BURCH BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri ==================================================================== BURCH, David L. - b: 1833 Putnam Co, WV source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 795 residence: Deer Creek David L. Burch, farmer and stock raiser, section 20, was born in Putnam County, West Virginia, October 29, 1833, and was the son of Ziba Burch, a native of Connecticut. His mother's maiden name was Martha Wallace, and was a Virginian by birth. David L. was the oldest of a family of two sons and two daughters. He grew to maturity in his native county, his youth being spent at school and in learning the brick masons' trade. When in his twentieth year he came to Missouri and located in Henry County, in 1854. He entered land and worked a portion of his time in improving his farm, and has 160 acres in cultivation. He also owns 160 acres in another tract, and sixty acres in timber. Mr. B. was married in December, 1856 to Miss Frances Finks, of Virginia, and a daughter of Mark Finks, of this county. They have two children, Thornton D. and George M. Mrs. Burch is a member of the M. E. Church, South. ==================================================================== BURCH, David L. - b: 1833 Putnam Co, WV source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 595 residence: Deer Creek Twp David L. Burch, now deceased, was born in Putnam County, West Virginia, October 29, 1833, and came to Deer Creek township, Henry County, in 1851. He was only a lad of eighteen when he left the parental roof to homestead his land in this township. It was here that he met and married a daughter of one of the earliest pioneer families. She was Frances Finks, who was born February 15, 1832, and married David Burch December 18, 1856. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mark F. Finks, were natives of West Virginia and among the earliest of the brave pioneers of Henry County. Mr. and Mrs. Burch made their home upon the homestead the husband had acquired and prepared for his bride. They had two children, Thornton D. and George. Their lives after years of labor and joy in each others companionship were brought to a close upon their farm. Mr. Burch died February 21, 1915 and his wife June 7, 1896. Thornton D. Burch was born October 14, 1857, in Deer Creek township, Henry County, on the farm on which he now resides. He attended the rural school of his district and in 1892 opened up a general merchandise store at Lewis Station, Missouri, continuing in this until he took charge of the estate of his deceased parents in November, 1916. His brother, George Burch, was born January 18, 1859, in Deer Creek township and is now farming near Lewis Station. He married Bodicia I. Miller, born September 4, 1863. They are the parents of seven children, as follow: Rolla W., born September 23, 1883; Nannie E., born August 26, 1885, is the wife of Thomas Wiley, a farmer of Deer Creek township; Homer W., born April 10, 1888, farming the Miller farm in Deer Creek township; Lena, born February 6, 1890, died November 5, 1890; Marshall, born February 4, 1892, married Maude Carroll, at home with his parents; David A., born March 1, 1896, and Lyman are at home with their parents. Thornton Burch and his brother, George, are interested in the breeding and raising of a herd of Polled Angus cattle, which are of a high grade. The marriage of Thornton D. Burch and Nannie Spencer was solemnized February 27, 1883. Mrs. Burch was born October 27, 1855, in Perry County, Ohio, and with her parents, Francis M. and Martha (Wirick) Spencer, who were natives of Ohio, came to Henry County in 1868. They resided near Clinton for some time, but later made their home upon a farm in Deer Creek township, where their deaths occurred. Mr. and Mrs. Thornton Burch have no children. Politically Mr. Burch is a Democrat and he is a member of the Methodist Church, South. David Burch and his good wife, who spent so many years upon their farm in Deer Creek township, were loved and honored by their friends and acquaintances. Their sons, Thornton and George Burch, are also progressive citizens, tilling the soil and adding to the financial and moral uplift of the community. ==================================================================== BURCH, Rolla W. - b: 1883 Lewis Station, Henry Co, MO source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 623 residence: Clinton, Clinton Twp Rolla W. Burch, one of Clinton's leading merchants, is located on the corner of Fifth and Elm streets, and his merchandise is well known in Clinton and vicinity as "Quality Groceries." Mr. Burch is a native son of Henry County, born at Lewis Station, September 23, 1883, a son or George M. and Boadicia (Miller) Burch. George M. Burch was a son of David L. Burch, a Henry County pioneer, who came here in 1854 and entered Government land in Deer Creek township, near Calhoun, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died February 21, 1915, aged eighty- two years. He was prominent in the affairs of Henry County and a member of the Methodist Church, and devoted much of his time and talent to the up-building of the church in this county. He was prominent in Masonic circles, being a thirty- third degree Mason. David L. Burch was married to Frances E. Finks December 18, 1856 and the following children were born to this union: Thornton D. and George M. The mother of these children died June 7, 1895, and in 1899 David L. Burch married Jennie Finks, a sister of his first wife. George M. Burch has made general farming and stock raising the principal occupation of his life, but for some years has been an invalid. Boadicia (Miller) Burch is a daughter of Alexander and Eliza Jane (Gaskill) Miller. Alexander Miller was born in St. Clair County, Illinois, April 27, 1837, and died March 18, 1915. He married Jane Gaskill March 7, 1859, and the following children were born to this union: Dan W.; Boadicia, the wife of George M. Burch, and Mrs. W. P. Thornton. Alexander Miller came to Missouri in 1867 and settled on a farm in Henry County near Drake's Chapel. Rolla W. Burch is the eldest of six children born to his parents, as follow: Homer W., a farmer near Drakes Chapel; Marshal M., on the home place with his father; Arthur and Lyman, also at home with the father, and Mrs. Edith Wiley, Lewis Station. Rolla W. Burch received his education at Lewis Station in the public schools and remained on the home place until he was about twenty years of age. He then spent three or four years in the Dakotas, Montana and Colorado and when he returned to Clinton and bought out the Norman E. Peckstein store, which is his present location. Here he engaged in the grocery business and has built up one of the best trades in Clinton. His stock of goods are never below the standard in quality and his business slogan "Quality Groceries," means just exactly what the term implies. On March 3, 1910, Rolla W. Burch was united in marriage with Miss Fornia S. Julian, a daughter of W. G. Julian, of Clinton, who at one time was the largest produce dealer in Clinton. He died November 24, 1910, and his widow, who bore the maiden name of Alice Phillips, now resides at Langdon, Alberta, Canada. Mrs. Burch was educated in the public schools of Clinton and at one time was a pupil of Uel W. Lamkin, the editor of this work. At the time of her marriage she was a teacher in the Clinton public schools. She and Mr. Burch have a broad circle of acquaintances in Clinton and Henry County and are justly popular. Mr. Burch is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Woodmen of the World and Modern Woodmen of America. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. 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