Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Burch, Mrs Elizabeth Haynes ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 2, 2008, 2:38 am Author: Past & Present Will County, 1907 Mrs. Elizabeth Haynes Burch is one of the prominent pioneer women of Will county, having here made her home for the past forty-six years. She is the owner of large landed interests, having an excellent farm of two hundred acres situated on section 29, Homer township, which is being operated by her only son, with whom she makes her home, and from her property she derives an income which is sufficient to supply her with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life, so that she is able to spend the evening of her life in the enjoyment of a well earned ease. Mrs. Burch claims the Empire state as the place of her birth, her natal year being 1839. Her parents, Thaddeus and Elizabeth (Howe) Haynes, were likewise natives of New York, where they lived and died. The father was a farmer in the east, following that pursuit throughout his entire life, and his death occurred November 8, 1888, when he had reached the age of seventy-nine years. In his political views he was a stanch democrat. His mother bore the maiden name of Martha Wilson and was reared in New York state. The mother of Mrs. Burch passed away in 1845, at the age of forty-nine years. The daughter was then a little maiden of only six years and was the third in order of birth in a family of three daughters and one son, the other members of the family being: Mary Jane, the widow of Charles Reed, a farmer of Wayne county, New York; William, who follows farming near Baldwinsville, that state; and Catherine, the widow of Thomas O'Brien, who makes her home on a farm near Baldwinsville. The mother of these children was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Burch, as stated, was only six years of age when she lost her mother, after which she remained with her father during the period of her girlhood, and she acquired her education in the schools of Baldwinsville. She remained with her father until eighteen years, after which she spent some time visiting with her sister Mary and an aunt. At the age of twenty-one she joined her sister in Illinois, who had preceded her a year and was employed in Will county as housekeeper by Jacob Burch, to whom Elizabeth was married January 29, 1861. He was then a widower, his first wife having been Ann Lanfear, who died in 1858. He was born in Washington county, New York, in 1817, a son of Abraham and Phoebe Burch, who were farming people of the Empire state, and there the father passed away. After his death the mother brought her family to Illinois, their home being established in Will county, where she remained for some time but finally returned to New York, where her death occurred. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Burch located on a farm on section 29, Homer township, and here he followed general agricultural pursuits for many years, and acquired a valuable property, comprising two hundred acres which is now in possession of his widow. He was a republican in his political views, but while he gave stanch support to the party he was never active as an office seeker, preferring to give his undivided time and attention to his private business interests, in which he met with gratifying success. Mr. Burch was called from this life January 29, 1896, when he had reached the age of seventy-nine years, and thus Will county lost one of its honorable and highly respected pioneer residents. By her marriage Mrs. Burch has become the mother of four children, three of whom died in infancy. The only survivor is Henry, who resides on the home farm, which he operates. He married Hattie Garden, a native of Scotland, in which country she remained until she reached the age of eleven years, when she accompanied her parents, Robert and Margaret Garden, to the United States. Her father was a blacksmith by trade and followed that occupation in the old country but after taking up his abode in Illinois, he established his home first in Frankfort, Will county and afterward located on a farm in Homer township, where the daughter met and married Henry Burch. Mr. Garden passed away in this county, November 13, 1884, when he had reached the age of fifty- eight years, while his widow survived until July 10, 1894, when she, too, was called to her final rest, having reached the age of sixty-six years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Henry Burch have been born three sons and three daughters, namely: Elizabeth, who graduated from the Lockport high school in June, 1906; Mary Irene, who is now in her second year in the high school at Lockport; Margaret B., Ralph H., and Harvey Reed, all of whom are students in the district schools; and Robert G. Mrs. Burch is a devoted member of the Congregational church, in which she takes an active and helpful interest, and she is also identified with the Ladies Missionary Society, a church organization. She is an estimable lady, and although she has now reached the age of sixty-seven years, she is still active and takes a deep interest in church and social duties. She possesses many excellent traits of heart and mind, which have endeared her to a host of warm friends, among whom she is popular. Additional Comments: PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/burch2381nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 5.9 Kb