Sixth Generation

404. Edward Oscar BIRD was born on 1 April 1855 in Navarro County, Texas.¹²² He died on 28 December 1928 at the age of 73 in Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas.

Married Catherine N. Witt.

1900 Census. Justice Precinct 6, Hunt Co, TX Hh 433
Ed O. Bird, b. Apr 1854, age 46, married for 20 yr. Born TX, parents b. MO, a farmer.
Kate, wife, b. Jan 1852, age 48, has had 4 children. Born TN as were her parents [Katherine Witt on daughter's death certificate]
The children all born in Texas:
William H., b. Jul 1882, age 17
Ottsie, dau, b. Apr 1884, age 16
Araminta, dau, b. Feb 1886, age 14
Mark, son, b. Nov 1888, age 11

In 1910, Edward O. was living with his sister Mary and her husband Benjamin Harris in Corsicana. He was age 55 and widowed. He was a blacksmith, self-employed.

1920 Census. Corsicana, Navarro Co, TX, Hh 141
Sharp, E. R. head of household, female, age 56, widow [This is Mary E. "Bettie" s sister Emily]
Mary, dau, age 20
Susie, dau, age 18
E. O. Bird, brother, age 65, widowed, blacksmith
M. E. Hockaday, sister, age 66, widowed
R. L. Bird, brother, age 50, single
Mary R. Eagleton, boarder, age 22, student

FindAGrave.com; Memorial #37346009
Edward O. Bird. Birth: Apr. 1, 1855, Texas, USA
Death: Dec. 28, 1928, Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas, USA
Burial: Oakwood Cemetery, Corsicana
Kate N. Bird is on the same grave marker. FindAGrave gives her maiden name as Witt. They were married 24 Feb 1881, Hunt Co, TX. Kate was born 1 Jan 1852, died 1 Mar 1907.

Texas Death Certificate #54903. Edward O. Bird of 502 N. Benton St., Corsicana, died 28 Dec 1928 of chronic nephritis and a heart attack. He was a widower. Edward was 4 Apr 1855 in Texas and was a retired blacksmith. His parents were Mark H. Bird, born Kentucky, and Arimenta Fry, born Missouri. Mrs. C. B. Sutherland, his sister, was the informant - her husband had just died in November. Undertaker was James A. McMahon [who had also served for C. B. Sutherland and likely took over the funeral home after C. B.'s death in November of 1928]. Edward was buried Oakwood Cemetery on Dec 29th.

I did find another burial in Oakwood and accompanying Texas Death Certificate for Araminta Bird Gee - #79535. She was living at 1215 W. Houston in Sherman, Grayson Co, TX, but died at the Wilson N. Jones Hospital on 4 Dec 1967 from complications from diabetes, a heart attack and a convulsive disorder. Her date of birth was given as 18 Feb 1887 in Commerce, TX. Her father's name given as "Edgar" O. Bird; her mother was Katherine Witt. Mrs. Mary J. Roberts was the informant. Araminta was taken to Oakwood Cemetery in Corsicana for burial on Dec 6th. I feel sure this lady was a daughter of Edward's. First of all she had diabetes as did most of her aunts and uncles; and Araminta Bird is not your plainest of given names. In 1900, Edward had a daughter Aaraminta, of this age, as well as a wife Kate. Also the 1930 Census, Dallas, shows a James D. Gee, age 62, his wife Araminta, age 44, and a daughter Mary Jane, age 9 - so likely the informant was the daughter.

Edward Oscar BIRD and Catherine WITT were married on 24 February 1881 in Hunt County, Texas. Catherine WITT was born on 1 January 1852. She died on 1 March 1907 at the age of 55.

Edward Oscar BIRD and Catherine WITT had the following children:

513	i.	William Harry BIRD was born on 27 July 1882. He died on 28 August 1950 at the age of 68 in Fort Stockton, Pecos County, Texas.
514	ii.	Ottsie BIRD was born on 6 April 1884. She died on 23 May 1947 at the age of 63 in Temple, Bell County, Texas. Married Clough Shelton Sr about 1905 - he had two children from a previous marriage
515	iii.	Araminta BIRD was born on 18 February 1886 in Texas. She died on 4 December 1967 at the age of 81 in Sherman, Grayson County, Texas. Married James Denison Gee, 15 Jan 1913, Bell Co, TX. They had one daughter. Mary Jim Gee Roberts Herald Democrat (Sherman, TX) - Wednesday, July 11, 2007 Services for Mary Jim Gee Roberts, 86, of Sherman who passed away on Monday, July 9, 2007 will be held on Friday, July 13, 2007 at 10 a.m. at Grand Avenue Presbyterian Church. Reverend Lander Bethel of the church will officiate. Interment will follow at West Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 12, 2007 from 7 until 8 p.m. at Dannel Funeral Home and other times at the family residence. Arrangements are under the direction of Dannel Funeral Home. Mary Jim was born on December 28, 1920 in Paris, Texas the daughter of James Denson Gee and Araminta Bird Gee. She was a graduate of Paris Junior College, Austin College, East Texas State University and St. Paul's Hospital School of Nursing. She was employed at Harmon General Hospital and served in the United States Cadet Nurse Corps during WWII for 3 years. She was Education Director in schools of Nursing in Dallas, Paris and Sherman. She was very active in multiple fields of Nursing for 45 years. Mary Jim was past president of Austin College Alumni, Business and Professional Women's Club, Progressive Study Club; past member of District 14 Texas Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, National League for Nursing Education, Austin College Campus Club, Altrusa International, College Hill Literary Club, Adventure Group and Prayer Group. She was an active lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church. She served as Sunday School teacher, choir member, counselor, president of youth conferences as well as camp nurse for Camp Fire Girls at Rio Roxo; but her Career was her Family. On December 22, 1946 she married Erwin Jefferson Roberts, Jr. in Paris, Texas. He preceded her in death on October 28, 1997. She is survived by her sons: E.J. Roberts III of Talala, Oklahoma, James Gee Roberts and Debbie of Midland, Texas, Joseph Roberts III and Bobbye of Merkel, Texas; her daughter, Melanie Roberts Moore of Abilene, Texas; 9 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers for Mrs. Roberts will be her grandsons, Matt and Marc Moore, E.J. Roberts IV, Josh Roberts, T.J. Roberts and Jim Bob Bradley, grandson-in-law.
516	iv.	Mark Edward BIRD was born on 11 November 1888 in Texas. He died on 10 April 1957 at the age of 68 in Los Angeles, San Bernardino County, California.