Birdsall, Mary B., 1828–1894

Mary B. Thistlethwaite Birdsall 1828, Chester, PA – February 1, 1894, Philadelphia, PA; father, William Thistlethwaite, mother, Elizabeth Wetherald; family moved to Richmond, Indianna, 1829 to farm; married Thomas Birdsall, 1848, had 3 children: Alvin T. Birdsall, William Wilfred Birdsall (president of Swathmore), Hubert H. Birdsall; worked as jounrnalist, edited Ladies Department of Indiana Farmer, 1852; bought the Lily from Amelia Blooner in 1854 abd was editor and propriotor, assisted by Mary F. Thomas; served as secretary at first Indiana Women's Rights Convention, 1851 and very invovled in Indiana Women's Rights Conventions , elected president in 1859;n presented a petition with Mary F. Thomas and Agnes Cook for women's rights to Indiana State Legislature, first women to do so, 1859; built house in 1859-1860 called "Brightbank" now known as Mary Birdsdal House; moved to Philadelphia later in life and died there.