From the Lodi Sentinel, 13 Jun 1918:
Tuesday evening at 10 o'clock death removed Eliza L., wife of Dan W. Bird. Deceased was a native of Missouri, having been born on Christmas Day, 1849. With her husband she came to Lodi 14 years ago from Springfield, Mo., and in all those years she made a host of fast friends. Besides a husband, the following brothers and sisters are left to mourn her demise: Attorney Geo. E. Bowling, Kansas City; C. M. Bowling, J. H. Bowling, Mrs. M. J. Harris and Mrs. M. P. Baker.
The funeral will be held this afternoon from the Congregational church, Rev. W. A. Schwimley officiating. Interment will be made in Lodi cemetery. The remains are at the chapel of Hale & Bawden.
For the past 20 years Mrs. Bird had been an invalid, and every hour in the past decade of her life was filled with excruciating pain. She suffered from a severe form of rheumatism that tortured her body and twisted her limbs in such a manner that she could not perform the simplest services for herself. During the past twenty years her husband was a martyr to her, devotion itself. Her every desire seemed to be anticipated by this loving husband, and not a day or night passed in these twenty long years that he was not constantly at her call, eager to minister to her and alleviate her sufferings. At all times he was the personification of tenderness and sympathy. He lived alone for his wife. As her cross became heavier, so did his. He bore his troubles with a great fortitude. His wife, too, was brave, and rarely complained, although little surcease did she ever have from excruciating agonies. Particularly during the last few weeks did her sufferings multiply. For countless days and nights, toward the end, she could not move a muscle, not even open her eyes. But she was entirely conscious of the agony that racked her, and it was then that the tender devotion of Dan. W. Bird soothed and ministered to the poor body. He divined her every wish and so far as it was possible for human hands, alleviated her sufferings.
When the angel of death delivered Mrs. Bird from her tortures, it was a most peaceful ending. She passed away in deep sleep, her face wreathed in beatific smiles -- the richly deserved reward following twenty years of acute pain -- "the immediate sight of God in the glory of Heaven, as enjoyed by the blessed dead."
From the Lodi Sentinel, 18 Jun 1918:
Thursday afternoon many friends paid tribute to the memory of the late Mrs. Dan W. Bird, and many were the floral pieces banked high about the casket. Rev. W. A. Schwimley paid a splendid tribute to the deceased, telling of her great fortitude during the last decade and of the constant faith she maintained. The bereaved husband was also given high praise by the speaker for his tender devotion to the afflicted one.
Sacred music was rendered at the church and graveside by Messrs. L. H. Rinn, J. Ferguson, W. M. Brown and Floyd Lyon.
The pall bearers were Winfield S. Montgomery, J. J. Pimm, W. A. Morehead, S. S. Murphy, H. A. Goodman and W. J. Robinson.