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Assistant Surgeon of the 4th Iowa Cavalry.
Later Captain and Commissary of Subsistence of volunteers.
Wellington was the son of William Bird and Margaret Moyer. Wellington's grandfather, James Bird, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Wellington was the oldest of twelve children. When he was twelve years old, his family moved to Bloomsburg, Columbia County, Pennsylvania.
Wellington's father, a blacksmith, wanted Wellington to learn the trade of blacksmith; but Wellington wanted to become a physician. He attended Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and graduated in the class of 1841. He married Sarah Thornton Oct 1841 at Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. Wellington began his medical practice at Fredericktown, Knox County, Ohio, where he and his family resided until 1849 when they moved to Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Wellington was the first regularly educated physician to practice in Mount Pleasant.
When the War of the Rebellion began, Wellington enlisted as Assistant Surgeon on 29 Nov 1861 at the age of 45. He was commissioned in Field & Staff 4th Iowa Cavalry on 26 Dec 1861. Resigned F&S 4th Iowa Cavalry on 12 Mar 1862. Promoted to Full Captain (Commissary of Subsistence) on 18 Feb 1864. Commission in Commissary Department Regiment of U.S. Volunteers on 18 May 1864. Resigned on 30 Aug 1864.
In 1877 Dr. Bird was appointed to the Indiana Agency at Fort Peck, Montana, by President Hayes. He instructed the Indians in the methods of agriculture and labor and served in this capacity for three years. He returned to Mount Pleasant in 1880.
Dr. Bird was one of the organizers of the Forest Home Cemetery. He was also one of the active trustees of Iowa Wesleyan University. Both he and his wife held membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church and at one time Wellington was the President of the Board of Trustees. He was a member of the City Council for a number of years, served several terms on the school board, and was an active member of McFarland Post G.A.R.
Sarah and Wellington had nine children: William, Mira, Allie, Hiram, Regina, Caroline, Horace, Bernetta and Leslie. William, Caroline, Horace, and Bernetta died in infancy/childhood.
Wellington's wife, Sarah, who was born in 1818, passed away 13 Aug 1895 at the age of 77 years. Wellington died in 1897 at the age of 80 years 3 months.