Kin and Konnections: A Family History Blog

Goodfellows Were From Ireland I just received the portions of the Burwell/Tate papers I requested from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. It includes several pictures (most are unidentified); the booklet from the Burwell Family picnic in 1870 at Burwell Farms in Connecticut; Mary Alice Burwell's DAR application; Moses and Isabella's marriage certificate; obituaries for: Moses, Isabella, Nettie, Lydia Wilson (Isabella's sister) and William Wilson (Lydia's husband); and various genealogy notes. Isabella Goodfellow's grandfather was Moore Goodfellow (married to Isabella or Isabel Nichelson) born about 1779 in the County of Tyrone, Ireland. He came to America in about 1804, first settling in Maryland. After a few years he moved to Ohio where he died on September 11, 1860. Mom found on the Internet a Moore Goodfellow in the War of 1812 Muster Rolls. Originally published on my personal MyFamily.com website on September 8, 2000. Edited for clarity.  Categories: Bur...

I found a pair of Burwell sisters in the DAR [Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Books] that I believe are my great-great-grandfather John W. Burwell's sisters. From Volume 14, p. 122 (for the year 1896): Miss Nettie B. Burwell ID No. 13326 Born in Illinois Descendant of John Burwell, of New Jersey. Daughter of Moses T. Burwell and Isabella Goodfellow, his wife. Granddaughter of John Burwell and Missouri Thorp, his wife. Gr.-granddaughter of Jonathan Burwell and Mary Comer, his wife. Gr.-gr.-granddaughter of John Burwell and ___ Lyons, his wife. John Burwell turned out in Capt. Stephen Baldwin's company, Col. Sylvanus Seely's regiment of Morris county militia, 1780, at Connecticut Farms, N.J. He died 1825. Mrs. Mary Alice Burwell Burns ID No. 13327 Born in Illinois. Wife of Luther Burns. Descendant of John Burwell. Daughter of Moses T. Burwell and Isabella Goodfellow, his wife. See No 13326. I believe that these women are John W.'s sisters for several reasons:...

Researching my family history has changed so much since I started in 2000.  Then, I had a frustratingly slow dial-up connection.  I mostly surfed and posted on message boards.  I spent my lunch breaks in the bowels of the Los Angeles Central Library.  I remember stumbling upon my Burwell ancestors in the DAR lineage books.  I was excited when I found the biography of John H. Bryant, linking my Illinois Bryants to Massachusetts, and eventually, my immigrant ancestor, Abraham Bryant of Reading.  Even more rewarding, was piecing together the clues from city directories to my long-lost uncle and reconnecting the family after over 50 years. Many of those same resources I used back then are now available online.  Increasingly, you can access them for free. Today, I started with a short article on the remarriage of Moses T. Burwell, Jr. to Ada (Smith) Burwell on December 10, 1904, in Kansas City, Missouri.  [The article was published in the Col...

Various newspaper clippings: Mr. M. T. Burwell, a former old resident and banker of this city, now of Kansas City, Missouri, arrived here yesterday, on his way home from Chicago, and is visiting his relatives, W. J. Wilson, Evan Mattinson, Dr. Ragsdale, and his numerous friends here for a few days.  The people have a warm place in their hearts and homes for Mr. Burwell and his family. Mr. and Mrs. M. T. Burwell, of Wichita , Kansas , expect to visit their many friends here, arriving next week.  They will find a most cordial greeting. Mr. and Mrs. M. T. Burwell went to Hoopeston, and Oakland , to visit many friends, and will then return to their home at Wichita , Kansas . WILL ARRIVE TODAY. Two of Gibson City 's staunchest friends, Mr. M. T. Burwell and his daughter, Miss Nettie Burwell, of Kansas City , will arrive today for a ten days visit among their relatives, old friends and neighbors; they will receive a most cordial welcome. HANDSOMELY ENTERTAIN. ...

Invitation: Thos Burwell and Mose T. Burwell. Assisted By Will J. Wilson. At Home, After Contest. FRIDAY EVENING, NOV. 20, 1891. Residence Corner Church and 3d Streets. One of the most pleasant receptions of the season was given by Mr. Thos. Burwell and Mose T. Burwell, assisted by Will J. Wilson, at the elegant home of Messrs. Burwell on the corner of 3d and Church Street Friday eve.  The reception was given immediately after the contest, and although the weather was stormy and kept some away that were expected from abroad, over fifty were in attendance and one of the most enjoyable evenings was spent.  Among the honored guests from abroad were the Misses Earl, Mr. Earl; Mr. Rezner and Mr. Mason, of Paxton, and the Misses Rodman, of Saybrook.  The evening was taken up with games and social conversation.  An elegant banquet was partaken of, supervised by Miss Nettie Burwell who has charge of the home while Mr. and Mrs. Burwell are in Louisiana ....

ELEGANT HOME BURNS Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Wilson's Elegant Residence on North Sangamon Avenue and all Its contents burned to ashes About 9 o'clock Sunday night the Electric _____ plant fire bell called the people to North Sangamon Avenue where W. J. Wilson's elegant new home soon burned to the ground without saving anything but two chairs.  The family were part in bed and partly undressed and were driven out without a moment's warning, some of them hatless, some without shoes and some without clothes.  The fire was first noticed bursting through from a closet and in less than two minutes it had spread to the whole house.  The loss is estimated at $7,500 to $8,000, with insurance of only $2,700, in the Home Co., of New York , J. Will Jones, Agt.  The fire laddies were quickly on the scene and but for them the Rapp residence on the north would have burned.  The boys and little engine worked bravely, while many citizens by hard work saved the barn and thus sa...

GRAND OPENING OF THE BURWELL HOUSE A home thrown open to the "Boys," and the traveling public of which Gibson may justly feel proud.    A host of invited guests from home and abroad partake of a banquet at 6 p.m. this evening prepared by J. R. Lott and wife the genial host and hostess. Who will always be found pleasant people. For some months, attention of our home people and visitors from abroad has been directed to the fine brick hotel being erected by Mr. M. T. Burwell, a well-known banker, real estate broker, and wealthy citizen.    The hotel building is 26 x 160 feet, two stories high, and basement, built very completely with every convenience usual to a first class hotel, the whole structure costing about $15,000.    To-day this hotel is opened to the public by Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Lott who formerly kept the St. Nicholas in this city, and who enjoy a wide reputation for keeping a first class hotel, and a hearty patronage in the past, together with...

Isaac P. McDowell was born August 17, 1824, in Scioto county, Ohio .  When he was but 4 years old his parents moved to Indiana , settling in Tippecanoe county, where they lived for a few years and then moved to Montgomery county where they made their home until 1850.  In January, 1843, Mr. McDowell's father passed away and just previous to his death consigned to his care the keeping of a large family of children, mostly boys, of whom he was the eldest.  This trust, as in all other during his life he discharged faithfully for ten years thereafter, the greater part of which time was spent in teaching school, his brothers and sisters being among his pupils. [photograph] In the fall of 1845 Mr. McDowell came to Illinois and during the succeeding winter he taught the school in Avoca township.  In 1850 the family moved from Indiana to Avoca and three years later Mr. McDowell went to Pontiac where he engaged in the mercantile business in company with Messrs. ...

OBITUARY M. T. Burwell   The funeral of the late M. T. Burwell of Colorado City , Colo. , was held at the Methodist church in this city last Sunday.   The remains arrived Saturday, accompanied by his wife, his two sons, Guy of Kansas City, Mo., and Thomas of Colorado City, and his daughter, Mrs. Mary Burns and husband of Topeka , Kansas .   The services were conducted by Rev. F. A. McCarty.   The body was laid to rest in the Gibson cemetery by the grave of his first wife. Moses Thorp Burwell was born near Columbus, Ohio, July 16, 1844 and died near Garden City, Kansas,   Mar. 10, 1908, aged 63 years, 7 months and 24 days.   When a boy he came to Illinois with his parents and settled at Oakland , where he grew to manhood.   He was married on Oct. 5, 1865 to Miss Isabella Goodfellow in Clark county, Ohio .   He came with his bride to Paris , Ill. , where he engaged in business.   Later he removed to Champaign , and then to Fisher, where ...

DEATH GAVE NO WARNING M.T. BURWELL OF COLORADO CITY SUCCUMBED TO ATTACK OF HEART TROUBLE ON VISIT TO HIS FARM Summons Came with Scarcely a Moment' s Notice Had Been an Active Business Man Came Here for His Health With scarcely a moment of warning, death came to M. T. Burwell of Colorado City while he was at his ranch northwest of town last evening.   Mr. Burwell had been driving a great deal yesterday and after looking after his business at his farm, he complained that he was very tired and went into the house for a short rest before returning to Garden City.   He sat down on the edge of the bed and before anyone realized how seriously ill he was, death had resulted. Mr. Burwell, accompanied by Mrs. Burwell, came to Garden City about two weeks ago in order to look after his land interests near here.   He had been suffering with heart trouble at his home and he thought that the change in altitude might have a beneficial effect.   F...

Wm. Foos, President F. W. Foos, Cashier John Foos, Vice Pres. Capital $100,000 Surplus $80,000 SECOND NATIONAL BANK Springfield , O Mar 1, 1879 To Whom it May Concern I would state that the bearer M. T. Burwell a Banker at Gibson Ford County Ills. has loaned for myself & sons, my partner & his family, within the past four years about two hundred thousand dollars, secured by Trust Deeds on lands in Ills.   I have examined most of said lands, and consider every loan Mr. Burwell has made for us safe & well secured.   I would further state our business transactions with Mr. M. T. Burwell has been entirely satisfactory, not withstanding it has been large & extending through several years. As I own an improved farm of 4,000 acres in Mr. Burwell's neighborhood & keep it stocked, it requires my presence these several times through the year thereby enabling me to judge of the value of the loans Mr. Burwell has made. Wm F...

No. 1987 FIRST NATIONAL BANK I.P. McDowell, President J.F. Taylor, Vice President T.S.O. McDowell, Cashier J.V. McDowell, Cash'r. Fairbury , Ill. April 26th 1895   Hon. M. T. Burwell Wichita , Ks Dear Sir: Supposing you to be the chief civic official of your recently adopted city.   I desire to extend congratulations for your good luck, and wish you a most successful and happy "reign." I consider it, indeed, no small honor to be invested with the amount of authority implied in the term of mayor, especially when conferred by a voluntary voice of the people I bespeak for you a wise and first government and trust that, while forbearance is an inherent virtue in your nature, you may be exacting & prompt in the administration & meting out of justice to the good people of your city. I left Denver a few days ago after enjoying a winter's sojourn there of most excellent health; for which I desire to be grateful to the ...

Burwell's Opera Hall is to be lighted with 30 incandescent electric lights.   This will be a much-needed improvement.   Gibson [Gibson City, Illinois], thanks to Mr. Burwell [Moses Thorp Burwell], has one of the finest opera halls in the State, and it needs only the brilliant lighting to be now given it to make it still more attractive. Source: Newspaper clipping from the Burwell/Tate Family Papers, 1850-1930 (K0233), Folder 1. Burwell family scrapbook and photo album, 1879-1908, photocopied.* * BURWELL-TATE FAMILY PAPERS, 1850-1930 (K0233) , The State Historical Society of Missouri, 800 East 51st Street, 306 Miller Nichols Library UMKC, Kansas City, MO 64110.  

LOCATED HERE Mr. M. L. Burwell of Gibson , Ill. , and a very interesting and ideal family, consisting of eleven persons in all, including some grandchildren, have permanently located in the city. An EAGLE reporter had the pleasure yesterday of meeting Mr. Burwell, his wife and daughter, and it can be truthfully said of them that they are most excellent people.   Mr. Burwell has invested between $40,000 and $50,000 in this county, which is a very valuable addition, but nothing as compared to the value of the addition of his family to this community, Mrs. and Miss Burwell are ladies fitted both in mind and personal appearance to grace the highest circles of society in our land.   Source: Newspaper clipping from the Wichita Eagle, the Burwell/Tate Family Papers, 1850-1930 (K0233), Folder 1.  Burwell family scrapbook and photo album.*   The eleven members of Moses Burwell family probably included: his wife, Isabella; daughter Nettie B.; son John William...

Remember the days of gathering memories through photographs, newspaper clippings, greeting cards, and autograph albums?  What happens to those keepsakes when we are long gone?  Fortunately for me, my great-grandmother's first cousin Helen Burwell Gale (1910-1994) saved her family treasures and donated them to the University of Missouri Library at Kansas City. For a description of the holdings at the University*, go to: Burwell/Tate Family Papers (KC0233) Bernice Tate Burwell (1883-1960) Collection (KC0234) I will be posting stories from the Burwell/Tate Family Papers. Helen was a dancer in the 1920s and 1930s in Kansas City.  Photographs of Helen by Baron Siroon Missakian are online as part of the Baron Missakian Collection at the University of Missouri Library Systems Digital Library.  Go to: Photographs of Helen Burwell . * The personal papers are now part of the Kansas City Manuscript Collections at the State Historical Society of Missouri, located  at...

William Burwell was an elusive figure.  He and his wife, Gertrude Bright Champion, married at a young age, had four children, and then divorced within a span of a few years in the late 1800's.  I asked my grandmother about her grandfather William.  She had no memory of him and did not know anything about him. When I started researching the Burwell line all I had was the name William Burwell that my grandmother wrote in my mother's baby book.  Generally, I knew that my mother's side came from Illinois and emigrated from England.  One of the first steps was to collect vital records.  William and Gertrude's August 1888 marriage certificate revealed that William (his name was listed as John W.), age 19, was born in Champaign County, Illinois.  His father was Moses T. Burwell.  His mother's maiden name was Goodfellow.  He resided in Normal, Illinois and worked at a fruit cannery.  Later research uncovered that his father owned the B...