John Birdsell

John Comly Birdsell (March 31, 1815 – July 13, 1894) was an American manufacturer and businessman from New York. He was known for inventing the Birdsell Clover Huller and founding the Birdsell Manufacturing Company.

Early life John Comly Birdsell was born on March 31, 1815, in Westchester County, New York, to Charity (née Carpenter) and Benjamin Birdsell. In 1822, Birdsell moved to western New York. He attended the district school and the village academy in West Henrietta, New York. In 1836, Birdsell rented a farm near Mendon.

Career In 1839, Birdsell purchased a farm of in Rush. In April 1874, Judge Noah Haynes Swayne of the Northern Ohio District Court upheld Birdsell's patent. Birdsell won a verdict against patent infringers, including Angus McDonald & Co. and the Ashland Manufacturing Company. His grandson Joseph Birdsell was an anthropologist. In 1880, Birdsell and his wife traveled abroad to Europe, Egypt and the Holy Land.

Birdsell was a Freemason and was a member of South Bend's Knights Templar.

Birdsell died from a stroke on July 13, 1894, at the home of Mrs. Egbert in New Carlisle, Indiana. He was buried at South Bend City Cemetery.

Legacy Following his death, Birdsell's sons continued the Birdsell Manufacturing Company until 1938.

Birdsell Street in South Bend is named after Birdsell.