelling of Boston 2 3 5 In 1880 Birdsell and his wife traveled abroad to Europe Egypt and the Holy Land 3 6 Birdsell was a Freemason and was a member of South Bend s Knights Templar 2 Birdsell died from a stroke on July 13 1894 at the home of Mrs Egbert in New Carlisle Indiana He was buried at South Bend City Cemetery 1 2 Legacy EditFollowing his death Birdsell s sons continued the Birdsell Manufacturing Company until 1938 1 3 5 Birdsell Street in South Bend is named after Birdsell 1 References Edit a b c d e f g h i Behind the Name Agricultural innovator John Birdsell South Bend Tribune September 7 2015 Retrieved May 27 2023 a b c d e f g h i j k l m Entered Into Rest South Bend Tribune July 13 1894 p 5 Retrieved May 27 2023 via Newspapers com nbsp a b c d e f g h Birdsell Roger Birdsell The Invention The Family The Company Archived from the original on May 6 2015 Retrieved May 29 2023 Palmer John 2003 South Bend Crossroads of Commerce p 83 a b Birdsell Mfg Co 59 Years in Business 50 Years in South Bend South Bend Tribune May 2 1914 p 11 Retrieved May 27 2023 via Newspapers com nbsp Fassett C N October 21 1916 Personal Recollections of Noted People South Bend Tribune Retrieved May 27 2023 via Newspapers com nbsp External links Edit nbsp Media related to John Birdsell at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Birdsell amp oldid 1158250999, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
