San Diego County Biographies
 
J. EVERETT BIRD 

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Is a native of Tarrytown, New York, born April 30, 1861.   His father, James 
Bird, and his grandfather, Edmund Bird, were both natives of Tarrytown. Their 
ancestors came from England and settled in Massachusetts. His mother, Elizabeth 
(Olmsted) Bird, was a native of New York city. Her father, Silas Olmsted, was 
born in Norwalk, Connecticut, in 1773, and while quite a young man engaged in 
the ship building business in Maine, and afterward removed to New York city, 
where he became one of the most prominent men of his day and town. Mr. Bird's 
parents were married in 1859, and their union was blessed with this one son. He 
was educated at Tarrytown and finished his business education at Eastman's 
Business College, New York; then spent one year in a lawyer's office and 
afterward was associated with his father. They were architects, contractors, and 
dealers in building material and coal. They did an extensive business grading 
streets and macadamizing them with blue stone. Mr. Bird removed to New Mexico 
and became one of the owners of the North Homestake Mine in White Oaks, New 
Mexico. It is now running successfully, and he still retains his interest; he 
also owns an interest in the Good Hope Consolidated Gold Mine, Pinacate, 
California, which is located four miles southwest of Perris, and has the 
reputation of being one of the richest mines in south California. They bought it 
in 1889, and paid $50,000 spot cash. Mr. Bird is secretary of both mines, of 
which he is joint owner with his father-in-law, Mr. James M. Sigafus, and has 
charge of the operations of the mines. At the Good Hope mine they have commenced 
operations to more fully develop the mine to an extent that will show its worth, 
and will put on a valuable stamp-mill and make a thoroughly equipped mine. Mr. 
Bird is now engaged in constructing, and has nearly completed, a beautiful model 
residence for himself and family on an eminence near the Good Hope mine. They 
intend to beautify the grounds. The house, outside, is a very picture, and 
inside is nicely arranged with a view to health and comfort, and is supplied 
with all modern conveniences. It is being built at the moderate cost of $6,000. 
Mr. Bird, the only child of his parents, married the only living child of her 
parents, Miss E. Marion Sigafus, born in Colorado April 5, 1867. Her father, 
James M. Sigafus, is one of those who started poor, but was born with both 
business talent and good luck. When the country was engaged in its great 
struggle to continue its national existence, he enlisted as a private soldier on 
the side of the Union, and at the close of the war ranked as a captain. A part 
of the time while in the service he acted as quartermaster. At the close of the 
war he returned to the peaceful avocations of a farmer. He crossed the plains to 
Colorado, where he continued the business of farming and stock-raising on quite 
a large scale. When Leadville attracted attention he grubstaked the man who 
discovered the famous R. E. Lee mine, and owned it until 1879. Shortly after 
that he removed to Tarrytown, New York, and built a $150,000 residence, Mr. 
Bird's father furnishing the architectural design and being the architect of the 
structure. It is a great credit to both owner and builder. Mr. Sigafus spend his 
winters in southern California. Mr. and Mrs. Bird have two children, both 
girls,—Elsie Mabel, born in Tarrytown, March 29. 1885, and Edna Muriel, born at 
Coronado Beach, August 11, 1889. Mr. Bird is a Master Mason. His lodge, which is 
in New York, is Solomon's Lodge, No. 196, and is the same lodge in which his 
grandfather and his father were Masons before him. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bird are 
the kind of modest, unassuming people that one can't help but admire.
 
SOURCE:  An Illustrated History of Southern California:  Embracing the Counties 
of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower 
California… Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890.  p.-  190-191