My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH B. BURROWS is one of the leading and representative citizens of Johnson County, and his birth occurred on the farm on which he now lives, September 22, 1849. This estate lies on section 25, township 48, range 25, and is well improved in every particular.

The parents of our subject were James B. and Lucy J. (Clark) Burrows, the former of whom was born near Lexington, N. C., August 22, 1815, and the latter was a native of Virginia, her birth occurring near Richmond, March 8, 1821. The maternal grandparents of Joseph B. were Joseph and Lucy J. Clark, who were classed among the very earliest settlers of this part of Missouri. The former died in Lafayette County, this state, about 1860, and his wife spent the remaining years of her life with our subject, dying about eight years later. Their nine children were Zack, Joseph, David, Harriet, Mary, Charlie, James, Alexander and Lucy. They are all living, with the exception of Mary, who died shortly after her marriage; Alexander, whose death occurred at the age of twenty-one years; and James.

The paternal grandfather, J. B. Burrows, was born in North Carolina, and with his estimable wife spent his entire life there. The only survivor of their family is Emily, who is married and makes her home near the old place in North Carolina.

James B. Burrows left home upon attaining his majority, and never faltered or turned back until reaching Johnson County, this state. He had been well educated in the schools near his home, and after locating here began teaching. About this time he entered from the Government the land which is now owned by our subject, and, erecting thereon a log house, “batched” for several years, in the mean time still being occupied in teaching. He was then married to Miss Lucy J. Clark, the date of the event being December 5, 1844.

The parents of our subject continued to live in the little log house for many years, and it was in this rude structure that James Burrows died, February 3, 1853. To them were born six children. The birth of the eldest, Mary E., occurred October 3, 1845; she married Joseph Buckmaster, of Delaware, and they are both now living near Ft. Scott, Kan., where Mr. Buckmaster is engaged in the nursery business. Lucy A. was born November 5, 1846, and is now the widow of Henry Gossette; she makes her home on a good farm five miles south of Holden. James W. D. was born November 15, 1847, and died August 28, 1850. The fourth in order of birth was our subject. The fifth died in infancy unnamed. William D. was born February 19, 1852, and departed this life in August of the following year.

Our subject remained at home until his marriage, November 2, 1881. The lady of his choice was Miss Augusta P. Kuhlmann, who was born in this county, March 15, 1863. She was the daughter of Henry J. and Catharine C. (Borgstedt) Kuhlmann, natives of Germany. The parents, who were married in the Fatherland, set sail for America in 1854, and continued their way westward until landing in Johnson County, Mo. They were possessed of limited means, and, being unable to purchase land at first, rented a tract, which they cultivated with success. Mr. Kulhmann afterward bought a farm, located three miles east of where their daughter is now residing. They made their home there until 1891, when they decided to take life easy, and moved to Concordia, where they are now living retired. They became the parents of ten children. Hannah, who married Henry Westerhouse, is now deceased, and her husband is engaged in farming near Concordia; Henry J. chose for his wife Miss Emma Hader, and both are now living on an estate two miles southeast of our subject’s farm; Amelia, now deceased, was the wife of Fritz Tebbenkamp, who lives near Oak Grove Church; Mary, the deceased wife of George Amick, formerly lived in southwestern Kansas; Mrs. Burrows was the next-born; Joseph married Emma Walkenhorst, and occupies the old homestead; Sarah is the wife of Ennis G. Avery, of Kansas City, her husband being baggage-master of the Chicago & Alton Railroad; Ida married Julius Detert, a lumber merchant of Concordia; Harman, who is unmarried, is engaged in the wholesale clothing business in Kansas; and Charles died in infancy.

After his marriage our subject moved direct to his present farm, on which he has erected substantial buildings of all descriptions, and many other improvements which attract the gaze of the passer-by. His mother made her home with him until May 7, 1894, when she became an inmate of her daughter’s household south of Holden. She is now seventy-five years of age.

To Mr. and Mrs. Burrows there have been born four children. Glennia S. was born April 2, 1885; James B., March 29, 1888; Minton, October 11, 1890; and Fanita, November 28, 1894. They have also taken into their hearts and home Walter Glore, whose birth occurred December 28, 1880.

In addition to raising the cereals, Mr. Burrows devotes much time and attention to the breeding of swine, preferring the Chester-Whites and Berkshires, of which he has a large drove. He is a practical farmer, and, though trained in the old methods, he is not averse to adopting modern ideas pertaining to agriculture.

Both our subject and his excellent wife are earnest workers in the Presbyterian Church, of which they are ardent members, worshiping with the congregation at New Hope. Politically he is a strong Republican, and always votes for the candidates of that party.

The mother of our subject was three times married. On the death of James B. Burrows she became the wife of William Amick, who died in 1861, leaving her with four children: George M., born January 9, 1857; Dossell B., whose birth occurred February 27, 1858, and who was killed in April, 1883, near St. Clair, this state; Hattie C., born April 13, 1860; and William F., March 1, 1862. After the death of Mr. Amick she was married to George W. Buckmaster; he is also deceased, and she now makes her home with a daughter near Holden.