Heritage \ Writings \

Andrew Bird (1831-1911)
Born a slave, he settled in Bay City where he was employed at the Sage Mill.

1911 Obituary. Contributed by Jim Petrimoulx - Nov., 2009.

Bay City Tribune - Wednesday, March 16, 1911 (page 4)

AGED NEGRO BORN IN SLAVERY, DEAD.
Andrew Bird, Aged 80, Succumbed
Yesterday to Old Age.

Was One of 350 Humans Owned by Edwin Ruffin: Valet to Northern Officers.
__________

At 9 o’clock yesterday morning occurred the death of Andrew Bird, aged 80 years, one of the oldest and best known negro residents in the city. The deceased was born a slave on the large plantation of Edwin Ruffin, near Charles City, Virginia, in the early 30’s and was one of 350 slaves owned by Ruffin. When the war broke out he was impressed into the service of the Union army and finally became valet to the staff of officers in whose regiment he was enlisted. At the close of the war Bird located in Detroit, where he worked at draying for two years, later coming to Bay City, where he was employed by the H.W. Sage Co. for the past 30 years. The funeral will be held from the family home on South Williams street. Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Internment will be in Oak Ridge cemetery.

Additional Notes.

History reference on Edwin Ruffin:

Black Reconstruction in America 1860-1880, by Du Bois & Lewis

Page 55. -- When Edwin Ruffin, white-haired and mad, fired the first gun at Fort Sumter, he freed the slaves. It was the last thing he meant to do but that was because he was so typically a Southern oligarch. He did not know the real world about him. He was provincial and lived apart on his plantation with his servants, his books and his thoughts. Outside of agriculture, he jumped at conclusions instead of testing them by careful research. He knew, for instance, that the North would not fight. He knew that Negroes would never revolt.
-- For more history on Edmund Ruffin and his picture, see [BlueAndGrayTrail.com]

Virginia Valley Records (1930)

1870 - Census, West Bay City:

• Andrew Bird, age 25, worker in sawmill.
• Andrew Bird, (col'd), w s William bet Jenny and Thomas, 2d ward (Note: listed under "Boarding Houses")

  1879-80 - Directory: West Bay City, Mich.
  Colored boarders living at Andrew Bird's homestead on w.s. of Williams, between Jenny and Thomas streets. Andrew is listed a fireman:

• Collins, Jeremiah - laborer.
• Easter, John - laborer.
• Gates, Wesley - laborer.
• Gordon, Samuel - laborer.
• Lewis, William H. - laborer.
• Simpkins, Charles - laborer.
• Smith, Wm. A. - laborer.
• Watson, Wm. H. - laborer.
• Wilson, James - laborer.
• Wright, Benjamin - laborer.

  1880 - Census West Bay City:

• Andrew Bird - b. 1832, Virginia
• Selina, wife - b. 1852, Ohio - married 25 years.
  Note: Seven borders at this home.

  1881 - Directory West Bay City:

• Bird, Andrew (col'd) - fireman, res w s Williams 1 s of Jenny, 2d Ward.
  Note: Directory lists several firemen boarding at Andrew Bird's residence.

  1893 Directory West Bay City:

• Bird, Andrew (col'd) - lab, res 408 S William.