Polk-Jackson-Multnomah County OR Archives Obituaries.....Burch, Benjamin F March 24, 1893
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Sheron Faynor nitwittwin@hotmail.com September 15, 2007, 11:06 am

Oregonian March 25-1893
Benjamin F.Burch
Another Of The Few Remianing Pioneers Of Oregon Is Dead
Independence,Or.,March 24- Benjamin Franklin Burch,of this city,breathed his 
last this mornign at 3:40 o'clock,of heart failure.He was 68 years of 
age,having been born in Charltan county,Mo.,May 2,1825.He had been sick for 
nearly a year,and yesterday he was feeling so much better that strong hopes 
were entertained of his recovery.Last evenign a rel apae came,and he suffered 
paroxyams one after another until this moring,when he passed peacefully 
awa,apparently without pain.Mr.Burch was a Mason,having been a charter member 
of the lodge here in 1859.He will be buried Sunday bu that organization.
B.F.Church has figured prominently in the early history of Oregon.He was one 
of the leading democrats of the state for many years.He came to Oregon in 
1845,crossing the plains.Arriving here a young man of twenty years,he took up 
a claim on the Yamhill river,in Polk county,but later abandoned it and took 
one two miles south of INdependence,which he and his wife,who survives 
him,partly owned at the time of his death.It was in 1848 that he marries Miss 
Eliza A.Davidson,and seven children were born tot hem.Only one is now 
living ,B.F.Burch,Jr.,who is in Independence now.In 1846 Mr.Burch taught 
school in Polk county.this was the first school in the ocunty.During that year 
he was among those who "viewed out" the Southern Oregon wagon road,and was 
accompanied by Jesse and Kindsay Applegate,Levi Scott,David Goff,William G. 
Parker,Willai Spotsman,John Jones,John Owens,William Wilson,Robert 
Smith,"Black" Harris,John Bogus,F.H.Goodue,John H.Scott, and Bennett Osborne. 
Under Governor Chadwick he was superintendant of the Oregon penitentiary and 
served so acceptably that he was continued in office a second term.He was 
adjutant under both Colonel Gilliam and Waters in the Cayuse Indian war,and 
also captain in the Yakima war,of 1856.In 1857 he served as a member odf the 
constitutional convention in the territory of Oregon,which met at Salem.His 
services were recognized in forming our state government by being elected a 
representative in the Oregon legislature of 1868.Afterward he was eelected to 
our senate,and was president of that body during his term of service.He was 
appointed receiver of the land offices at Oregon City,in 1887,by President 
Cleveland,and served almost through Harrison's term of office.Although 
occupying many positions of trust and receiving salaries in 
proportion,Mr.Burch leaves only a moderate estate,which his only son and his 
widow inherit.Brothers of the deceased are Judge S.T.Burch and J.J.Burch,of 
this county,and J.W.Burch,of Palouse,Wash.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/polk/obits/b/burch3390gob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/

File size: 3.3 Kb