They are so small, in fact, that there was room on Milton's for only the first line of a then-familiar couplet chosen to characterize his life: "Praises on tombs are idols vainly spent." The line that often accompanies it is, "A good man's name is his best monument."
The portrait is taken from Lucas County's 1881 history where a brief biography also will be found. Personally, I think you can detect a twinkle in his eye.
The Burrs came west to Lucas County during very early 1861 with two daughters, Minora and Josephine. Their son, Clarkson, was born here that spring. In addition to farming, Milton --- who had operated a steam saw mill with his brother in Ohio --- opened another near the Chariton River with a neighboring farmer, Lot Curtis.
If you'd like to read an earlier Lucas Countyan post about Milton, here's a link to the transcript of a letter he wrote to his former hometown newspaper, The Belmont Chronicle in St. Clairsville, Ohio, about a prairie fire near his new home during November of 1861.
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Another scrap of Milton's writing can be found in Charles Burr Todd's "A General History of the Burr Family," published in several editions between 1878 and 1902. And, yes, that Aaron Burr was a distant cousin.
Here's a portion of a letter from Milton that Charles included in his account of the family, describing the accident-prone nature and other characteristics of family members, including himself:
Mr. Burr is a farmer by occupation, an original abolitionist, and liberal in religious belief. In a very interesting letter to the compiler he mentions some of the peculiarities of his family as follows: "My grandfather, father, one or two other branches of the connection, and myself, were and are partially bald-headed. I also believe we, as a general thing, are addicted to gray hairs and failure of sight at an earlier age than is common.
From my grandfather to the youngest member of the family that I am acquainted with, I never knew a family so addicted to accident as ours. I have heard grandfather Burr speak of having a broken or dislocated hip; one of his sons died from a small burn on his knee, one was killed by the falling of a tree, one fell nearly 40 feet into a well but survived the shock.
My father narrowly escaped death several times by falling under different circumstances; one of my brothers has had both legs broken at different times, another was severely hurt by falling from a building, and yet another has no less than three times escaped death only by a hair's breadth in consequence of falling, while I am blind in one eye, lame in both feet and otherwise injured from the effect of accidental blows, falls and cuts. Of course the verdict of deficient caution would be rendered against us, but I never knew a family possessing more forethought on matters in general than ours.
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I decided to check early Chariton newspapers to see if the accident-prone nature he describes could be verified --- and it looks as if the record backs him up.
On Sept. 5, 1877, The Chariton Patriot reported, "M. J. Burr, of Warren township, fell out of his barn loft on Monday and cut a severe gash two inches long in his scalp by striking it against a wagon wheel in his descent."
Eleven years later, on June 18, 1888, The Chariton Democrat added this: "M.J. Burr, of Warren township, broke a rib by falling while trying to mount a horse. It did not hurt him much, however, as he went on with his usual work until evening, when he left fly a hearty sneeze, after which the pain in his side was so great as to require a physician. He thinks the fall in the morning slightly fractured the rib, and the sneeze completely broke it. "
Milton managed to survive the accidents, however, and died of heart failure on June 23, 1893, at the age of 71.
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Here's the biography from the 1881 history that accompanied the portrait above:
BURR, MILTON J., post-office Chariton. Born October 27, 1821, in Jefferson county, Ohio. Is of English and German descent. In 1836, he moved with his parents to Belmont county, Ohio, residing there until of age --- was educated in the common schools. Remained on the farm with his father until 26 years of age. Was married November 4, 1847, to Alcinda M., daughter of Joseph and Esther Bond, born July 31, 1824, in Belmont county. In 1848 he moved to Tipton, Indiana, returned to Ohio same year and went on a rented farm. Some years later, in connection with a brother, he put up a steam saw mill, and operated a coal mine at the same time. Came to Lucas county, Iowa, in 1861, and located where he now resides, on 50 acres of raw land. Has since bought 130 acres; has ninety acres in home farm under a high state of cultivation. Has extra good hedge fences, good house and barn, outbuildings, etc. In 1862, he and Lot Curtis put up a steam saw mill, which they ran three years successfully. Has been county supervisor one and part of another term. He has the family biography of his ancestors for six or seven generations, with the coat of arms, constituting a record of which he may justly feel proud. He is a man of strong convictions, of more than ordinary ability. The result of their union brought them five children: Minora E., Josie S., Clarkson C., living, and two infants deceased.
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