Richard R. Birdsall, a contractor of Racine whose business has reached satisfying proportions, was born in Toronto, Canada, February 12, 1864, and is a son of William and Mary Jane (Arthurs) Birdsall, the former a farmer by occupation. He obtained a public school education and in his youthful days worked on a farm in Streetsville, Ontario, Canada, but in 1882 arrived in Racine, where he remained for about a year. He then returned to Toronto, where he continued for another year and on the expiration of that period he again came to Racine, where he was married. Once more he returned to Toronto and for the third time came to Racine in 1890 and for two years thereafter was engaged in the hardware business. He then took up street paving as a contractor and has continued in that line since or for a period or twenty-four years. He has done much work in this connection paving North Main, High and Sixteenth streets, Kinzie Avenue. North Wisconsin Street, Barber Street, Marquette, Eleventh, Tenth streets and Asylum Avenue. He has also executed other contracts of a more minor character. He has likewise done much work in street paving in Delavan, Milwaukee, Shemoygan, Green Bay, De Pere, Port Washington and other places and has had contracts for similar work on some country roads. He employs from forty to one hundred men. He does nothing but contract work and front the beginning his business has steadily increased.
On the 28th of December, 1887, Mr. Birdsall was married to Miss Harriet Jones, a daughter of Richard and Martha Jones, of Union Grove. The children of this marriage are: William R. Athaleen, who married Harrold D. Mann of Racine; Net-tie E. ; and Richard R. The family is a member of the Plymouth Congregational church and Mr. Birdsall gives his political allegiance to the Republican Party, but has never sought nor desired office, preferring to give undivided attention to his business affairs. He is very well known, through his fraternal connections for he is a Knight Templar and thirty-second degree Mason, a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Royal League, Modern Woodmen of America, and the Eastern Star. His deep interest in the welfare of the city is indicated by the fact that he is a member and a director of the Commercial Club, and he co-operates heartily in all plans of that organization to further the upbuilding of the city.