Mrs. Mary Robinson Gilkey, of Dayton, the first girl child born in Yamhill county, Mrs. Laura L. Kirchem, president of the John Bird Clan of Clackamas county, descendants of pioneers of 1847, and a brief address by George H. Himes, secretary of the Oregon Pioneer Association and Curator of the Oregon Historical Society.
Mark and Susan Sawyer left Lacon, Ill., in the spring of 1847 and arrived by way of the plains at Oregon City in September of that year.
Pursuant to a call by a descendant of Robert and Rachel Bird of Clackamas county, pioneers of 1847, one hundred descendants assembled at Gladstone Park on September 25, 1921, and organized the "Bird Clan." The object of the organization was to perpetuate the memories of the pioneers named, by marking their graves, and in addition to promote social intercourse among their children and children's children. The fourth meeting of the clan was held at the park named on August 10th, with fifty-seven present. After the important function of "Feeding the Birds" had been disposed of social intercourse followed, and a "get-together" feeling stimulated. During the afternoon a brief historical address was given by George H. Himes relating to Clackamas county, and a photograph of the assembly taken. A very interesting biographical sketch of the family, beginning with John Bird, who came to America from London in 1700, and carried down to the present generation, prepared by Mrs. Laura L. Kirchem, of Oregon City, a great-great-granddaughter, was distributed in typed form.
