My Genealogy Hound

ALBERTE BIRD is an enterprising and prosperous farmer of Poland Centre, this county, and was born in Poland Centre, Chautauqua county, New York, to his parents,Nelson and Clarissa (Griffith) Bird, on August 28, 1853. One hundred and thirty years ago, in 1761, Col. Nathaniel Bird, the great-grandfather, was born in Salisbury, Connecticut, and when sixteen years of age entered the colonial army, and served through the war with great distinction, being advanced to the rank of colonel. He married, after the close of the war, Hannah Ballard, at New Marlborough, Massachusetts, where he resided until 1815, and then moved to the town of Westfield, this county, where he died January 12, 1847. Prior to his coming to Chautauqua county, he was engaged in the boot, shoe and general merchandise business. The same year in which he arrived here he took up a tract of land, upon which Amos Bird settled.

Amos Bird, grandfather of subject, was born in New Marlborough, Mass., in 1789, and after coming to Chautauqua county, settled near Jamestown upon a tract of land purchased by his father. He followed farming, and died in 1824. John Griffith was the father of our subject’s mother. He was a native of Connecticut, where he was born June 2, 1785, and came to Madison county, New York, in 1800. Five years later he removed to this county, and, in connection with the well-known Bemus family, was one of the pioneer settlers of the county. John Griffith was a son of Jeremiah Griffith, who was born in Norwich, Connecticut, July 28, 1758, and married Mary Cropsey, who was born February 8, 1764. He left Norwich, and moved to Rensselaer county, New York, thence to Madison county in 1800, and in February, 1805, he started with his wife and six children, an ox team and a wood-shod sled, a few cows and sheep driven by the boys, to go to Ohio. At Batavia he met some acquaintances, who persuaded him to go to Chautauqua lake instead. When they arrived at the head of the latter place, the family were left while Mr. Griffith and his oldest son started out to find a location, finally deciding upon what is now known as Griffith Point. Their first year was one of continual privations and hardship. Provisions were scarce, and the winter was cold. A pen cannot paint the picture of their suffering, the imagination even of one without the experience being unable to depict the extremity to which they were reduced. And yet, stout-hearted, they pulled through, and today their children are enjoying the comforts — yes, the luxuries — they suffered to secure. John Griffith married Tryphena Bemus on February 9, 1809, and had twelve children. Mrs. Griffith died February 19, 1851, and was followed by her husband, September 23, 1868, when he was eighty-four years old.

Nelson Bird first saw the light within the boundaries of Busti town on July 17, 1814, and spent his childhood and youth on the farm. He went to the public school, and acquired an education superior to the average of that day. Succeeding this, he learned carpenter working, and followed it for a few years. He then began to farm in the town of Poland, and pursued that occupation until he died, July, 1888. January 29, 1843, he married Clarissa Griffith, and she bore him nine children. Six are dead: Amos J., George W., Adelaide, John B., Charles and Emma A. Three are living: Willard F., Dora and Alberte. Nelson Bird ¦was a republican, and held a number of the minor town offices. He belonged to the Universalist church, and was a devout attendant upon its services. In business he was attentive, honest to the penny, and succeeded in accumulating considerable property.

Alberte Bird was born and reared on a farm in the town of Poland; attended the village schools and the Jamestown academy, securing a liberal education, after which he began and has since been engaged in farming.

On February 6, 1889, he married Nettie Jenks, a daughter of Monroe Jenks, of Ellington. His wife was given an advanced education, by her father, at the Randolph academy.

Mr. Bird is a republican and a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, and in addition to his farming he is a large stock-raiser, paying attention to the better grades.