Biography of James Burklow, Hardin County, Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright 1999 Wanda Reed On the summit of a rugged hill overlooking the Old Antioch Church near Lambtown, stands a house which has, for 56 years, sheltered one of the aged sons of Hardin County. We refer to James Burklow, familiarly called by his friends, "Uncle Jimmie" Burklow. He was born August 29, 1854 on a farm later owned by A. A. Gustin and now known as the Henry Rittenhouse Place. For more than 82 years he has participated in the life of the county. His father was John W. Burklow, a native of Boone Co. IN. , and his mother's maiden name was Martha Susan Cook. She was born in KY., but was brought to IL. by her parents when but a young child. He was the oldest one of ten children having had three brothers and six sisters, all of them lived to be grown, but now there is only two brothers and one sister living. The brothers are Sam and Charles Burklow, who live in Shawnee Hollow, and the sister is Mrs. Elizabeth Needham. She is blind and her home is at Creal Springs. On Feb. 23, 1867 the Burklow family left the Rittenhouse farm and moved to what is now the Alva Lane place in the Bend of the river. They moved there on account of the father's health. It was thought that a copperas spring located there, that would be beneficial to him. After two years his health was so greatly improved that he bought from John Ray the farm adjoining and cleared it. James Burklow, the subject of this sketch, spent his life from the age of thirteen until his marriage on this farm. He says at that time there were in the country great flocks of wild turkeys and many wild deer. Wolves were plentiful. His father raised sheep. Around the sheep house he dug trenches a foot deep. These were filled with rocks to keep the wolves from digging under at night. During the day the sheep were carefully guarded. His mother corded the wool, spun it into thread, wove the cloth and made garments which her family wore. He remembers the old spinning wheel, reel and loom which she used, many times setting up late at night to do the work which could not all be done through the day. There was a big fireplace in the house to which they moved in ''67 and there was a chimney constructed of wood and stone. Contrary to the usual custom, the chimney was built inside the house. Candles were used for lights. Stumps were kept on fire or burning chunks were burned and kept covered with ashes as a substitute for matches, of which there were none. "Uncle Jimmie" also recalls the time of the Civil War. He says he remembers climbing upon a gate and listening to the playing of the fife and drums by those who were enlisting volunteers. He helped his father raise the crops of wheat, corn and potatoes upon which they depended for food. His meager schooling was such as the majority of country children in those days received. The school house was built of logs and seats were wooden benches and slates were used instead of blackboards and paper. At the Rittenhouse place his teacher was a man named John Jack. After they moved to the Bend of the River, he attended school at St. John's school. At the age of 25 he decided to establish a home of his own and on July 4, 1879 at Shawneetown, he was married to Sarah Jane McDowell, a daughter of Eli and Rachel McDowell, and a native of Hardin County. For a year the young couple lived on the Willie Hamilton farm near Lambtown, which is now the home of Mrs. Otis Brittain. At the end of that time the wife's father deeded to her the land upon which stands the home previously mentioned. There were eighty acres of land and this was cultivated by the young farmer raised wheat and when it was ready to cut, cradled it, using a reaphook, which took off just the top of the stalks. The wheat was spread on the ground and he then rode horses over it or tramped it out. A wheat fan stood near by. The fan separated the wheat from the chaff as it passed through and the wheat came out on a quilt in front of it. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Burklow, all of whom are living. They are Robert Burklow and his sisters Mrs. Annie Conditt and Mrs. Kate Lambert all of whom live near Lambtown: Andrew Jackson and Otto who live with their father; Mrs. Alice Winters whose home is in Gallatin County, Mrs. Bessie Pennell, near Camp Cadiz and George Raymond of Caseyville, KY. There are 19 grandchildren and 9 great granchildren. Until the death of Mrs. Burklow on April 20, 1936, there had never been a death in the family. For several years before her death her health was not good and Mr. Burklow was her almost constant companion. For twenty-five years he never spent a night away from home. For five years he has eaten no evening meal. He has never smoked nor chewed tobacco and for over twenty-five years he has never used coffee. He is getting feeble now, but he does what he can, helping to feed the stock and working in the garden during the gardening season. He can still read and he relied solely upon his memory to furnish the facts of this biography. Since his wife's death he has made brief visits to his children, but he is better satisfied within the sheltering walls of the old house which has shared his life for so many years and still retains his home there. ------------------------------------------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organiza- tions or persons. 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