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.
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