Memorials › Pleasant Byrd
Pleasant Byrd
12 Dec 1822 – 18 Aug 1893
| Birth | 12 Dec 1822 |
| Death | 18 Aug 1893 |
| Cemetery | Visalia Public Cemetery Visalia , Tulare County , California , USA |
| Added by | Sterling Foster on 05 Sep 2008 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29589938 |
Bio
From: "Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kerman California" published 1892 by Lewis Publishing. This biography on Visalia pioneer Pleasant Byrd is on page 518. Pleasant Byrd, a rancher of Visalia was born in Warren County, Tennessee, December 12. 1822, the son of David and Jane (Morehead) Byrd, both natives of Virginia. They had a family of 12 children, the subject of this sketch being the eleventh child. His father died when he was 15 years of age, and he remained with his mother until 1847, when he entered the army against Mexico, under General Taylor. He served until 1848, when he went back home, and in April, 1852 took a steamer at New Orleans for California via the Nicaragua route. July 8, 1852 he landed in San Francisco, having had to make the trip from the isthmus in a sailing vessel. Mr Byrd followed mining for about 6 years in Placer County, in 1858 he went to Santa Rosa, and January 1, 1860, he arrived in Visalia, where he has since resided. He has dealt somewhat in stock-raising, but most of his time has been spent in professional work. He was first Supervisor of Visalia district 4 years, and afterward was deputy assessor of Tulare County, and also Deputy clerk. His next office was under sheriff, then deputy assessor, and again deputy clerk. He then served 3 years deputy treasurer, and in 1871 was elected Treasurer of the county. His term expired in 1874, since which thime he has given attention to his farm on the King's river. Mr Byrd has taken an active part in public improvements of Visalia, has helped build the Masonic and Odd Fellows Hall on Church street, and was a stockholder in Visalia and Goshen railroad. He was one year Mayor of Visalia and 2 years a member of the city council. The Southern Methodist Church building on Court street is largely the product of his labors, and with the exception of one year he has been the recording steward of the church for twenty-five years succesively. He stands prominently connected with the Masonic order Visalia Lodge No. 128. January 20, 1873, he married Sarah N Foster, a native of Arkansas and daughter of John C and Sarah Foster. This union has been blessed with four children, Leesie M, Pleasant W, Sarah D who died at the age of five years and John David. Weekly Hanford JournalHanford, Kings Co., CaliforniaTuesday, 22 AUGUST 1893 Pleasant BYRD, a pioneer resident of Visalia but who has lived here for the past few years, died on last Thursday evening from Brights disease. He had been gradually failing in health for some time and continued to grow worse in spite of medical skill. The remains were taken to Visalia Saturday for burial. He leaves a family consisting of a wife, a daughter & 2 sons, and a number of other relatives, to mourn the loss of a most estimable citizen. He was aged 70 years. Mr. BYRD was a prominent citizen of Visalia for many years and served a term as County Treasurer.
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Family
Parents
Spouse
Siblings
Children
- Leesie Marvine Byrd Lewis 1874–1944 FaG
- Pleasant Wightman Byrd 1875–1944 FaG
- Sarah Daisy Byrd 1877–1882 FaG
- John David Byrd 1881–1938 FaG
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