Death Claims C. C. Burr, Sr.
Aged Man Passed Away After 76 Years Residence Here
Charlie C. Burr, Sr., long a resident of this community and of this city, passed away at his home in the south part of town last Thursday forenoon. Mr. Burr was one of Smith County's very early settlers, having come here with his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Morrison M. Burr in 1872.
Last rites for Mr. Burr were held Saturday forenoon from the Simmons-Oliff Funeral Home in Smith Center. Oscar Grover, pastor of the First Christian church of this city conducted the services. A quartet from the church choir sang the hymns. They were Mr. and Mrs. Frazier L. Brown, Lawrence Kern and Mrs. Max Kern, with Mrs. Ed Kern as the piano accompanist. Burial was made in Fairview cemetery.
The flower bearers were the Mesdames Alice Sells, Gertrude Duer, Ilene Hannan, Marjorie Barron, Sylvia Bolton, Hilda Arnold, Rachel Jenkins and Minnie Hardin. The pallbearers were Ralph Hays, Harve Arnold, Charlie Weltmer, Clyde Arnold, Howard Hannan and Earl Sells.
Charles Chalmers Burr was born in Wells County, Indiana, near Montpelier, on December 3, 1853 and departed this life on September 9, 1948 at the age of 94 years, 9 months and 6 days.
He was the eldest son of Morrison and Hannah M. Burr's five children, who were Nancy E. Dewald, Lydia Ann Arnold, Lura M. Rorabaugh, George Burr, all of whom have preceded him in death.
Charlie, as he was known to countless people and all of Smith County, left Indiana with his mother and father in 1863 during the Civil War and went to Iowa where they resided until 1872. On Aug. 31, 1872, Charlie Burr arrived in Smith County where he his [sic] since resided.
He was married to Rachel Ellen Hays, daughter of Mitchell and Harriet Hays, on December 3, 1878, on his twenty-fifth birthday. To this union twelve children were born. Three have preceded him in death: Dora Burr Mathes in 1902, Glen Burr in 1908, and Lena Burr Buchanan in 1910.
Mr. Burr was a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge and was baptized in 107[sic] as a member of the Christian church.
Mr. Burr is survived by his wife, nine children: Mrs. Nellie Franzmathes of Kansas City, Mo; Mrs. Mable Simpson of Detroit, Mich; Carl Burr of Arkansas City, Kans; Paul Burr of Atchison, Kans; Mont, Charles Burr, Jr., Alpa, Leonard and Cleone all of Smith Center. Seven grandchildren, two great grandchildren other relatives and a host of friends.
Smith County Pioneer, September 16, 1948, page 1