Joseph Cilley Burley Biography from History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire From: Claudia Menzel - menzel99@gateway.net Surname: BURLEY Source: History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens by Charles A. Hazlett, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill., 1915 Page 807 JOSEPH CILLEY BURLEY, in former years one of the most distin- guished citizens of Rockingham County, was born in Epping, N. H., January 13, 183O, coming of an old family that has been settled in Rockingham County for a number of generations. The fine old homestead at North Epping, on which he resided, and which comprises 300 acres, has been owned in the family for 150 years, and has been occupied by each generation since the time of the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Joseph C. Burley acquired a good education and became prominent in both business and public life. Devoting special attention to finance, he became a director and president of the National Bank at New Market, a director in the Savings Bank at Epping, and a director of the Nashua & Rochester branch of the Boston & Maine Railroad, of which he was one of the pro- moters, assisting also in its construction. In 1871 he entered into partnership with the Hon. Samuel Plumer Dow in the lumber business and continued in it until the death of Mr. Dow, after which he was associated in the same business with Col. W. N. Dow of Exeter. He cast his last vote with the Democratic party in 1856, and then joined the Republicans, thereafter being one of the most ardent supporters of the Republican party in this section. As a member of the legislature he worked hard for the interests of his con- stituents, and his name was associated with the passage of a number of im- Page 808 portant bills calculated to benefit the people of the state, throughout which he was recognized generally as a far-seeing, broad-minded politician, of un- impeachable integrity and strong patriotism. In addition to his service in the legislature, he was county commissioner ten years, and also served as selectman, showing marked efficiency and public spirit. His death, which occurred October 4, 1890, removed from Rockingham County one of her most useful and highly esteemed citizens. Mr. Burley was married, December 17, 1855, to Sarah E. Haley, who was born in Epping, June 25, 1833, and who survived her husband many years, dying February 11, 1912. They were the parents of five children, whose record in part is as follows: Nannie B. married H. W. Burleigh of Franklin, N.H., and has had four children, namely: Nathaniel G., now 26 years old; Arthur C., 24; Thomas G., who died at the age of 14; and Joseph, now 14 years old. Harry Benjamin Burley, the second child, now 47 years of age, married Louise Wells of Buffalo, N.Y., and they have three sons: Joseph C., Robert M. and Harry B., Jr.; they reside in Brook- line, Mass., where he is president of the Boston Insulating Wire Company. Alice Burley married, November 16, 1897, Dr. W.G. Curtis of Milton, Mass., and has a daughter, Elizabeth B., now 13 years of age. Jennie C., who is unmarried, resides on the old Burley homestead at North Epping. Thomas Benjamin Burley graduated from Harvard University and also from Harvard Medical College, and now resides in Worcester, Mass., where he is engaged in practice as a nerve and brain specialist; he is umnarried. The daughters were educated in the schools of Epping, finishing their literary studies at Dean and at Boston. All belong to the Daughters of the American Revolution, Mrs. Curtis being also a member of the Musical Art Club of Boston. Their more than ample means enables them to freely indulge their tastes for music, literature and art, and whatever tends to refine the character and improve the mind. ********************************************************************** * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. * * * *The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification.