Alexander Burrows A Colorful Life Part 4 (Burrows)

 

  

  

   Alexander Burrows made his will out in San Francisco on April 1, 1903.  It read....."I devise all my property to Vere Burrows my daughter at Grass Valley, Calif. and her two minor sisters, to the exclusion of her sister Maud and her three brothers.  I appoint J. F. Riley of S.F. executor to serve without bonds."  At the time he made his will out Vere was 20 years old and not yet married, Gwendolyn was 13 years old and Gladys was 10 years old.  I find it interesting that he did not mention Wanda, who was 17 years old.  She would not marry until 1905.  All the girls lived at home on Townsend street with Elizabeth Jane Burrows.  Maud was married and living in Los Angeles.  He excluded his three sons, who would have been Don, Roy and his son Herbert living at the Napa State Hospital.  

 From the Daily Morning Union, August 5th, 1904...The late A. Burrows left a will which disinherited part of his family.  The will dated April 1, 1903, was filed for probate Aug. 4, 1904, leaves his entire estate to three of his daughters; cutting off two other daughters and three sons.  Burrows committed suicide a week ago leaving much property to be divided among his children. In the instrument which is in the handwriting of the testator, all the real and personal property to be given to daughter Vere, who is now Mrs. Hansen and her two infant sisters, Gwendolyn and Gladys.  It specifically provided that his other daughters, Mrs. Maude Morrill of Los Angeles , Miss Wanda Burrows of Grass Valley, and his sons Don F. Burrows of 1111 H St. Sacramento, Herbert S. Burrows of Napa, and Roy A. Burrows of GV shall have no part of this property.  It is expected that the exclusion of his other children will lead to a contest. 

  The newspaper article mentioned Wanda, so there may have been a transcription error on the part of the Clerk of J.F. Riley.  It also mentions Herbert by name.  By 1917 Herbert would not know where his nearest relative was located, as noted on his WWI Draft Registration Card. 

     I do not have any evidence that anyone contested the will.  I wonder what his thought processes were in making the decisions he did.  He had already given his property to Elizabeth Jane after the divorce, but to exclude one daughter who was still a minor  and an institutionalized son from sharing in his estate is not quite rational.  His other two sons were well on their way to starting their careers and families, and may have not needed the benefit from his estate. Maybe Vere, Gwendolyn and Gladys were his favorites.  We will never know. 

  Excerpts from The Daily Morning Union, Grass Valley, July 27, 1904 give more details on the last days of Alexander Burrows.  It says that ...."about a year ago (1903) he left this city to accept the editorship of The Pacific Coast Miner.  When that journal gave up its San Francisco office, he lost his position.  Then he took up the practice of law at Etna Mills (in Siskiyou County, Ca.) but left there on July 1st weary of life, unsuccessful and broken down, no light gleaming ahead in the darkness.  Worst of all, he was without friends." 

  Excerpts from The Daily Morning Union, Grass Valley and Nevada City, Cal. July 28, 1904

BURROWS' WISH FOR CREMATION.....While not known for a certainty, Burrows, whose suicide in San Francisco Monday night startled a host of old acquaintances in this city, were cremated yesterday afternoon in the Odd Fellow's Cemetery. Some time ago he wrote to John Mulroy of this city, expressing the wish that in case of death his body was to be cremated......In a recent letter to Mulroy Burrows stated that he had a flattering offer to go to Tonopah and form a new partnership with an Eastern man.  He had been assured of over $2,500 a year, he wrote, and seemed highly pleased with the turn affairs had taken......  That the thought of suicide had haunted him for a long time was apparent from his conversation and letters.  He was accompanied to his room on Turk street some month ago by a well known local man, who noticed a piece of rubber tubing on the table.  Burrows, catching his eye, remarked with a remarkable degree of coolness that the tubing reached nicely from the gas jet to his bed, and that he had often thought how easy it would be to simply turn on the gas to pass peacefully away.  

                       (This is from the newspaper that was saved by Vere Burrows Hansen)

  So, the last few months of his life were marked by disappointment, a lack of any success, no hope and no friends.  He was in debt.  He was left in a despondent state that resulted in the taking of his own life.  He left unpaid bills and room rent at the Regina Hotel in Etna Mills that Vere Burrows Hansen had to take care of in August of 1904.  

 In my previous posts on Vere Burrows Hansen's life,  you will remember that she and John Hartwig Hansen married on July 3, 1904.  Alexander Burrows took his own life July 26, 1904, just days after their happy event.  His death was always spoken of as a scandal in the family, as he chose to take his life so soon after the marriage.  

  I can also imagine this was a scandal in the community of Grass Valley at the time.  There was so much (very private) information printed in the newspapers then, and a great deal of it was based on speculation and sensationalized.  The whole community knew about Alexander Burrows and Elizabeth Jane from the time they came to live in Grass Valley; they  followed Alexander's practice, they were aware of  the divorce and  Alexanders' remarriage, and finally they knew of his decline and death,  and the effects on his family through many published details that were private and personal.  It must have kept the community's interest for weeks. 

There is so much more I would like to know, too, but I think this is a good point to put Alexander Burrows and his life to rest. He lived a colorful life and  he put his unique stamp on the town of Grass Valley.  But, it ended on a very sad note. 

 

Just a quick and interesting side note:  Vere Burrows Hansen's husband, John Hartwig Hansen, had a letter of recommendation from a P.T. Riley, who was a neighbor, and who vouched for his 

character, work ethic and patriotic citizenship in recommending him for duty during the Spanish American War in 1898.   P.T. Riley served as District Attorney for Nevada County during this time and was captain of the state military company of Grass Valley.  He was also the Principal of the Grass Valley High School. He moved to San Francisco after the war, became a prominent attorney there,  and died at the age of 56 in 1912.  He was buried at the Presidio.   He had two brothers:  John F. Riley and George E. Riley.  Both were attorneys in San Francisco.   From: San Francisco Call, Volume 112, Number 116, 24 September 1912---Capt. P.T. Riley Called by Death 

J.F. Riley was the attorney acting as executor of Alexander Burrows' will. 

Alexander Burrows: A Colorful Life Part 3 (Burrows)

 

Daily Morning Union, Grass Valley and Nevada City, Cal., July 28, 1904

  I knew that my Great Great Grandfather, Alexander Burrows, took his own life while living in San Francisco in the early 1900's.  I discovered this brittle, fragile newspaper in my Auntie Claire's research files. The short article tells about a sad ending to a very colorful life.   How did Alexander go from being  a successful lawyer in a growing mining town to "subsequently loosing it all, owing to his friends and the public deserting him on account of his manner of life"?  (The Daily Morning Union, July 27, 1904 front page).  That is a good question. 

  Alexander had built up a strong practice since his marriage to Elizabeth Jane Burrows around 1874-5.  According to the newspaper reports, he  frequently and successfully defended accused murderers  and also participated in some important cases regarding mining law.  He was a colorful lawyer, and was on occasion involved in verbal and physical altercations with prosecuting  lawyers.  He seemed to get along with the community and was esteemed enough to be elected City Attorney.  

  He and E.J. had twelve children in all.  E.J. herself was admitted to practice law.  They seemed to be a family that was popular in the community.  But, there were tragedies that happened from time to time that possibly led to their eventual divorce. Their son Frank was born in April 1887 and died in August of  1887. In January of 1892 their young daughter Lillian died from diphtheria.  In February 1892 their son Edison was born, but died later that August. Their son Herbert's admittance to the Napa State Hospital was never spoken of, and since he was unable to list any relatives on his WWI Draft Registration card (relatives "unknown") it looks like he was abandoned by his family.  The original name of the hospital was the Napa Insane Asylum. There must have been stress around the decision to admit him.  Did E.J. want to keep him at home? Did Alexander want to put him away? Did Herbert's  behavior or lack of intelligence reflect badly on Alexander's practice?  Alexander may have had a brother back home in Sligo that lived in a Workhouse.  The only family member looking out for him was a brother in law, and the court system. Unfortunately, this is what happened to many family members who were deemed  cognitively  impaired , insane or criminally insane.   

  According to the Morning Union on the 13th of December 1894 Mrs. Lizzie J. Burrows was granted a divorce from her husband , A. Burrows, the lawyer.  The complaint charged was cruelty and inability of the couple to live happily together.  Did E.J. resent the fact that she had twelve children and was not able to practice as a lawyer like her husband?  Was she jealous of his success?  Was he not able to emotionally support her during family tragedies? Were there personality traits in one or both parties that we are not aware of?  Was the fact the Alexander was busy and constantly working a factor?  Or was is something else entirely? This is all purely conjecture on my part.  There are always two sides to every story, and I am not in possession of all the facts, nor will I ever be.  So, I will go on with the story.  This next snippet from the Union might give some clues.....look carefully at the date. 

Morning Union, Volume 52, Number 7405, 14 December 1894

Burrows' Compliments

A. Burrows, the well-known attorney-at-law, was a visitor at the county seat yesterday.  His business of course was at the court house, but not for the purpose of filing complaints, demurrers, answers or notices to call up, etc., but for the simple purpose of having the clerk issue to him a certain document, authorizing any Judge, Justice of the Peace, priest or minister of the gospel of any denomination to perform certain ceremonies.  And being a member of the bar and not wishing to slight any of the attaches of the court house, he magnanimously treated the Clerk's and Sheriff's offices to a large box of "Roma F.K.H. Habana Regalia Chica Fina" cigars of many sizes and varieties.  The boys all agree that cigars, like wine, improve with age.  

In other words, he obtained a marriage license.  He married a Miss Dodge, a native of Forest Springs, Nevada County.  They married sometime in  early 1895.  

Morning Union, volume 53, 24 March 1895

LOCAL BREVITIES

A. Burrows has moved into the M.P. Stone house on Richardson street, until recently occupied by Dan Morgan. 

Morning Union, Volume 54, 21 August 1895

PERSONALS....Mrs. A. Burrows was a guest in the Gurary Hotel at Denver which was destroyed by an explosion, the same day the accident occurred , she left a few hours before the dreadful affair took place.  Mrs. Burrows was in Leadville yesterday en route home.  

Note:  This was the new Mrs. A. Burrows.   Elizabeth Jane Burrows still lived in Grass Valley on Townsend Street, a short distance away from the new Mrs. Burrows. She was often referred to as Mrs. E.J. Burrows in the paper. 

  Alexander Burrows still worked hard at his profession.   He was elected City Attorney on January 5, 1897. And, he continued his quarreling ways in court...

Morning Union, 18 February 1897

Attorneys Fight

The usual quietness of Justice Trebilcox's court was disturbed yesterday afternoon by Attorneys Burrows and Kitts becoming involved in a wordy duel during the progress of the case of Mrs. Stead vs. Irving.  The quarreling lawyers also attempted to strike each other, but were separated before they succeeded in doing any bodily harm.  Justice Trebilcox fined each $20, or in default of which to serve one day in the county jail, for contempt of court.  They were given until this morning to pay the fine. 

Morning Union, 19 February 1897

LOCAL BREVITIES

Tomorrow morning the case of the People vs James Hoskings, charged with keeping open his saloon after midnight, will come up before Justice Paynter and a jury.  C.W. Kitts will appear for the defendant, and A. Burrows, City Attorney, will conduct the prosecution.  It is stated that the defendant will attack the validity of the ordinance on legal grounds.  

Note:  Burrows and Kitts also paid their $20 fines, per the Union. 

Morning Union, 25 February 1897

LOCAL BREVITIES

Dr.s Brown and Jamison, assisted by Dr. Hays, performed a laparotomy on Mrs. A. Burrows for the removal of an abdominal tumor.  The patient rallied well and is progressing as favorably as can be expected.  

Morning Union, 28 February 1897

Died This Morning

Mrs. A. Burrows, on whom an operation was performed a day or so ago for the removal of a tumor, died in her home on Richardson street this morning about 3 o'clock.  The deceased was a lady of considerable literary ability, and was of a sunny disposition.  Previous to her marriage to Mr. Burrows about two years ago she resided at Sacramento.  She was a native of Forest Springs, Nevada County.  

Morning Union, 2 March 1897

LOCAL BREVITIES

Mrs. Lameter, sister of the late Mrs. A. Burrows, and husband, have arrived to attend the funeral which takes place this morning from the residence on Richardson street at 11 o'clock.  The services will be conducted by the Rev. E.R. Willis of the Methodist Church.  Internment will be at Greenwood Cemetery.  

Morning Union, 3 March 1897

LOCAL BREVITIES

The funeral of Mrs. A. Burrows took place from her late residence on Richardson Street yesterday morning and was well attended.  The Board of City Trustees followed the remains to their last resting place in a body.  The pallbearers were: John Muhoy, Thos. Buckett, Fred Trebilcox, R.D. Lawrey, Wm. Paynter and Wm .P. Rodgers.  

  So, Alexander's new found happiness with his second wife was over in two short years.  

The next place I find Alexander Burrows is on the 1900 Census.  He was still living in Grass Valley on Richardson street.  His occupation was still lawyer, he  was listed as head of his household, divorced, and the census also listed  a Celia Armstrong (aged 28) as his "housekeeper".  This may be why the public deserted him, "on account of his manner of life."  I  don't know for sure.  By 1904 he was in San Francisco living at in a hotel at 416 Turk Street. 

The Daily Morning Union of Grass Valley and Nevada City, July 27, 1904 

GAS ENDS THE LIFE OF A. BURROWS AT THE BAY

Former Grass Valley Attorney Wrote Flippant Farewell in Verse and Turned on Deadly Fumes

After writing a flippant farewell in verse to the coroner, A. Burrows, an attorney, formerly of Grass Valley,  killed himself this morning by inhaling illuminating gas.  Despondency over failure to secure employment is supposed to have been the cause of death. 

  Burrows gave no sign of his intention when he went to his room at 416 Turk street last night.  Shortly after 7 o'clock this morning Charles Wheland passing through the hall, detected the odor of gas.  He notified G.W. Shrinker, the landlord, and C. McCarthey, the janitor, who broke into the bathroom adjoining Burrows' room, and found the unfortunate man on the floor, dead. 

   Burrows had evidently started to kill himself in his own room, as the cracks of the doors and windows had been stopped with paper, but later decided to end his troubles in the bathroom.  With glue he pasted papers under the door and between the window sashes.  

  In the dead man's room this verse to the coroner was found:

"Coroner, to you I will confide

This is a case of suicide:

The causes they are multiplied;

Let them remain still mystified. 

All my old friends, the true and tried,

Have passed on that other side.

In plainer words, have chilled and died.

Alone am I--the suicide.

Back to old earth I journey blithe.

To her embrace, whate'er betide,

We all return howe'er allied;

And thus to go I'm satisfied."

Several verses on suicide he had partly destroyed.  One fragment read: "Or gas turned on--Or a swallow of poison, not carbolic acid.  But some of the kind that is bitter, but placid.  Like morphine, queen of the night and of sleep.  That induces repose and a coma so deep that its patron glides over the valley of death.  As a child in its joy sometimes runs out of breath."

Another verse addressed to Mount Shasta begins:

"Great giant of the hills, you pierce the cloud......shroud,...and ends:  "To thee all time is eternal now, Great sentiled (?) of eternity art thou." 

The article continues...

  He was a man of great brain power, had the law at his finger tips and might have risen to almost any height had he chosen to put his talents to their proper use. 

  He was twice married in this county.  Both ventures were unhappy.  Divorce ended the first and the death of his second wife, who was a Miss Dodge of Davisville, left him again free.  He became a cynic and a pessimist of the deepest dye, and gradually went down and down, morally and physically, but retained his keen mental powers. 

   About a year ago he left this city (Grass Valley) to accept the editorship of the Pacific Coast Miner.  When that journal gave up its San Francisco office some months ago Burrows lost his position.  He then took up the practice of law at Aetna Mills, but left there on July 1st, weary of life, unsuccessful and broken down, his life misspent and no light gleaming ahead in the darkness.  Worst of all, he was without funds.  An old friend here sent him some money to tide him over, but from the tone of Burrows' letters it was evident he had determined to end his life.  In fact, he seemed to have been thinking of it for three months past, having mentioned the fact in more than one letter. 

  Burrow's first wife and a large family still make this city their home.

I will continue in the next post with the repercussions of Alexander Burrows' suicide on his family.  

 

  

Alexander Burrows: A Colorful Life Part 2 (Burrows)

 Main Street, Grass Valley, near the turn of the century.  Photo by D. Fricot's "Grass Valley and Vicinity", courtesy of the UC Bancroft Online Digital Library: BANC PIC 1976.034:07--AX  

Shared on Nevada County Historical Society FaceBook page Aug. 24, 2020. You can see the Holbrooke Hotel on the left. 

  Alexander Burrows was born in Riverstown, Sligo County, Ireland April 4, 1847.   As a young man he made his way to Pennsylvania and was living in Schuylkill County when he became a naturalized citizen of the United States.  The 1878 Great Register of Nevada County recorded that he was naturalized on October 20, 1870.  I am unable to locate him on the US 1870 Census.

  The 1870 Census for the family of Elizabeth Jane Hurd lists the family as living in Mahanoy, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania where William Hurd was a miner.  Elizabeth Jane was 16.  By 1875 the Hurd family was living in Virginia City and Alexander Burrows and Elizabeth Jane Hurd had their first child and were living in Grass Valley, California.  I am not sure if Alexander knew the Hurd family in Pennsylvania and came out west with them, or if he made his way west first and met Elizabeth Jane in California.  

 His biography, written and published in "Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California, 1891", states that he arrived in California from Philadelphia in 1872.  I am not exactly sure when the Hurds arrived back in Virginia City, Nevada,  but it must have been early 1870's.  They had previously made a trip out west in 1856 when E.J. was a year old. The Hurds had extended family as well as friends in Nevada City and Grass Valley,  so E.J. would have had opportunity to meet Alexander in California while her parents and family lived on the Comstock. There was a family pattern of movement between both mining towns that extended well into the  1900's. In late 1871 a line extension of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad was built linking Virginia City to Reno, and thus to the Central Pacific Railroad.  Travel was then possible from Virginia City all the way to San Francisco.  Using the stop in Colfax, the family could easily reach Nevada City and Grass Valley. 

When Alexander arrived in Nevada County he was in his late 20's.  He became a school teacher and taught successfully on the "Ridge" (The San Juan Ridge, where the town of North San Juan is located).  While teaching, he studied law and was admitted to practice by Chief Justice Wallace of the State Supreme Court.  The Morning Union of April 11, 1878 reported that A.  Burrows of Grass Valley  was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court, at Sacramento on Monday (April 9th).  There were twelve applicants for admission, and nine passed.  

  Continuing with his biography, it goes on to say that Alexander had extensive practice in civil courts, and "is also regarded as a very successful single-handed criminal lawyer.  He has figured prominently in not a few recent murder trials, as the attorney for the defendant.  Among the more recent of these were the successful defense of King, charged with the murder of Pratt, the commercial traveler, at Nigger Tent in 1887; the successful defense of Keefe, charged with the murder of Piazzi at You Bet, in 1888, and the successful defense of Rowe, charged with the murder of his partner at Sonoma in 1889.  He also took a prominent part in the defense of Sheriff Lord, charged with forging ballots in Nevada City in 1889." 

  

                                        Newspaper Advertisement from The Mining Review date unknown but sometime before 1900. 

  Mentions in the Morning Union give a glimpse of what kind of person A. Burrows was, and what kind of lawyer he was.  There are many, many write ups, but I have chosen a few just to give you some idea of what his practice looked like, and what kind of personality he had.....

Morning Union, Volume 29, Number 4531 22 October 1881

(This appears to be A. Burrows' side of what happened during a recent court case.  Another paper published one side of the story, and he felt he needed to write up his side of the story).

EDITOR UNION:  The Daily Tidings publishes what pretends to be a full statement of what it call the recent "row in court," and as usual, when it refers to C.W. Cross--colors-up the facts to suit that lawyers vanity--it may therefore not be improper that the undersigned as an interested party should give the facts of the case, so far as the cause of the conflict is concerned.  The facts then briefly are these:  Mr. Cross attempted to break down the testimony of a little girl, and slung some vile insinuations at the brave little witness, which insinuations I, as a legal protector of that witness, then and there characterized as infamously false.  At this he (Cross) lost his weapon.  If I have erred, I am answerable to the court.  To the public I think the facts are such insults.  I trust I never will be so recreant to my manhood as to permit any lady or child under my protection to be outraged, anywhere, in my presence, without defending her honor--by my voice possible, by my arm if necessary. 

A. Burrows

Morning Union, Volume 35, Number 5467, 15 November 1884

Lively Scrimmage--Disciples of Blackstone Strike from the Shoulder

The law office of A. Burrows was the scene of a lively scrimmage yesterday in which fisticuffs were trumps for awhile, and blows proved more forcible than legal arguments.  The taking of testimony as to the agricultural or mineral character of a piece of land, situated near town, had long been going on at the office for some days, before Justice Paynter, acting as commissioner for the Land Office.  The testimony had all been taken down in writing, and C.W. Kitts, attorney for  the agricultural claimant, was insisting that certain interruptions of Mr. Burrows, defendant's attorney, should also be made a part of the record.  This was objected to by Burrows, and both of the lawyers went for each other with a vim.  The respective clients of the attorneys also started in to take a hand, while others essayed the part of peace-makers. The office being small there was no room to lay out a ring according to the Marquis of Queensbury rules, and it looked to the outsiders who were attracted by the noise as if a general free fight was in progress. During the melee one of the panes of glass of the front sash door was broken, and several persons recieved cuts therefrom, which gave bloody faces and hands.  Peace was finally restored and the combatants withdrew from the field, but the business of the commisison was adjourned  for the day.  According to all accounts Mr. Kitts proved himself the best pugilist, as he came off with by far the least injury. 

Morning Union, Volume 41, Number 5577, 23 November 1888

A Downieville Episode

At the King trial (previously mentioned in his biography) Monday while lawyer Burrows was examining a juror, a pistol shot resounded in the corridor and a bullet crashed through the door leading to the Courtroom, lodging in the gallery which was at the time crowded with women and children.  Fortunately no one was hurt.  Judge Walling quickly said, "Sheriff, attend to that disturbance.  Gentlemen, go on with this case."  Investigation showed that a pistol in being handed to the Sheriff slipped to the floor and exploded, driving a .38 calibre bullet through door and balustrading.  It was almost a miracle that no one was hurt.  The more nervous of the ladies shook the dust of the Courtroom off their feet immediately.  

Morning Union, volume 51, Number 7070, 14 November 1893

AN IMPORTANT CASE.  The Supreme Court to Decide a Point of Interest to Miners.  A. Burrows will leave for Sacramento today to make an argument before the Supreme Court in the case of Wilhelm vs. Silvester, which involves a question never yet decided in the State as to whether the locator of a mining claim owns a cross ledge within his ground, subsequently discovered and located by another.  the case was submitted in Department but was considered of such importance by the Court that it has been ordered heard in Bank, which means before the full bench of judges.  C.W. Kitts, Esq., will represent Wilhelm and A. Burrows, Esq., Silvester. 

                                             A. Burrows had his law office somewhere on this block of Main Street.                                                                                                                 Holbrooke.com History                                                                        

  During this time, his wife E.J. and  children are mentioned quite frequently in the Morning Union.  School promotions, birth announcements, trips to Virginia City, and community functions are all documented.  A. Burrows was also mentioned...

Morning Union, volume 50, Number 6952, 16 June 1893

FORESTERS' PICNIC.  A Gala Day in the Woods at Chicago Park.  WINNERS OF THE PRIZES.  The Married Men Defeat the Unmarried in the Tug of War.  Yesterday was a beautiful day.  Contrary to rules heretofore set down it did not rain; the sun shone bright.  Early yesterday morning saw an eager crowd waiting at the depot to take the train to Chicago Park to attend the picnic given by the Ancient Order of Foresters.  At nine o'clock Harry Green's celebrated brass band awoke the city from its lethargic state and called the concourse together...Tug of War won by the following married men:  James N. Richards, Joseph Constantine, Jas. F. Jenkin, Jas. Teddy, Alfred Jenkin, A. Burrows, James Stead......

Morning Union, Volume 52, Number 7146, 14 February 1894

FORESTERS' DAY  A. Burrows, a prominent attorney of Grass Valley, will be orator of the day. 

Morning Union, volume 52, Number 7315, 9 September 1894

NOTES   A. Burrows created a riffle of laughter in his speech for the nomination of District Attorney.  He said he defended twelve murderers and not one of them was hung.  He tumbled to the weakness of his argument and partially recovered.  When E.F. Englebright  put the name of J.G. O'Neil in nomination he remarked that he was no Irishman either, which brought Martin Leahy to his feet in defense of his country who wanted to know what the speaker had to say against the Irish.  The convention went into roars of laughter and it was some time before the chair was able to restore order. 

I'm not sure what that was all about, but A. Burrows went on to become City Attorney for Grass Valley and held that position for a number of  years.  E.F. Englebright  later became a politician who served in the United States House of Representatives.  His son Harry  was also a United States  Representative and the Englebright Lake on the Yuba River is named after him.

  Alexander Burrows also devoted his spare office moments to literary work.  Numerous articles from his pen have appeared in the "Overland Monthly" and law magazines from time to time.  Among these the best known are those entitled "Life in a Modern Gold Mining Camp, " "The Development of Gold Mining" and "The Other Side of the Divorce Question."  The last named is a defense of our divorce laws against clerical criticism and is "simply unanswerable from any standpoint of logic or revelation."  (From  "Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California, 1891). 

 

                            My Auntie Claire requested a copy of the article, which is now archived with the                                                                                                                     Burrows' Family History. 

 

  In the next post I will continue Alexander Burrows' story.  It involves a divorce, a remarriage, more courtroom brawls,  a death, and a suicide in San Francisco.  

Alexander Burrows; An Irish Mystery , Some DNA Clues and a Colorful Life Part 1 (Burrows)

 

                                               Pencil  and paper silhouette of Alexander Burrows.  Date unknown. 

                       Alexander Burrows date unknown.  Picture shared by Milton Davis on Ancestry.com

   I know a great deal about Alexander Burrows'  life and his death here in California.  He married my Great Great Grandmother Elizabeth Jane Hurd sometime before 1875 and they had a large family which they raised in Grass Valley.  I had very little information about his life prior to 1870.   My Auntie Claire had some basic information regarding his birth and early life based on family stories; from the information she provided I was not able to go any farther back than his birth in Riverstown, Sligo County, Ireland or find any other information on his immediate family.   In genealogy work, this is called hitting a "brick wall".  

 

  The only information I had to go on was provided by Llloyd H. Phillips, the husband of Elizabeth Burrows Davis, daughter of Gladys Evelyn Burrows.  He was living in Oklahoma at the time he and my Auntie Claire were corresponding regarding family history. He shared his wife Betty's notes about the Burrows family.  He stated that Alexander was born in the town of Riverstown, Sligo County Ireland. His parents were English Protestants who conquered Ireland under Lord Cromwell of Orange.  They were descendants of Oliver Cromwell of Kent, England.  He graduated from the University of Dublin.  That is all the information I had to go on.  I had no idea who his parents or family were in Ireland, if he had siblings or why he would want to leave his place of birth to come to an unknown country and build a life.  

  To help with this mystery, I first looked at the history of the part of Ireland Alexander Burrows came from.  

  

Entrance to Riverstown Ireland

Riverstown is a village in County Sligo, Ireland.  County Sligo is a part of the province of Connacht, which was incidentally the worst hit area in Ireland during the Great Famine of 1845-1849 (Wikipedia). 

  A nice, short history of Sligo Town can be found at sligo-ireland.com.  Sligo is fairly near Riverstown and both towns most likely share a similar history.....  

  Henry the VIII threw off the church's allegiance to the Roman Catholic church in 1534 and began his attack on the Irish chieftains, requiring their submission to the English throne.  Insurrection and ruin marked the countryside for quite a long time.  Cromwell was sent to Ireland in 1649 because the country was in such chaos.  Dispossessed Catholics who  had their lands confiscated earlier in history were consequently rebelling against Protestant planters and settlers by uprising and killing  them by the thousands. Protestants killed Catholics, including those living in Sligo.  Cromwell did indeed gain complete control of Ireland, but this control came by way of the  horrendous and  ruthless process of ethnic cleansing.  Irish Catholics were forbidden to own land.  The dispossessed were shipped to the Caribbean as slaves to the West Indian sugar plantations and 63,000 acres of  Sligo land was handed over to Cromwell's soldiers.   Of course, this is a simplification of a very complex issue with many levels of interpretation.  The "curse of Cromwell" still to this day hangs over Anglo-Irish relations (olivercromwell.org). 

  So, part of the story I had to go on could very well have been true.  The Burrows in Ireland lived in an area that was given to Protestant English settlers by Cromwell.  But, were they direct descendants of Oliver Cromwell of Kent?   In order to get to the bottom of the Cromwell link I had to first find Alexander's parents and the family he came from.  Up until a few months ago, this was a brick wall.  Could DNA clues help me? 

  I have been researching family history on Ancestry.com for a number of years, and finally agreed to have DNA analysis done.  In addition to providing confirmation of my ethnicity (mostly English, Scottish, French (northern Italy, really) , with a little Germanic Europe, Irish, Welsh and Norwegian thrown in) I began to receive DNA matches.  These matches would give me more matches, and if the person I was related to had a fairly formed family tree to work from I could begin to build a more complete tree of the branch I was working on.  DNA work is time consuming to say the least.  But, I did receive several matches of cousins that started to point me to a certain branch of the Burrows in Ireland, which led me to a will and a newspaper article from the Sligo Workhouse.  

  This is a working tree, still in the process of being confirmed. But, I am excited to share it!  I have two cousins who were scheduled to take a trip to Sligo this summer, but due to the COVID pandemic they were not able to go.  Finding records is still difficult on line, and this trip would probably have given all of us more concrete evidence of this family line. 

I will start with the person who I think is Alexander's father...

Alexander Burrows of Drum 1810-1899.  (Drum is also a small village in Sligo county). 

His will of 1899 lists his children as follows:

Thomas Rutledge Burrows

Adam Burrows

John Burrows ...."living in America" and has a daughter named Francis

Jane Burrows White, husband of Adam

Alexander Burrows ...."resides in America"

Margaret Burrows Porteous

Esmenia (Amy) Burrows..."residing in America". 

Death Certificate of Alexander Burrows of Drum, August Ninth, 1899.   He was a widower, a farmer and died at the age of 79 of congestion of lungs 5 days and acute peritonitis.  George Armstrong, neighbor, was present at his death.  His will was written August 6th, 1889. 

   

  DNA has provided some concrete clues that get me closer to confirmation.  I share DNA matches with people descended from Margaret Burrows Porteus, Jane Burrows White and Ismena who married a Frazer and moved to New York.  Wow!  I also share DNA with someone related to a Thomas Burrows who was a doctor in Riverston.  He also had a son named Alexander who eventually ended up in Australia.  He may have been a brother of Alexander Burrows of Drum.  

I also came across this newspaper article on a connected family member's ancestry tree.  It gives further confirmation that I might be on to the right family.  It is from Sligo, Ireland. 

                        Adam Burrows, a lunatic (1896) 

  Mr. McCarthy applied to his Honor to have Adam Burrows, at present an imbecile in the Sligo Workhouse, declared a person of unsound mind, and that the property of said Adam Burrows should be taken under the protection and control of the court, to be applied for the advantage of the said Adam Burrows, under direction of the court.  The only next of kin of the lunatic were three lawful brothers and sisters--Thomas R Burrows, residing in South America; John Burrows of St. Louis, USA, Alexander Burrows, of California; Jane White, wife of Elliott Adam White, of Whitehall, Dromahair; Elizabeth Butcher Burrows, wife of Haman Butcher, of New York and Margaret Porteus, the wife of Robert Porteus of Clara, the petitioner in this matter.  The property consisted of Adam Burrows' life's interest in a sum of L200, placed in trust for him, and four small houses in Manorhamilton, the yearly rent of which is L23. As all the lunatic's brothers and sisters were away, Mr. Porteus , of Clara, his brother-in-law a most respectable man, was anxious to have the lunatic placed under control of the court. 

  Mr. Porteus having been examined his Honor made an order making Mr. Porteus a guardian of the lunatic, who it was said was treated well in the workhouse being supplied wih tobacco, and his maintenance being paid for. 

  While going through Auntie Claire's Burrows file this little piece of paper fell out.  I think Elizabeth Jane Burrows wrote this.  The two things that really stood out to me were the words Drum and Clara.  Those place names fit with the family I am researching.  That is cause for a genealogy happy dance! 

  This is as far as I have gotten. There is no mention of his wife, as he was a widower.  Names that pop up in searches are Fanny or Francis Motherwell.   It also appears that there were many Burrows in this area, and they intermarried with the White family.  The Burrows families started immigrating at around the same time.  They also tended to use certain names over and over, such as Alexander, Rutledge, Ismena (in various forms),  and Jane.  So, my work is cut out.  I will probably never get to the point of confirming that this family is related to Oliver Cromwell, but it is a great story none the less. 

  There are other bits and pieces that still need further research.  I'm not sure who Elizabeth Butcher Burrows is.  There is a death certificate for a John Burrows in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that lists his parents as Alexander Burrows born in Ireland and Jane Lawson born in Ireland. The dates don't exactly match up to the tree I am working on,  so he may be a relative.  My Great Great Grandfather earned his US naturalization on October 20, 1870 in Schuylk'l County, Pennsylvania.  There may be a connection there that needs further exploration. 

 Did Alexander Burrows attend the University of Dublin?  He certainly could have. Alexander of Drum had property and land and might have been prosperous enough to send his son to University.  I need to do more research there, too.   Road trip, anyone? 

  And why did the Burrows children make their way to America?  History shows that the area they were from in Ireland experienced economic expansion with the growth of the merchant and landlord class in the early 1800's.  Industries such as brewing and distilling and the rope, linen and leather trades grew.  The railway came to Sligo in 1860. But, the area experienced a cholera epidemic in 1832 as well as the Great Famine in 1847.  Both of these episodes hit the area exceptionally hard.  It took time for the area to bounce back. (sligo-ireland.com).  This, coupled with more positive economic opportunities in America probably made the move more appealing to the Burrows family. It certainly worked out for Alexander Burrows.  

  A newspaper article from the Daily Morning Union, Grass Valley, July 27, 1904 gives a short history of Alexander's life as a young man.  It says...Alexander came to his county when a young man, became a school teacher on the Ridge.  While teaching he studied law, and in due time became a practitioner.  As an attorney he built up a strong practice.  

  In the next post I will relate the story of his colorful life in California as a husband, lawyer, literary publisher, community member and of  his eventual death by suicide in San Francisco July 26, 1904.  

  

And to end this post I will just say, this is why I love genealogy.  It is about 35 miles from Sligo to Killala, Ireland.  Killala is where ancestors on my Dad's Boothby side of the family lived in the early 1700's.  They were Presbyterian settlers from England.  They ended up coming to what is now Maine in 1720 due to strife between the  Catholics and the Protestants.

                                                                      Isn't that amazing????

   

Joseph T. Bluett and a Valued Keepsake (Bluett)

   In honor of Veterans  Day this year I am sharing a letter written by my Great Great Grandmother Elizabeth Jane (Hurd) Burrows in 1927.  She wrote it to her grandson, my Grandpa,  Harold Hansen. He was 17 years old at the time.   Along with her letter she enclosed a small bible and a picture of the recipient of the bible.  These items have been passed down to me from my mother, Margaret Hansen Boothby and are now archived with the rest of the family artifacts and history.  

Here is a transcription of the letter....

Berkeley  July 1st 1927

  Dear Harald (she used the Norwegian spelling of his name) 

                     I am sending you my valued keepsake.  The Testament was given to me as a Prize, by the Nevada City M.E. Sunday School in 1860.  I gave it in 1861 to my Uncle Joseph T. Bluett then a young man 17 years old.  He enlisted in the Nevada City Light Guards for 3 years or for as long as the Civil War lasted.  He carried it through the war and returned it to me in the condition it is in now, in 1865 when the war was over.  The Company was sent to New York and divided among other Regiments.  Joseph T. Bluett served in the 2nd Mass. Calvary under Gen. Phill Sheridan.  He died in Philadelphia aged 72 (?) years.  The men were not allowed to use the names of Nevada Light Guards, so they took the letters off of their caps and sewed them on the inside of their pants so if they were killed in action people would know they came from California.  Take good care of both book and picture and pass on for another 60 years is the wish of your

Loving Grand-Mother

Mrs. E. J. Burrows.

1633 Kains Avenue

Berkeley

California

The Bible itself is very small; it is the same size as the picture which is 2 1/2" X 3 3/4".  The Bible is missing its back cover and some pages are missing.  It is now almost 160 years old. 

                                           Identification written on the  back of the picture in E.J.'s handwriting.  

Joseph was born in Tamaqua,  PA as was  his sister Harriet Bluett Hurd, my 3X Greatgrandmother.  Their father, John Bluett passed away in 1852 and various members of the family moved to Nevada City and worked as miners.   They attended the Nevada City Methodist Episcopal Church.  

Information found on Find a Grave gives some further information on Joseph's Civil War record.  It states..."When the Civil War broke out, Joseph heard his call to serve his country.  He returned East, voluntarily fought in the Civil War, and served along with other Californians in the 2nd Regiment of the Massachusetts Calvary for 3 years.  He held the rank of Corporal in Company M.  Service was from 20 May 1863 to 20 July 1865." 

          Joseph was honorably discharged the 20th of July, 1865.  His wife received a pension after his death. 

After the war, Joseph returned to Pennsylvania, married and lived out the rest of his life in Philadelphia where he sold vegetables.  He died of a massive heart attack at the age of 68, and is buried in Philadelphia. 

  So, on this day that celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, I would like to celebrate and remember Joseph Thomas Bluett b. 7 July 1846 Tamaqua Pennsylvania  d. 6 May 1915 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.   He fought to preserve our great Union while carrying this little keepsake.  

                               

The Life Story of Elizabeth Jane Hurd Burrows (Hurd, Burrows)

                                                                    Elizabeth Jane Burrows' Calling Card

  This post has taken quite a bit of time to put together, and is a long one.   Elizabeth Jane Hurd Burrows (my Great Great Grandmother) led a remarkable, complicated life.  She lived during a time of  intense change in the country; she traveled from one end of the United States (Pennsylvania) to the "west" not once, but twice,  lived in the newly formed town of  Nevada City, California as well as the newly formed town of Virginia City, Nevada during the gold and silver rushes, waited as an Uncle fought in the Civil War,  earned the right to practice law as one of the few women to do so in California in the mid 1800's, had a total of twelve children (all born in Grass Valley, Ca.),  experienced the deaths of 6 children as well as the institutionalization of one son, divorced her husband and continued to provide help and support to her remaining family as she aged.  I am telling her story with pictures......I am fortunate enough to have access to pictures of E.J. at pivotal points in her life.  I also did quite a bit of research using the Morning Union from Grass Valley, California.  Small snippets of information helped fill out the early timeline of her life before she moved to the Bay Area.  But, I especially appreciate the pictures...I can really  see a strong, confident woman and also someone who loved and cared for her family during their own particular struggles.   Timelines and census records help fill out the rest of the story. 

 

 *** The next post will focus on the family E.J. came from...another remarkable family story in itself. But for now, enjoy her story!***

  Elizabeth Jane Hurd was born in the town of Tamaqua, Pennsylvania the 4th of May, 1855 to William Henry Hurd from Somerset, England and Harriet Elizabeth Bluett born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.   She was the second child out of ten.  William was a miner; Tamaqua was known for its coal mines and had a large  population of miners from many countries.   The family moved from Pennsylvania to Nevada City in 1856, going by way of the isthmus of Panama (more on that story in the next post). It looks like they resided in both Nevada City and Virginia City, probably due to William's ability to get work in either area.   By the 1870 census the family was back in Pennsylvania (or as the story went ....."they made an overland trip  back to the states") but came out west once more to live in Virginia City.   William Hurd was killed in the Ophir Mine, Virginia City, Nevada in 1876.  The family had extended family,  friends and acquaintances in both towns, and would frequently visit between one town or the other.  E.J. met and married Alexander Burrows in Nevada City  sometime before 1875 when their first child was born. They resided in Grass Valley, California. 

  

 The first picture I have is of Elizabeth Jane Hurd, exact date unknown.   I am having trouble definitively dating this picture and the next picture, but I believe this one is of a younger E.J.  The elaborate hair comb suggests it was taken around the mid 1870's.  The lace collar suggests this time frame,  also. This picture was shared on Ancestry.com by Mimi Swaney, whose Great Grandmother was Winnifred Hurd, E.J.'s younger sister. It is identified as Lizzy Hurd.  I believe this picture was taken shortly before she was married. 

 

30 October 1875 Maud Elaine Burrows born in Grass Valley.

5 April 1877 Herbert Spencer Burrows born in Grass Valley.  Lived at Napa State Hospital after his teenage years. 

28 November 1879 Don Francis Burrows born in Grass Valley. He eventually became a lawyer in San Francisco. 

23 January 1881 Roy Alexander Burrows born in Grass Valley.  He became a prominent builder/contractor in Reno, Nevada.

Morning Union, 13 October 1881 PERSONAL  Mrs. A. Burrows and children are over to Virginia City on a two or three week's visit. 

25 September 1882 Clara Vere Burrows born in Grass Valley. My Great Grandmother. 

18 April 1884 Lillian Burrows born in Grass Valley.  

7 December 1886 Wanda Adele Burrows born in Grass Valley. 

1887 Frank Hurd Burrows born and died in Grass Valley. 

 

Morning Union, 1 October 1887   Mrs. E.J. Burrows of Grass Valley, has been admitted to practice in the Superior Court.  

(Note: I have not been able to find any records of E.J. actually  practicing law.  There are numerous records of Alexander Burrows and the court cases he worked on.  He also became City Attorney for Grass Valley in 1894 and held that position for several years.)

9 April 1890 Gwendolyn Harriet Burrows born in Grass Valley.  Died in 1907 in a street car accident. 

1891 Inez Francis Burrows born in Grass Valley.  

12 January 1892 Lillian Burrows died at age 7 from diphtheria. 

February 1892 Edison Winnifred Burrows born and died in August 1892 in Grass Valley.

The next picture was shared on Ancestry.com by the William Nankervis Archive and identifies her as Elizabeth Jane Hurd Burrows.  This picture was most likely taken around the late 1800's, as the sleeves on her dress are more pronounced.  It was taken in Virginia City where her mother and several sisters still  resided. Her mother passed away in September of 1893. This picture may have been taken around that time. 

More excerpts taken from the Morning Union (Grass Valley, California)...

Morning Union, Volume 50, Number 6896, 11 April 1893

BORN

BURROWS..At Grass Valley.  April 9, 1893 to the wife of A. Burrows a daughter.  (This was her last child Gladys Burrows).

Morning Union, Volume 51, Number 6987, 1 August 1893

PERSONAL AND SOCIAL

...A. Burrows, one of the most prominent characters of Grass Valley, is a guest at the Baldwin, says the Call.  Judge Burrows is a Californian of the Bret Harte type.  He is a lawyer, scholar, student of Shakespeare, geologist and a rare conversationalist.  He has taken a run down to the Bay for pleasure and recreation. 

Morning Union, Volume 51, Number 7021, 10 September 1893

PERSONAL AND SOCIAL

Mrs. A. Burrows left for Virginia City about midnight of Friday, being summoned on account of the serious illness of her mother, Mrs. Hurd.

Morning Union, Volume 51, Number 7023 14 September 1893

DIED AT VIRGINIA CITY

Last Saturday, the 9th of September, Mrs. Harriet Hurd, mother of Mrs. A. Burrows of Grass Valley, died at Virginia City, of heart failure, after a long illness.  The deceased was aged 59 years and a native of Johnstown, Pennsylvania.  Mrs. Hurd visited Grass Valley some time ago and made many friends here who will regret to learn of her death. 

Morning Union, Volume 52, Number 7404, 13 December 1894

Miss Lizzie J. Burrows was yesterday granted a divorce from her husband, A. Burrows, the lawyer.  The complaint charged cruelty and inability of the couple to live happily together.  No protest was made to the complaint and the decree absolving the relations of the couple was granted in twenty minutes from the time it was applied for.  The custody of minor children was awarded to the plaintiff.  In lieu of alimony, the defendant deeded over all his property to Mrs. Burrows. 

Note: Alexander Burrows remarried the day after he and E.J. were granted a divorce.  He moved his new bride into a house on Richardson street per mentions in the Morning Union.  I will do a separate post on Alexander Burrows. 

 

Elizabeth Jane continued to raise her children on Townsend street.  There are many mentions of their school promotions, birthday parties and Society meetings.  Alexander Burrows continued to practice law in Grass Valley.  Some snippets.....

Morning Union, Volume 53, 23 April 1895

Soap Bubble Party. The eleventh birthday of Miss Margaret Van Deerling was celebrated with a "soap bubble" party, a novel and most interesting affair.  Prizes were awarded, Raymond Clinch taking the first prize and Rita Carter the "booby".  The following were present: Raymond Clinch, Freddie Michell, Maud Kent, Vere Burrows, Esther Marshall, Rita Carter, etc. etc. 

Morning Union, 18 January 1896 LOCAL BREVITIES Will Provis' team ran away yesterday and collided with Mrs. Burrows' fence on Townsend street.  Some dishes in the wagon were broken. 

Morning Union, 23, March 1897 LOCAL BREVITIES F.S. Hurd (Frank), a brother of Mrs. E. J. Burrows of this city, died at Butte City, Montana, Saturday.  The deceased was a native of Nevada City, and was aged 35 years. 

Morning Union, 2 June 1897 PERSONALS Misses Annie and Edith Hurd of Reno, Nevada, are guests of Mrs. E. J. Burrows. 

1899 Inez Francis Burrows died at age 8 of diphtheria.

The 1900 Census lists Elizabeth as living on the left side of Townsend street, she is the head of the household, and she lists her occupation as Attorney at Law.  She is living with her four daughters, and owns her own home.  She lists her marital status as......widowed.  This was quite common after a divorce at the time.  Divorce was stigmatizing, and she still lived in the same town as her husband. His is listed on the 1900 Census as living on Richardson street, he lists himself as divorced and lists a certain Celia Armstrong as his "housekeeper".  His second wife had died in February of 1897.  So, I believe that E.J. was doing all she could to keep her identity and her dignity in a small town where everyone knew everyone else's private business. 

Alexander Burrows committed suicide in a San Francisco hotel July 26, 1904.  E.J. moved to the Los Angeles area to live with her oldest daughter and her family for health reasons.  In June of 1907 her daughter Gwendolyn was killed in a streetcar accident in Los Angeles.  By 1909 she was living in Oakland with Maud and her family, and purchased her own home.  Maud and her husband would eventually separate.   

Payment book from a property purchase in 1909.  It looks like she sold this property and moved with Maud and her family to a home in Oakland.  She must have been proud of this purchase as she kept this record.  

This picture was most likely taken when E.J. was in her 50's, sometime around 1905-1910. The 1920 Census lists her as living with another daughter Wanda Burrows Nankervis, Wanda's husband and their children.  William is listed as head of household, and E.J. lists her occupation as "nurse".  She may have been taking care of the children, as both Wanda and William were working outside the home.  

E.J.'s youngest daughter, Gladys, lived in Oakland with her husband Joseph Davis who was a dentist.  Sadly, Gladys passed away in May of 1929 from pulmonary tuberculosis, leaving four small children.  I found these pictures of Gladys in a file that my Auntie Claire was working on.  

Gladys and Joseph had three daughters; Rose, Virginia and Ethelreda.  Their son Milton was born in 1926.  

 

 This picture was shared by Milton Davis (Junior) on Ancestry.com.  It looks like it was taken somewhere in the bay area which was still covered in orchards and small farms at the time.  I am not sure if this has any connection with the property she purchased in 1909.  She looks happy and contented. 

 "Elizabeth Jane Burrows --  Berkeley" written on the back in her writing. A letter written to my Grandfather in 1927 includes her address as 1633 Kains Avenue , Berkeley, Calif. so this picture was taken around that time. 

 

This picture has no identifying information on the back, but I believe it is of E.J. Burrows close the end of her life.  I believe that the young man is Milton Davis (senior)  who would have been around 6 or 7 years of age.  In the 1930 Census E.J. was living in Oakland on Sunnyside Street.  By 1935 she was living on Plymouth Street. This picture may have been taken at the Davis residence on 21st  Street in San Francisco. She was probably very involved with Gladys' children at the time.  

                 This is an unidentified picture, but I believe it is of the Davis children around 1930.   

  Elizabeth Jane Hurd Burrows passed away on April 18, 1935.  She had visited a surgeon on January 30, 1935 and died at home from a perforating duodenal ulcer in April.  She was almost 80 years old.  

  She certainly put her own unique stamp on her family and the communities in which she lived.  She demonstrated characteristics of  courage, tenacity and  pride in her accomplishments as well as being loving  and supportive of her children despite  many sorrows and disappointments in her  own life.  She was my Great Great Grandmother.