The Hurd Burrows Cradle Finds a Home at the Grass Valley Museum (and Other Business Taken Care Of) ......

Our visit to the Grass Valley Museum, August 25, 2023.  Pictured are Patti (Boothby) Alden, Margaret (Hansen) Boothby, Stephanie (Boothby) Efstratis.  Picture taken by BettejeanS.  

  I am happy to report that another genealogy project on my "to do" list was checked off several weeks ago!  My Mom, sister and I visited the wonderful staff at the Grass Valley Museum located at the St. Joseph's Cultural Center on May 25, 2023 and made two donations to share with the community.

 

  Back in May a picture surfaced that was found in the archives at the Grass Valley Museum; it was posted on a local Facebook site and I immediately recognized it as we had a photograph just like it that was in our Hansen family picture collection.  I wrote about what discoveries were made that explained the picture on May 6, 2023 (John Hartwig Hansen and the Last Days of Pompeii...May 1900).  The museum reached out to me and asked for help to restore the badly damaged picture they had; I ended up having our copy  digitally saved and then reproduced at a local stationery business.  The nice young man (with a man-bun) that helped me was very intrigued by the picture and the story that went with it and we had a  great conversation about my Great Grandfather John Hansen.  It's always nice to share family history with strangers!  And I was glad to help the museum out.  They will frame the copy to present to the public. 

The museum copy above, our copy below. 

Pictured: Patti (Boothby)Alden, Margaret (Hansen) Boothby and Stephanie (Boothby) Efstratis.  Photograph by BettejeanS.  August 25, 2023.  Grass Valley Museum.

  Our next donation was something a little larger....

   Back (way back) on January 2, 2021, I posted about the Hurd cradle and the story of my great great grandmother Elizabeth Jane Hurd's trip with her family from Pennsylvania to Nevada City, California in 1851.   Elizabeth Jane took  one more trip back to Pennsylvania with her family before she came out west for the last time, settling in Grass Valley around 1875.  She  married Alexander Burrows and he taught school  "on the ridge" (North San Juan) before becoming a lawyer.  It is believed that this cradle was made in either North San Juan or French Corral per family stories.  Initially I thought it may have been used by Elizabeth Jane's mother, Harriet Hurd, which is entirely possible as she had 5 children born in Nevada City from 1857 to 1869,  but after researching and comparing dates I believe it was made  for the Burrow's children beginning in 1875 when Alexander was teaching.  (January 2, 2021 Gold Country Stories Unverified Elizabeth Jane Hurd Burrows Surviving Panama)

  The cradle had been kept in a crawl space at the home of my great grandmother Vere Burrows Hansen on West Main Street, probably since her mother Elizabeth Jane moved from Grass Valley to the Bay Area after 1900.  It quite possibly was used for Vere and Jack Hansen's  children Hulda,  Jack, Robley and Harold.  

  After WWII my Uncle Jack lived with "Grandma Hansen" at 418 West Main Street until she passed away in 1974 and he continued to live there until his death in 1986.  Mom (Margaret) began to clear some items out of  the home in the late 70's  and the cradle was rediscovered. It was identified by her father, Harold Hansen as the family cradle.   Also found was the little handmade black child's rocker (happily now in the possession of JackF.)  and a black valise belonging to Alexander Burrows (now in my possession). 

  The cradle has been at Mom's home on Banner Mountain since then.  I do remember using it in my bedroom to hold all my dolls and stuffed animals for a few years.  I was just a geeky kid interested in antiques and pioneer history and the cradle fit the bill.  It went with the Victorian iron bed and antique dresser in my room. After I moved out the cradle got moved to the laundry room and held all sorts of odds and ends (and dust) for years. I declined to use it for my children when visiting, as it was "not up to code". I wish I had known its history at the time! 

  In the process of writing down our family stories over the last few years I began to make connections to objects that I had grown up with.  This cradle was one such object.  The only history passed  on was that it was made in either North San Juan or French Corral and was the family cradle.   As I went further back on the family tree I became fascinated with the story of Elizabeth Jane and her life; fleshing her story out with research, pictures, newspaper articles, timelines and DNA matches became an obsession for about a year.  Her daughter Vere had literally kept everything and thankfully took lots of photographs.  My Auntie Claire lovingly began to organize these items as they were handed down to her, and then they eventually came to reside at my house where I continued piecing together this part of our family history. Things were coming into focus. The cradle had a history.  

  I began researching in earnest during the pandemic.  This is what I discovered about my Great Great Grandmother and her connection to the cradle....

      Elizabeth Jane Hurd Burrows 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.  

   In my blog post from November 8, 2020 (The Life Story of Elizabeth Jane Hurd Burrows) I go over my research on her life. If you are interested in what living in Grass Valley and Virginia City was like at the turn of the century, I added many articles from The Morning Union which were valuable sources of information and helped flesh out her early life raising her children in a small town.  I was also fortunate to gain access to the following pictures of a young E.J. as I did not have these in our family collection. 

Elizabeth "Lizzy" Jane Hurd taken around the 1870's.

Picture shared by MimiS on Ancestry.com

    

 Elizabeth Jane Hurd Burrows 

Picture taken in Virginia City probably at the time of her mother's death in 1893. 

Shared by the William Nankervis Archive on Ancestry.com

Alexander Burrows (picture taken sometime in the late 1880's in Grass Valley, California).  Original in our family archives. 

  My post from July 26, 2020 (A Hurd of Burrows) details the lives of  Elizabeth Jane and Alexander Burrows' children.  There were twelve of them! 

  I think E.J. became the strong woman she was from watching her mother Harriet traverse the country twice, endure her husband's death in the Ophir Mine in 1876, forge ahead as a widow with 7 children under the age of 18 and continue to live in the community of Virginia City until her death.  Several of E.J.'s sisters became teachers at the Fourth Ward School to help support the family after their father's death.  There was a strong emphasis put on education in that family, especially for the girls. It was fun to discover how many teachers we have had in our family and how we continue to put a high emphasis on education. Elizabeth Jane's daughter, Vere Hansen, put a high priority on education; she did sign for my Mom's first library card which Mom took great advantage of by reading as many books as she could.  I did not know that residents outside of the city limits were not able to obtain a library card unless someone inside the city limits signed for them in the 40's. I'm sure that has changed by now!   Mom became a teacher, as did  her sister and myself.  I think Harriet and Elizabeth Jane would be proud of their legacy.   

  Why did we decide to donate the cradle?  Once I discovered its history and context, it was an object that became important. Yes, we had some memories of it, but it wasn't something that was treasured per se.  It was big, bulky, and it collected dust and SPD grocery bags.  No other family member wanted it in their home!  But looking at the hand hewn boards and square nails, you could almost imagine someone lovingly piecing it together to give to a new family.  There was a bigger picture and story to tell.   It was made in Nevada County by an unknown craftsman when many new families, including the Burrows,  were making this area their home.  We realized its history was woven in with our local history and we felt it should stay in the area and be shared with the community.  To me, its legacy represents family, resiliency, building of community, and gives all of us a unique sense of place. 

  Grass Valley was a town that grew together as a community in the 1800's; it grew together from many different cultures, languages, traditions and religious backgrounds. It was primarily a working town from the miners to small business owners and to people who provided needed services such as Alexander Burrows who became a prominent lawyer and eventually Grass Valley Attorney.  But it also grew as a community by the very hard work of many mothers who raised their children and kept their homes while serving in the church or doing other important service work in the community.  I think the cradle represents those mothers whose work and influence was just as important, or maybe even more important.  What do you think?  

  Grass Valley continues to be a strong knit community.  While mining is no longer the primary economic driver it is still a community of small business owners, service providers and now artists, thinkers and creators.  It is a community I love coming back to visit often. 

  I would like to thank all the staff at the Grass Valley Museum for working with us and letting us share our wonderful family history with the community.  Because now it is the community's history! 

Margaret (Hansen) Boothby on the left sharing stories of Grass Valley with the staff.  Picture by Patti Alden August 25, 2023. 

August 25, 2023 Grass Valley Museum. It was such a fun afternoon!  Thank you all. 

Picture by BettejeanS. 

  Relationship Reference: Me->Margaret->Harold Hansen->Vere Burrows Hansen->Elizabeth Jane Hurd Burrows

52Ancestors52Weeks Week 35 Theme: School........... Alexander Burrows Taught School on the Ridge in 1875

  I'm posting a quick story with this week's challenge theme of "School".  I recently found this thin, fragile county certificate in with more Burrows' family pictures and letters.  It gives a small glimpse into teaching in Nevada County (California) in 1875 (yes, 1875!).  This certificate was awarded to my Great Great Grandfather Alexander Burrows after he passed his examinations.  It is a little hard to read, but some of  his scores were as follows:

 

Arithmetic Written 75 credits out of the standard 100

Mental Arithmetic 50/50

Oral Grammar 22/25

History of the United States 49/50

Theory and Practice of Teaching 38/50

Algebra 32/50

Constitution of the US and California 24/25

School Law of California 20/25

Penmanship 18/25

Composition 46/50

Reading 49/50

Orthography (spelling) 70/50 (not sure how that happened..)

Defining (Word Analysis) 48/50

Vocal Music 20/25

Industrial Drawing 22/25

Total 842/925

Percentage 84

Standing in Class 2

Number Examined 6

This certificate gave Alexander Burrows the right to teach in any Grammar School or a School of the First Grade in Nevada County, California and was good for a term of three years as of December 3rd, 1875. 

 Family history says that Alexander Burrows came to the United States around 1871 and he settled in Pennsylvania. He moved to California in 1872 with my Great Great Grandmother Elizabeth Jane Hurd, whose family was also from Pennsylvania.  Some new information I found from research my cousin Gay (Hansen) Sandberg wrote up was that he was a graduate of Drew Divinity College, New York, and taught mathematics at the University of Pennsylvania.  This area needs more research to confirm if it is in fact, true.  Family history also states that he taught grade school "on the Ridge" (North San Juan in Nevada County); this piece of paper would seem to corroborate this part of the story.  He would be the first to teach in a long line of teachers in the Hurd/Burrows/Hansen families.  (see my post of  February 11, 2021 The Hurd Family: Edith Hurd and a Family Tradition of Teaching). 

  While he was teaching on the Ridge, Alexander Burrows studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1878,  and eventually went on to have a successful law practice in northern California.  He became a top criminal lawyer and then a  prominent litigation lawyer in the mining field.  He also became a prolific writer, submitting articles for publications and opinions pieces for local newspapers.  On a more somber note, he even wrote prose in his suicide notes before taking his own life in 1904.  You can see from the scores on his certificate that he definitely excelled in oral speaking, writing, and law.  His Theory and Practice of Teaching score was a little lower, so, maybe he was just following his strengths!  

  

  He led a fascinating life, and this little piece of paper that I just recently discovered certainly added to his story.  I wonder if skills in Algebra are hereditary? 

Alexander Burrows b. April 4, 1847 Sligo County,  Ireland d. July 26, 1904 San Francisco, California.  This picture was most likely taken after he became a lawyer and was practicing in Grass Valley,  California.  This picture was just recently discovered also. 

 

Relationship Reference:  Me->Margaret Hansen Boothby-> Harold Hansen->Vere Burrows Hansen->Alexander Burrows m. Elizabeth Jane Hurd Burrows

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????