Birdsall, Mary B., 1828–1894

Mary Birdsall (b. 1828, Chester, PA–d. Feb. 1, 1894, Philadelphia, PA) moved to Richmond, Indiana with her family a a young age. She married Thomas Birdsall in 1848 and had three children Alvin, William, and Hubert. She began a journalism career in 1852 as editor of the Ladies Department of the Indiana Farmer. She purchased the early suffrage newspaper, The Lily, from Amelia Blooner in 1854 and served as editor and proprietor assisted by Mary F. Thomas.

Birdsall was involved with suffrage and the Indiana Women's Rights Conventions beginning in 1851; she was elected president in 1859. That same year she presented a women's rights petition with Mary F. Thomas and Agnes Cook to the Indiana State Legislature. They were the first women to do so. She completed her home, called "Brightbank", in 1960; it is now known as Mary Birdsdall House. Thomas and Mary moved to Philadelphia later in life and Mary died there.