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Springfield, Massachusetts, Thornton W. Burgess, tombstone and grave, photo

Springfield, Massachusetts, Thornton W. Burgess, tombstone and grave, photo

The grave and tombstone of Thornton W. Burgess, Springfield, Massachusetts. Burgess was born on January 14, 1874 at Sandwich, Massachusetts. He is best known for his long series of books for children featuring a large number of animal characters including Peter Rabbit (a character by name originally created by Beatrix Potter), Reddy Fox, Johnny Chuck, Billy Possum, Jerry Muskrat, Prickly Porky, Happy Jack Squirrel, Jimmy Skunk and numerous others. The purpose of these books was not only to entertain children with colorful animal characters but also to teach about nature and conservation. More than 170 book titles were published between 1905 and 1965. In addition, between 1912 and 1960, Burgess wrote a daily newspaper column titled Bedtime Stories. When the newspaper column ended in 1960, Burgess had written 15,000 articles for the column. The books and the newspaper column were illustrated by Harrison Cady.

Thornton W. Burgess died on June 5, 1965 at Hampden, Massachusetts. Burgess was 91 years old. He is buried in Springfield Cemetery, Springfield, Massachusetts. Three more names are recorded on the tombstone: Nina E. Osborne, 1881-1906, his first wife; Fannie H. Phillips, 1872-1950, his second wife; and Caroline F. Burgess, 1850-1912, his mother.

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