Hiram Thornton Bird July 14, 1846 - July 9, 1926 Newsom Archives Raymond J. Chadwick Library Iowa Wesleyan College Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Figure 1
Facts
Hiram Thornton Bird was born July 14, 1846.
Hiram attended Iowa Wesleyan University in the early part of the Civil War. His name appears in the 1861-1862 College Catalogue, under the Scientific Department as a First Year student.
He joined the war effort in Davenport, Iowa on September 30th, 1863 and enlisted in the 8th Regiment Iowa Cavalry.
He was taken as a prisoner of war on July 30, 1865 [sic, 1864] and released on September 3, 1864.
Facts
Figure 2
He married Florence McLeron and had two children, Laura Thornton Bird and Clara Regina Bird. Clara became an alumni of I.W.U. in 1893.
He wrote “Memories of the Civil War” when he was 79 years old.
His book was published in 1925.
He died on July 9, 1926.
Hiram Thornton Bird
Title: • Memories of the Civil War
Date: • Published in 1925
Description: • 6” x 9”
Hiram Thornton Bird
Title: • Memories of the Civil War
Date: • Published in 1925
Description: • First Edition, Signed Copy
Hiram Thornton Bird
I
“
cannot but remember such things were,
That were most precious to me.� -- Fore-word [sic]
Hiram Thornton Bird Hospitality Galore Scouting expedition with Washington I. Babb, fellow Iowa Wesleyan University student.
McCook’s Raid Title comes from commanding General Ed McCook. Bird was taken a prisoner and was left in command of the wounded soldiers.
Hiram Thornton Bird
Hiram Thornton Bird Yankee Matches Bird tells of how he used knowledge on making matches, which he learned from Iowa Wesleyan University Chemistry Laboratory, in order to light a candle.
Meeting A College Chum Bird is in touch with a former student who also joined the war, but as a Confederate soldier.
Where I Was Made A Mason A continuation of being a prisoner and how with masonry work, a doctor and Bird were able to get fruits and vegetables.
Hiram Thornton Bird Charleston, S.C. More on when he was a prisoner and was freed due to the help of Medical Director of Charleston. He goes on about a house he stayed in and visiting it years later with his wife, and some background information on Charleston in the past and present.
In the next section titled, ‘September 3, 1864 – The Happy Day’ (not pictured), Bird states that he and fellow prisoners were freed.
Comrade John S. Woolson’s Experience Bird writes about the experience that John S. Woolson, a Navy Paymaster had.
Woolson graduated from Iowa Wesleyan University in 1860 and married Mira Bird (Hiram’s sister) in 1867.
Hiram Thornton Bird Camp Harlan Bird reflects on the camp that was named after Senator James Harlan and where it was located. He mentions the statue of Harlan that was located in the National Statuary Hall Collection in Washington, D.C. The statue was moved to the Iowa Wesleyan College campus and unveiled on August 28, 2914.
Figure 3
Photo Credits
Figure 1: http:// image1.findagrave.com/photos/2008/190/18957539_121565409412.jpg
Figure 2: http:// scoopjones.us/album/Birds%20and%20Babbs/Birds%20and%20Babbs-Thumbnails
Figure 3: http://www.iwc.edu/getattachment/About/Campus-(1)/ Unveiling-Ceremony-for-James-Harlan-Statue/James-Harlan_cob.png.aspx