Biography of Cary BURFORD, DeWitt County, Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright 1999 Earliene Kaelin Source: The People of History 1882 History CARY BURFORD The Burford family, on the paternal side, is of Scotch ancestry and Scotch-Irish on the maternal. Milton Burford, the grandfather of Cary, was a native of Virginia. Soon after the Revolutionary War he moved his family to Kentucky, where his son, whose name was also Milton, married a Shields. In 1807, the family moved to the Territory of Indiana, and settled in Harrison county. Cary Burford was the son of Milton. He was born in Mercer county, Kentucky, April 5, 1806. He grew to manhood in Indiana, and there, on the 29th of January, 1829, married Miss Anna Shields, daughter of Jesse and Katie Shields. She was born in East Tennessee, near Knoxville, Feb. 26, 1806. Her family as well as the Burfords were pioneers of three stated, viz: Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana. Mr. Burford, after his marriage, engaged in farming till 1831, when he turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, and opened a general store in Mockport, and the next year went to Amsterdam; and, soon after, moved on a farm, tilled it, and sold goods, in which he continued fifteen years. He was there robbed, house burned, and he left that part of the country and went to Missouri and other States; and in 1854 settled in Marion county, lilinois, and engaged in farming until 1865, when he moved to Mclean county. In 1869 moved to Leroy, and in 1870 came to Farmer City, and here went into business under firm name of C. Burford & Sons. In 1873 he practi- cally retired from business, and until his death, which occurred August 23, 1879, lived a quiet life, calmly awaiting the dread summons that was to usher him into a brighter and better life. At the age of twenty-seven he joined the M. E. Church, and from that time forth lived a true and devoted Christian. In later years he became a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and was ever after a ruling elder in that Christian denomination. In 1873, at the organization of the First National Bank of Farmer City, he became the first vice-president, which position he retained until his death. By the marriage of Cary and Anna (Shields) Burford, there were twelve children, ten of whom reached maturity, two died in infancy. Their names, in the order of their birth, are: Mary Jane, wife of Abraham Fleshman, of Harrison county, Indiana; Catherine Isabel, wife of James Highfill, a resident of same county; Margaret, wife of Thomas Highfill, died in 1864, leaving three children; Anna Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Briley, a resident of Mclean county, Illinois; Jesse Hilton, eldest son, is one of the firm of Burford Bros. He married Anna H., daughter of Elihu and Frances Gessford, by which union there are four children, named: Mattie Helen, Cora May, Stella Frances, and Pearl. Cary S., of the same firm, married Miss Barbara L., daughter of Asa and Delilah (Hand) Weedman. They have two children named Nellie and Jessie, Nancy H., wife of W. W. Murphey. William T. married Elizabeth, daughter of Isaac and Nancy Becket, by which union one daughter living, named Maud. Mrs. W. T. Burford died January 15, 1876. He afterwards married Miss Emma, daughter of A. J. and Jane McWilliams. James C. married Miss Barbara L., daughter of Conrod and Katy Hottle. They have two sons named Guy and Ivan. John H. married Miss Mattie, daughter of Otho and Providence Merrefield. Jesse M., Cary S. and William T. carry on the mercantile business, and are recognized as among the most enterprising and substantial business men of Farmer City. They are all men of well-known honesty of character, and, in both business and private capacity, enjoy the confidence and esteem of the entire community. The sons, as well as their father before them, are republicans in politics, and advocates, in both theory and practice, of the cause of temperance. Jesse M. is a member of the I. 0. 0. F., and William T. of K. of Pythias. ------------------------------------------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organiza- tions or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contri- butor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ----------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Earliene Kaelin