Birdcell - John J.
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Wed May 24, 1916
After lying at the very point of death with his friends and relatives gathered about him for days, John J. BIRDCELL died at Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis shortly after 4 Tuesday afternoon. With his demise, there passed away one of the most upright and estimable characters that the county has boasted. Mr. Birdcell was personally a man of the most likable trait, and in addition was known for his enthusiasm in building up his community. He was interested in a large number of enterprises at Waynetown where he made his home. An ailment which is thought to have been blader trouble but which had baffled exact diagnosis by physicians attacked Mr. Birdcell a week ago last Sunday and he became worse with alarming rapidity. He was first borught to Culver Union Hospital here but later removed to Indianapolis, where he was treated by specialists. It was hoped that an operation would save him but his condition proved too bad to permit the operation. HIs life had been despaired of for days and his friends had been called to the bedside. A minor operation during a temporary rally was of no avail in saving his life.
John Birdcell came to western Indiana with his parents from Hamilton OH when a boy. That was about 40 years ago and the family settled first on the Perrysville road near the county line then in Waynetown where they continued to live practically all the rest of their lives. The father and mother died within 24 hours of each other and were buried together in Waynetown. Mr. Birdcell early in life married Laura Pierce and she with one son, Fern BIrdcell survives. The deceased was 55. Besides his personal interests, Mr. Birdcell took an active interest in his community and in fraternal and church work. He was a member of the Baptist Church, a Mason, a Knight of Pythias and Odd Fellow. In addition, he was a member of the Horse Thief Detective Association. While he was engaged inb usiness with John Shular as an undertaker he was also president of Waynetown Farmers & Merchants Bank. The funeral services will be held at Waynetown from Baptist Church of which the deceased was a member Friday afternoon at 2. - kbz
Source: Waynetown Despatch Friday, May 26, 1916
J. J. Birdcell, who was taken so suddenly and seriously ill here at his home last Sunday a week ago, passed away at the Methodist Hospital at Indianapolis Tuesday evening at 4:15, his illness to the last baffling the skill of the most eminent physicians and specialists of the community and of that city. Mr. Birdcell had not been feeling well for some time, but he did not worry his family or his friends by complaining, until his illness came upon him as stated above. Physicians were called at once but his condition was so serious that others were called, and the final decision was that he must go to Culver Hospital at Crawfordsville, and he was taken on Monday of last week. Again eminent physicians were called, but his suffering was of so uncertain a nature that it was decided to remove him to the Methodist Hospital at Indianapolis. This was done on Tuesday morning of last week and the most skilled physicians of the city were called on the case and they were baffled and mystified at the symptoms. X-ray exposures were made and everything known to medical skill was resorted to but to no avail. A minor operation was resorted to finally in the hope of obtaining some relief but to no avail and death closed the struggle and brought the relief that must come to all mankind sooner or later.
Following Mr. Birdcell’s death an autopsy was held which revealed the fact that all the most eminent surgeons of the world could not have effected a cure, the autopsy revealing that he was suffering from a cancerous growth which could neither be cured by medicine nor removed by surgery. All that friends with loving hearts and tender care; all that medical science and skill and professional nursing could do for him was to no avail, and the spirit of John J. Birdcell took its flight to realms above and this community as one man mourns his death.
John J. Birdcell was the son of John Martin and Amanda Hatt Birdcell, and was born in Ohio, near Cincinnati, April 24, 1860, and was 56 years and 29 days old at his death. When he was six years of age his parents moved to this state and located on a farm on the Perrysville Road, now the Ridge Farm neighborhood. Here he grew to manhood and with his father and mother moved to Waynetown, where he and his father engaged in the undertaking business, in which he was engaged for a number of years. Later he and Ben F. Brown, now of Anderson, Ind., formed a partnership which continued for eleven years when they disposed of the business here and located in the same business at Anderson. It was during this period in 1901, that his father and mother took seriously ill, both dying within a few hours of each other and were both buried in the same grave. Besides the parents, a sister, the wife of Henry Musser, now of Barnes, Iowa, died many years ago. Soon after the death of his parents Mr. Birdcell sold his interests in Anderson and returned to Waynetown, and again entered the undertaking business in partnership with John W. Shuler, which partnership continued until the present.
October 17, 1886, he was united in marriage to Miss Laura Pierce, and to this union two children were born, Fern J. and Louise, the latter dying at sixteen months of age. Mr. Birdcell united with the Baptist Church of this place, during the pastorate of Rev. G. P. Fuson, more than thirty years ago and lived a consistent member to his death. He was also a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge, the Knights of Pythias Lodge, was a member of the Waynetown Horse Thief Detective Association and was president at this time; was a member of the Blue Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons and a past master of the order in this place, and was also a member of the Royal Arch Masons and Knight Templars of the Crawfordsville Commandery. Besides all these social orders, in which he was an active member, Mr. Birdcell was a stockholder in and was the president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of this place, and was recognized as one of its most competent officials. John Birdcell was always a busy man, not only in the lodges and the other organizations of which he was a member, and in his own business affairs, but he was always active in the progressive movements of his town and the community. On moral questions he was always found on the side of the right; in business his honesty was unimpeachable. He was a man clean in thought, clean in speech and clean in his every act with his fellow man. He was a kind and devoted husband, an indulgent father and a true friend.
Waynetown and all this community mourns as one man, the death of John J. Birdcell. He will be missed as but few men are missed from the walks of life. Always pleasant in manner, upright in character, wise in council and honorable and honest in business life, his going from us leaves a vacancy that will never quite be supplied by another. This community mingles its sorrow with that deeper sorrow of the wife and son and for consolation remembers the many good deeds and kindly acts of him, who has only passed on before but still lives in sweetest memories here.
The funeral services will be held at the home today at 2 o’clock conducted by Rev. P. O. Duncan. The Knights Templars Commandery of Crawfordsville will have charge and perform the last rites at the open grave. -s