The evening Republican., 1902-08-27
Levi {. Bird Died Suddenly.

. PIOullucut ldWyo III DeldWaFe uleu
1 at o'clock this morning at his
country home near Delaware City.
Mr.. Bird had only been ill for three
\ Or four days and dysentery is said to
have been the cause OF his death.
The deceased spent three weeks
i ut Bedford Springs the early part of
1.-The snmmer but since then he has
been at his country home which is
between New Castle and Delaware
City.
He was in this city last Thursday
and was apparently enjoying his
usual good health. Dr. James A.
Draper was with Mr.. Bird up until
4 9O'clock last night. He left his son
DR.. James A. Draper, IRE with Mr..
Bird, who WAS with him when he
died at o'clock this morning.
When seen this morning Dr.
Draper stated that Mr.. Bird died
I with dysentery. This he said was
caused by something which the de-
i ceased had eat and suggested that
1t was probably fruit or melons
"hAS4A Alo NV aStCO WIN nun. LIZ
said that Mr.. Bird hal only been
sick for three or four days.
Andrew Sanborn, who was tho
deceased law partner, left for Della
ware City early this morning. Mr..
Sanborn will have charge Of the
funeral arrangements. but as he was
not. in the city nothing could be
learned as to what arrangements
had beenmale.
The news of Mr.. Birds death was
asulden shock to his many friends
In this city. and especially the mem-
bers OF the New Castle Bar, with
whom he Was very popular. But
very few people in Wilmington ever
knew that the distinguished lawyer
was i,i. 1t was the sole topic Of
convt rSation on the street all the
morning and expressions of regret
at his sudden death could be heard
on all sides.
Z The deceased was one of the best
known men in Delaware, He had
been one of the most successful law.
yers in this city for about thirty
years
Mr.. B ri had been Republican
all lis lie. He was an active work
er u had never held any public
Office.
The deceased was 50 years Old,
having boon born on November 30,
1872 He was president Of the
Wilmington Club and Il member of
tha Wilmington Country Club. Mrs.
May L BoJtes and Mrs. Susan e.
Johnson both OF this city ure sisters
Of the deceased.
MR. birds HISTORY.
Levi c. Eir,l, ono Of tao most
prominent ana ksuccessful members
of the Bar of New Castle County,
was born in Chrlstiana hundred,
near Wilmington, At what is now
the residence of Harry &. Banning
Esq. in 1912. His ancestors on both
his father and mothers side were
Delawareans, the former James r.
Bird being born in st. Georges hun
dred near Summit Bridge, on the
!. old Bird homestead; while the later
Susan Clark Bird, was the daugh-
ter of Levi Clark, life long resi-
don't of Rel Lion Hundred.
Mr.. Birds early life was spent on
his fathers farm near this city the
rudiments of his education being
obtained at Hyatt'5 Academy in
Wilmington. He prepared for col
lege at Lawrenceville, y. j.. yradu-
ating from the Law school at Har-
ward College in 1853 Upon his re-
turn to Wilmington he entered the
law office Of the Hon. Daniel NJ.
Bates and was admitted to the bar
of New Castle County in 1868. His
lntuitive knowledge Of men dlligent
application and enthusiastic devo.
ton to the interests OF his clients
soon placed Mr.. Bird in the front
fank of young lawyers and secured
for him large and remuneratlve
practice.
: ln 1867 he was appointed Register
In Bankruptcy Of The UDited States
District court, for the District OF
Delaware, continuing In olllce until
1877. Ia politics he was always
siaunch Republican, and in 1876
ran for Congress on the Republican
ticket, being defeated after an un
usually spirited contest.
In The practise Of his profession, he
acquired reputation second to none
AS a crimlnal lawyer, but Of late
years he had devoted himsef more
to cival business. IN which he attain
cd marked success
For many years he was council for
the Baltimore AMI Ohio and Whining
Ton ana Northern Railroads, and Of.
1iciated in a similar capacity for
number of the largest corporations
His magnetism and exceptional
talent as All attorney are matters of
record in Wilmington and vicinity.
10 private life Mr.. Bird was the nus.
band Of Mrs Mabel Bayard Kane,
daughter OF the Hold James A. Bav.
ard and sister Of the Hon ThJmas +.
Bayard.
Mr.. Birds home in this city was at
No. 1925 Market street where bis
professional Office was also situated.
The New Castle County Bar Asso.
citation will hold especial meeting Ia
The near future to adopt resolution
on the death OF Mr. Bird
Mr.. Birds professional ctr..r was
. brilliant one. Up until a few years
ago he probably had larger crImi.
pal business thin any aLto:n,y 10
Delaware
Mr.. Bird was counsel Tor ex Sena.
tor Kenny when the latter was on
trial in the Federal C)urt. charged
with being connected with the Dover