Taken from the Morgan County Directory, Town 13, North Range 11 West. Copied verbatim, with any additions in ( ). BIRDSELL, CLARK (deceased), the head of this biography, was born in the State of New York. In 1828(1821), he conceived the brilliant idea of moving westward; being from boyhood a lover of adventure, and by occupation a boatman, he was inured to the cold and storm of our latitude; his settlement here makes him one of the early pioneers, as he cast his lot with the people of Morgan Co. prior to the "deep snow;" there were but few families, Rearicks, 'Squire Holliday, Dady Wright, and a few others, lived close to Jacksonville; removed and settled near Winchester, Scott Co.; was married Feb. 10, 1826, to Miss Wealthy Herron, by Mr. Hatcher, J.P.; the children born to this marriage were: Lewis, born Sept.5, 1827; Rufus, born March 28, 1830; Sarah, born Sept. 25, 1832; John, born Nov 1, 1833; William, born Sept. 6, 1835; Ruth, born Nov. 6, 1837; Winnie, born--, 1840; Simon, born Dec. 30, 1843; James K.P., born Dec. 6, 1845; Clark, born Feb 19, 1848; Wealthy, born March 18, 1850; Cynthia E., born March 3, 1853; and Mary Anne, born Feb. 6, 1855. Winnie died in infancy; Cynthia died Feb. 18, 1854; Simon enlisted in the 33d Regt. Ill. Inf'y, and participated in all the movements of his regiment; was wounded at Fort Donaldson, and died of his wound June 1, 1862. James and John enlisted in the 101st Regt. Ill. Vols.; James, while on duty, was stricken with measles, which incapacitated him for duty; was discharged by reason of disability, and died June 1, 1863; John participated in all the conflicts of his regiment, and was wounded in the ear at Lookout Mountain, Tenn.; now lives in Calloway Co., Mo. William enlisted in the 61st Regt. Ill. Vols., and his clear record marked him as a brave soldier; participated in many battles; he re-enlisted in 1864 for still another three years; took brain fever and died at Memphis, Tenn. Ruth married George Morning, lives in McDonough Co., Ill.; Wealthy married James Buck, Sarah married Andrew Brown, Clark married Jane Buck, and all three families reside at Roadhouse, Greene Co.; Mary married Robert Kitner (Ketner), and lives in Indiana; Lewis married Sallie A. Smith, second wife Mary C. Armstrong. The wife of this old pioneer died Feb. 11, 1875, and her respected husband soon joined her on the other shore; he died March 25, 1875. Rufus Birdsell was born March 28, 1830; for years worked on his father's farm; was married in December, 1822, to Miss Elizabeth White, daughter of Micajah and Mary L. White, by 'Squire Heaton'; they have had nine children; James A., born Aug. 17, 1854, died in infancy; William, born Feb. 3, 1856; Margaret A., born April 1, 1858; Ruth Jane, born Aug. 7, 1860; Wealthy, born Oct. 18, 1862; Rennie, born Dec. 18, 1864; Calvin, born March 7, 1866; infant daughter, born in February, 1869; died in infancy; George H., born Oct. 7, 1872. Mr. Birdsell, loving the honor of his flag better than home or hearthstone, enlisted in the 99th Regt. Ill. Vols. Inf'y, and participated in the many hard struggles of this veteran command, and was severely wounded May 24, 1863, in that terrible assault on the rebel works before Vicksburg. Gen. Benton's brigade consisted of the 99th and 33rd Ill. Inf'y, and the 8th and 18th Regts. Ind. Vols., and in that charge the brigade lost 700 men killed and wounded. Rufus was carried from the battle-field and sent to the hospital at Memphis, Tenn.; in August, same year, was sent to Alexander Barracks, St. Louis, Mo.; was there organized into the 85th Co. 2d Batt. Invalid Corps; sent thence to Scranton, Pa.; there did provost duty for nearly eighteen months; thence to Philadelphia, Pa., and was there discharged, July 5, 1865. Since his return to civil life, made one change--to Hooper Co., Mo.; lived there four years, returned, and settled down at his present residence. Mr.(and) Mrs. Birdsell are good members of the United Baptist Church.