Champaign County IL Archives Biographies.....Burrill, T J 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Celia Snyder cgsnyder@uiuc.edu September 1999

Biography of T J BURRILL, A. M., Champaign County, Illinois

From:  "History of Champaign County, Illinois with Illustrations," 1878

T. J. BURRILL, A. M.
PROF. OF BOTANY AND HORTICULTURE IN ILLINOIS INDUSTRIAI UNIVERSITY

T. J. BURRILL is a native of Pittsfield, Mass., where he was born, on the
25th of April, 1839. He is the sixth of a family of ten children, of John
and Mary (FRANCES) BURRILL, who now live in Urbana, Ill. Mr. Burrill's
parents emigrated to Illinois in 1848, and came to Urbana in 1869.
Professor Burrill when a boy received a common-school education in his
native town. At the age of twenty feeling the want of better knowledge he
became a student of the High School in Rockford, Illinois, where he
remained diligently occupied with his studies for some time. In 1862, he
entered the State Normal University at Bloomington, from which institution
he graduated in 1865, and the same year was chosen principal of the Urbana
public schools.

On the 22d of July, 1868, he was married to Miss Sadie ALEXANDER, the
accomplished daughter of Ephraim ALEXANDER of Seneca Falls, N.Y., and
sister of the late O. O. ALEXANDER of Urbana.

Mr. and Mrs. Burrill are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In
politics, while not a partizan, he strongly believes in the principles of
the Republican party, and during the war for the Union, was a staunch
supporter of the government. His five brothers were in the ranks of the
defenders of the Union, and were brave men and good soldiers.

Prof. Burrill accompanied Major Powell as Botanist on his tour of
scientific exploration in the Rocky Mountains, and a portion of the
botanical report of Prof. Burrill was published by the government with
parts of the others. His services were desired by the government for the
following year, but being chosen to the position he now occupies he decided
not to accompany the expedition, but to accept the chair in the Industrial
University.

Prof. Burrill has been devoted to his work and has won high rank amongst
the scientists of his state and nation. He is now Secretary of the Faculty
of the University, Dean of the College of Natural History, and
Corresponding Secretary of the Board of Trustees. He is a member of the
American Microscopic Association. For thirteen years he has been an active
member of the State Teachers' Association, and of the State Horticultural
Society for ten years. It is unnecessary to speak words in commendation and
praise in his behalf. He is wisely and favorably known, and his record is
without a stain.


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