My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Camden County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

Joseph W. Burhans, merchant, farmer and stock dealer, and the presiding judge of Camden County, Mo., was born in the State of New York, October 10, 1842, his father and mother, James and Eliza (Brown) Burhans, being natives of New York and Connecticut, and of English and German descent, respectively. In 1845, after their marriage, they moved to Rock County, Wis., where they engaged in farming. The father enlisted to serve in the War of 1812. He died July 1, 1865, in Rock County, Wis., at the age of sixty-nine years and six months, his wife’s death occurring in Stoutland, Mo., in 1883, at the age of sixty-six years. Her grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and she was the second wife of Mr. Burhans, and an active worker in the Baptist Church. The following are the names of their children: James W. Burhans, Richland, Mo. (half brother); Joseph W., Lavinia C. (Hudson), Mary E.(Manes), Stephen S., Frank D., Nancy E. and Adora. The last two children are deceased. Joseph W. Burhans grew to manhood in Wisconsin, and after obtaining sufficient education engaged in pedagoguing, which occupation he followed in Mason, Tazewell and Cass Counties, Ill., for about ten years, after which he came to Missouri (in July, 1872), locating in Stoutland, where he is now engaged in general merchandising, and is doing a business of over $20,000 per annum. He owns several large farms, including a tract of 2,000 acres in Kansas. In 1886 he was elected judge of Camden County on the Republican ticket, and is always one of the first men in the county to patronize worthy public enterprises and to aid church and educational institutions. He is one of the wealthiest men in the county, and deserves much credit for the success which has attended his efforts, for all his property, with the exception of about $800, has been acquired by his own exertions. On the 2d of August, 1871, he was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Waite, who was born and reared in Vermont. She moved to Illinois in 1867, and is a daughter of Jacob U. and Elizabeth (Ramsdall) Waite, who were also born in Vermont, and died in 1879 and 1872, respectively. They were the parents of the following children: Lizzie, Mary E., Daniel, Emma, George, Lottie (deceased), Pliny J. and Eva.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 46 biographies included in The History of Camden County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Camden County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Camden County, Missouri family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.