Flashback: A Story of Two Families

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 1)

[page 1]

[corresponds to front cover]

Flashback:

A Story of Two Families

by Dorothy Dillenbeck Burrer

as told to

Polly Whitney Brehm Horn

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 2)

[page 2]

[corresponds to inside front cover]

[image: Burrer coat of arms]

Community Library

Sunbury, Ohio

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 3)

[page 3]

[corresponds to front matter]

c.1-8-1997 rc 12-14-2004

Flashback:

A Story of Two Families

The Burrer Family

The Dillenbeck Family

by Dorothy Dillenbeck Burrer

as told to

Polly Whitney Brehm Horn

BUR

929.21

BURRER

c.1

Community Library

Sunbury, OH

1996

[Community Library imprint 106212]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 4)

[page 4]

[corresponds to page ii of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[photo:The Burrer Mill barn as it looks from the yard behind the Burrer home.]

NO BOOKS

Suppose there were no books!

No books to read in cozy nooks!

No books to feed the hungry mind

And teach the art of being kind.

To link today with yesterday:

No books to charm us for a while,

To bring a tear or lure a smile.

But here are books, praise God above!

If we have books and we have love

We can dispose of other things;

'Tis books, not crowns, that make men kings.

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 5)

[page 5]

[corresponds to page iii of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

PREFACE

"There's a quiet movement taking place right now that deserves to become

a permanent tradition in this country: the purposeful creation of personal histories

that preserve our lives as we grow older, making the details of our time on earth

available to our descendants forever.

Whether written, spoken into a tape recorder, or recounted to the lens of

a video camera, your stories will be eagerly awaited by the most appreciative

audience of all-your family. And far into the future, your family will read your

words or listen to your voice and be grateful you took the time to put this gift

toegether for them." Taken from the back cover of Bob Greene's To Our Children's

Children.

This book came very close to having never been written. Due to failing eye

sight, old age, and a belief that (according to my personal credo), I could not

write about myself. My long time friend, Polly Horn, who is very competent on the

mysterious computer, said she would put my answers to her questions on the

computer. So here you have many flashbacks to the life styles of two families,

genealogy and all.

It was great luck to be born with parents who loved each other, my brother

and me.

It was great luck to meet Carleton Burrer at a dance in New York and end

up in Sunbury, Ohio, where I have been part of a loving family, had a meaningful

career, and a full life.

Although this book was begun after Carleton's death, many parts of it are

taken directly from words he had written at different times in his life. Polly and I

fondly call him our ghost writer and we are happy to be getting many of his

writings together into one book.

Since we are each a mix of genes of all the ancestors before us,

perhaps each of you-my son, my grandchildren and their heirs will learn a little

more about yourself from reading these flashbacks.

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 6)

[page 6]

[corresponds to page iv of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

Table of Contents

I. The Burrers 1

A. The Ancestors 2

1. Christoph Friedrich Burrer II 2

2. John Jacob Burrer 2

a. The Old Mills 3

(1) F.B. Sprague 4

b. New Burrer Mill 5

B. Johan's Sons

1. John E. Burrer 6

2. Gottleib Jacob Burrer 6

3. Frank Burrer 8

C. Gottleib Jacob (Jakie) and Amy Ann Burrer 6

1. Electricity 11

2. Their Family 16

a. Sprague Gammill Burrer 9

b. Karl Ormand and Daisy Sperry Burrer 24

c. Paul ParkerBurrer 35

d. Rudolph Burrer 37

e. Gordon Jacob Burrer 39

D.Carleton Sperry Burrer 46

1. Sunbury Electric Shop 55

II. Dillenbecks 58

A. The Ancestors 59

1. Captain Andrew Dillenbeck and Oriskany 60

2. Rev. Lambert Swackhammer 66

B. Andrew Luther and Pearl Whitbeck Dillenbeck 75

C. Dorothy MacNaughton Dillenbeck Burrer 79

III. Carleton and Dillie Burrer 104

A. John Dillen Burrer 107

B. Community Library 110

c. Sunbury Electric Shop Burns 115

D.Farmers bank 118

E. Grandchildren 121

F. Retirement 129

IV. Appendix Index 155

A. Burrers in Germany 156

B. Gammill Family 160

C. Sperry Family 166

D. Van Wie Family 173

E. Pages from Burrer Bible 177

F. John E. Burrer Family from Esther Burrer 179

G. Nannie E. Burrer Family from Owen Warren 180

H. Paul Barker Family 181

I. Gordon Burrer Family from Don Burrer 182

J. Historical Data on Two Burrer Homes 186

The following articles were written by Carleton S. Burrer:

K. Origin of the Name of Sunbury 189

L. The Burrers from The People Book 198

M. Early Delaware County, Sunbury and Communnity 209

N. Sunbury and Galena Communities and how they

were in 1938 When Sunbury Lions Originated 222

O. Why I Enjoy Living in Sunbury, Delaware County, 235

V. Bibliography 239

VI. Index 240

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 7)

[page 7]

[corresponds to unnumbered page]

FLASHBACK: EARLY BURRERS

[three images]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 8)

[page 8]

[corresponds to page 1 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[foldout: Carelton Burrer's Ancestors .1.]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 9)

[page 9]

[corresponds to page 2 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

Sunbury's Burrer family has been traced back to Hans Burrer born 1530 of

Cleebronn (spelled Kleebron in the old church records) in Germany. The name

passed through the sons as follows: Hans (1530) to Christoph (1590) to Christoph

(1628-1684) to Hans Jakob (1622-1715) to Johann Jakob (1701-1751) married to

Sabrina Cathrina Wehrer, to Christoph Friedrich (January 5, 1744-May 26, 1772).


Christoph Friedrich Burrer II

Christoph Friedrich who married Elizabetha Margaretha Fischer November

17, 1767 in Cleebronn, had at least 2 sons Gottlieb Johannes (1768-1827) and

Christoph Friedrich II (December 20, 1770-October 30, 1829).

Gottlieb married Susanna Barbara Eberlen October 30, 1792 in Botenheim,

Germany and they had 10 children: some were to stay in Germany while other

descendents immigrated to the America.

Christoph Friedrich II was born in Cleebron, Germany, December 20,

1770, and married Margaretha Walderich (born March 24, 1772) July 17, 1792

and became a farmer. To this union 9 children were born but only two of the

babies lived to be confirmed: Johanna Gottliebin (May 7, 1797) and Christoph

Friedrich III (April 24, 1802-April 4, 1884) who later settled in Elyria, Ohio. Their

mother died apparently in childbirth December 2, 1809.

Nine months later on September 30, 1810, Christoph II maried Maria Sara

Rosch (born July 18, 1788) in Hohenstein and they had eleven children. It

appears that only four babies lived to be confirmed: Friederike (1811-1832),

Johann Jacob (July 16, 1820-April 19, 1874), Johann Christian (October

14,1821-), and Johann Gottlieb (June 15, 1825-August 21, 1890). All three boys

married and immigrated to USA. It is Johann Jacob who brought his family to

Sunbury, Ohio.


Johan Jacob Burrer

Johann Jacob was born July 16, 1820, in Hohenstein, Germany, the 17th

child of Christoph II and the 8th child of Maria Sara. On February 6, 1844 he

married Barbara Catherine Bollinger of Hofen near Besigheim.

Barbara Catherine was the daughter of Gottleib Heinrich Bollinger,an

Alderman and Town Councilman in Hofen, and his wife, Christina Barbara Kontz,

Bollinger. Barbara Catherine told her children her grandfather Bollinger fought in

wars against Napoleon. At least four of her siblings also came to the USA.

Johann Jacob was a Burger (citizen) and Maurer Meister (master stone

mason) in Wurtenburg, Germany. He and Barbara Catherine had five children in

Germany: Louisa Catherine (7-23-1846), Gottleib Jacob (1-3-1848), Caroline

Catherine (2-5-1849), Catherine Christine (2-5-1851) and Fredericke (2-17-1852).

In July 1854, dropping the last 'n' in his name, Johan Jacob, his wife,

and five children left Germany in a sailing ship which arrived six weeks later in New

York. The family went by wagon to Medina County, Ohio, where his half-brother,

Christoph Friedrich, had already settled. They stayed with Johan Jacob's brother

for six months until a family fight resulted in Johan Jacob's moving his family to

Spring Street in Delaware,Ohio. Shortly after their arrival in Delaware, John

Edward was born (3-9-1855) having been carried by his mother during all the

rigors of the trip from Germany.

Apparently Johan Jacob's search for fine stone brought him to Sunbury

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 10)

[page 10]

[corresponds to page 3 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

where he purchased a log cabin on in-lot #19 (44 West Cherry Street) from

Andrew and Julia Heron on January 28, 1857 (Vol 59, page 224 Delaware County

Deed Records). The cabin was shingled on the outside and plastered on the

inside and became the family home until the death of Barbara Catherine in 1901.

In this home the last three children were born: Nannie E.(9/20/1857-2/4/1931),

Heinrich (1859), and Frank (1863). The home was last purchased by the Village

of Sunbury in 1995.

In August 1857, Johan Jacob purchased a plot of land along the Big

Walnut Creek from John Knox as a 'Stone Purchase' where he and his eldest son

later became partners with Henry Fleckner in the operation of the quarry. Johan

Jacob's oldest daughter, Louise Catherine, married Fleckner and they lived in the

house now standing at 10 Walnut Street at the east end of Cherry Street. (They

had two children: Charles R. (1867-1867) and Julia (1874-1881).

In 1867 Burrer bought an empty lot at 35 South Columbus Street just north

of the Myers Inn, then a hotel. On this lot he built a tavern, small store and

bakery. Under the building was a small sub-basement which was used for natural

refrigeration. People attending the periodic stock sales on the southwest corner

of the village square stopped here for refreshments and a light lunch. When the

building was torn down by Lawsons' in 1985, stone

from the building was given to Community Library, owner of the Myers' Inn. The stone was

transferred to the Big Walnut Area Historical Society with the building in 1994.

Business in the tavern, store, bakery must

have prospered for the family along with Johan

Jacob's work as a stone mason. He passed his

knowledge of the trade along to his eldest son,

Gottlieb Jacob.


Bailey Mill

To be true to history, one must leave our

story and discuss another mill. Carleton has written

the first mill in Sunbury was constructed southeast

of town on Granville Road just south of Big Walnut

Creek near the juncture with Rattlesnake Creek by

Nicholas Manville in 1810. The ownership of this mill passed to Major Strong in

1817, and then to Eleazor Gaylord in 1825 thus became known as the Gaylord

Mill. It never reported to mill white flour. Since this mill did not operate as long,

the Burrer Mill has the distinction of being the longest operating mill. Back to our story.

In 1871, Burrer and his son, Gottleib Jacob (then 23 years of age),

purchased from Henry and Sarah Boyd, the old 'Bailey'water-powered mill which

had been built in 1842 by Samuel Peck and T.P. Myers to operate as a sawmill.

Mr. Bailey bought the mill in 1848 and added machinery for making flour and

grinding 'grists'(small batches of grain) by means of stone 'Buhrs'. This mill was

located in the bottom land along Big Walnut Creek behind Fleckner's barn. The

creek had been diverted further up stream to flow into a pond and there was a

'right-of-way' included for a tail-race through John Knox's land to carry run-off

[photo: Gottleib Jacob Burrer]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 11)

[page 11]

[corresponds to page 4 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

from the water wheel to a point farther down stream. This mill property containing

a little over 26 acres of land (in addition to the right-of-way) was purchased for

$3500. Mr. Boyd had previously purchased the Van Sickle Mill, the first in Trenton

Township from his brother, Jacob Boyd, and had moved its machinery into the

'Bailey' Mill.

The Van Sickle Mill had been built in 1845 with a 'brush' dam across the

Big Walnut about one half mile northeast of Sunbury. The 'brush' dam was

replaced with planks. John Van Sickle sold the mill to E.M. Condit who

operated it from 1855 to 1862 and then sold it to Jacob Boyd. F.B. Sprague, a

Justice of the Peace who certified the Burrer-Boyd purchase agreement on June

16, 1871, had expertise in the milling business and bought in as a partner with the

Burrer father and son.


F.B. Sprague

This partner in the early mill was born in Delaware July 16, 1825 to Pardon

and Mary Meeker Sprague. Pardon was born in the east and migrated through

Zanesville and Granville in 1816. Mary was the daughter of Forest Meeker (born

in Pennsylvania) who came to Stratford, Ohio, in 1811. Pardon was Sheriff for two

terms before entering the State Legislature. He died in 1828 at 40 years of age.

F.B. moved his family which included C.P. to Sunbury in 1868. C.P.

worked with Kimball & Armstrong in their store, then with Wayman Perfect for a

year before studying telegraphy with his brother who kept the Railway Office in

Sunbury. On March 18, 1877, he married Ada M. Payne (daughter of N.H. Payne

of Sunbury) and August 1, 1877 he became Station Agent. Meanwhile F.B.

Sprague became Probate Judge in 1875 after being Justice of the Peace. He

soon lost interest in the milling business.

It was not long before it became obvious the creek flow was not strong

enough six months of the year to carry the business of the mill so land was

purchased at the northeast corner of North and

North Columbus Streets where a steam

powered mill would be built. The outlines of the old

mill race and some building foundations can still be

seen in the spring of the year before the underbrush

obscures the area.

Carleton Burrer has done much to

document the details

of the mill.

Johan Jacob

died on April 18, 1874,

at the age of 53 and

did not see the mill

moved from the creek

site. At the time of his

death two more

daughters were

married: Caroline

Catherine had married

[photo: Gottlieb Jacob Burrer]

[photo: Christine Burrer Rice]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 12)

[page 12]

[corresponds to page 5 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families ]

Daniel Miller of Delaware, and Catherine Christine married Charles H. Rice. His

son Heinrich died the month before his father at the age of 14. Johan Jacob was

also survived by his widow (now 54), Gottlieb Jacob (26), John E. (20), Nannie

(18), and Frank (12). Gottlieb Jacob administered his father's estate and

rearranged ownership of the properties to continue operation of the tavern (now

a bakery and a store) and the mill.


Mill Moved into Town

East of the site chosen for the new mill at the corner of North Vernon and

North Streets, Samuel Shiver Gammill was operating a saw mill and Hoop Factory

using steam power. Mr. Gammill, who was also an excellent builder, agreed to

build the new mill. Foundations were laid for a frame structure for the mill

and one of stone for the boiler and engine room. The new mill was to use the excess

end-products (slabs and saw-dust) to fire the new boiler. Accordingly, an

exceptionally large and tall smoke stack was erected to permit burning of this fuel

with safety in the quantities needed. Pictures of the old mill can be seen at 46 N.

Columbus Street.


[photo: Burrer Mill-from North Street. Man on left in big door
is Jakie Burrer. Second man from

right in same

door is Parker Burrer.]


In 1875 the machinery and equipment from the old mill were moved into

town and a steam engine was purchased in Mount Vernon to supply power. This

piece of equipment took advantage of the newest and the oldest forms of

transportation in the community. Due to the incompletion of the new railroad

trestle across Big Walnut, the engine came by railroad to the Big Walnut Creek

where it had to be unloaded at one of the quarries and brought across the creek

and into town by ox-drawn wagon to the new mill. On December 1, 1879, (Deed

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 13)

[page 13]

[corresponds to page 6 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families ]

Record 74, page 380), Jakie and his wife, Amy, conveyed to Louisa C. (Mrs.

Henry) Fleckner, the Boyd (Bailey) Mill property since it was no longer needed for

the mill.

In the new mill, grain was ground between rotating grooved stones or

'buhrs' driven by steam power. Buhrs cut from local stone were too soft to retain

sharpening. The best material for making these buhrs was then obtainable only

in France and had to be cut in segments to facilitate handling in shipment. In

1996, one of these made of cut and fitted granite, held together by a wide band

of thick steel was being preserved on the patio south of the Burrer residence at

46 N. Columbus Street. The mate of the stone was in the custody of R.F.Sherfy.


Gottlieb Jacob Burrer and

Amy Ann Gammill Marry

On May 26, 1875 Jakie and Amy Ann

Gammill (whose genealogy is included in the

appendix to this volume) married in her parents'

home. Amy was born in Porter Township in 1858

and spent her life in this community. Her father

Samuel Shriver Gammill built a house for them

across from the mill on the south side of North

Street designated as 46 North Columbus Street

which has remained in the Burrer family. At the

time the streets were not paved and there was an

open ditch between the mill and the house. When

the streets were paved a large tile covered with fill

ran through this ditch to Prairie Run.

The Sunbury Mill flourished in its new

location. Farmers from miles around brought their

grain by wagon or horseback and sometimes had to

wait hours for their "turn." In 1886 the stone buhrs

were replaced by steel roller mills. Soon thereafter

"White Loaf Flour" and other milling products were being manufactured and

shipped out of the area to various markets.


Jakie's Brothers and Sisters

After the death of their father and

Sprague's becoming judge, the Burrer

Brothers operated the mill-Jakie, John E.

and 12-year-old Frank. As Jakie began to

raise his own family, his brothers began to

pursue other interests.

John E. Burrer was more active in

the bakery and the store. In 1893 at the

age of 38, he married Margaret, daughter of

Remolus Hyatt. Like John she had grown

up in a log cabin located just west of 61,

north of the intersection of State Route 3

[photo: Jakie and Amy Burrer]

[photo: Jakie and Amy Burrer's Home

46 North columbus Street

Sunbury, Ohio][corresponds to page 7 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families ]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 14)

[page 14]

[corresponds to page 7 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families ]


THE VILLAGE OFFICIALS

[photo: LLOYD M. BELL MAYOR]

[photo: DR. W.O.PHILLIPS COUNCILMAN]

[photo: HARVEY HUPP COUNCILMAN]

[photo: W.M. KASSON COUNCILMAN]

[photo: REV. JOS. LONG COUNCILMAN]

[photo: JOHN E. BURRER COUNCILMAN]

[photo: HARRY BELL TREASURER]

[photo: S.ROSS BEST CLERK]

[photo: LEWIS EVANS MARSHALL]

[photo: MR. DAVIDSON STREET COMMISSIONER]

1906

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 15)

[page 15]

[corresponds to page 8 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families ]

and 36 in Sunbury. It too has been sided and plastered so no one knew it was

a cabin. John E. and Margaret moved into rooms over the bakery and had three

children: Esther (5-28-1894), Arthur Merton (8-1-1896) and Frank (6-28-1898).

Parker Burrer often told the story of going to John's bakery and coming

home with 6 large loaves of bread for only twenty-five cents.

In 1899 this building and lot were sold to Mr. J. W. Barker who continued

to operate the business there until he sold it in 1906 to Mr. C.A. Root who came

from Pickaway County. Robert Gelston came to town and operated the business

from 1913 to 1919 and lived in the building.

In 1900 John E. purchased a flour and grist mill in Centerburg and moved

his family there. Two more children were born: George Hyatt (May 10-1902) and

Ralph Henry (10-12-1909).

Business was good for the family in Centerburg. John E. became a

councilman and prominent businessman. However the mill dust began to take its

toll on him so in 1910 he sold the mill to his brother, Jakie, and moved to

Delaware, Ohio, where he purchased a bakery on the north side of Winter Street

on the corner of the first alley west of Bun's Restaurant and Bakery. They bought

a home on West William Street. Unfortunately, the bakery in Delaware did not

prove to be profitable and John E. became an engineer in a mill in Prospect,

Ohio. His health again made him leave the mill profession, so he opened a

delicatessen in Delaware which also failed to succeed. He moved his family to

Westerville and set his youngest son, Ralph, up in the shoe business. At the age

of 77, he passed away on December 24, 1932, and is buried in Sunbury

Cemetery. His son, Ralph Henry, moved his shoe store to Delaware where it was

very successful. He raised a family of four children (another died at birth) and

passed away at age 66 in 1975.

John's eldest child, Esther, retired from a lifetime as a school librarian, lived

in Delaware. She told Carleton Burrer the family had a total of 75 cents to

get started when they moved to Centerburg so many years before.

Fredericka Burrer married Charles Crawford. They had no children.

Nannie E. Burrer married

Thomas R. Payne, son of

Harrison and Adaline (Goodrich)

Payne on June 21, 1879.

Thomas was a hardware

merchant in Sunbury. (See the

Appendix of this book for more

about this family.)

Frank Burrer never married but continued to live

with his mother and help with

the operations in the mill.

However, when his mother died

August 29, 1901, he moved to Westerville, built a mill there and

operated it until his death in December 27, 1942. The log-

cabin home in Sunbury was

[photo: Boys in the Burrer Living Room]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 16)

[page 16]

[corresponds to page 9 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families ]

deeded to A.D. Gammill on September 25. 1901.
(Deed Record Vol. 116, page 106.)


Jakie and Amy's Family

Five boys were born to Gottlieb Jacob and Amy Burrer:
Sprague Gammill

(3-7-1876), Karl Ormand (8-22-1879), Paul Parker (June 6, 1886),
Rudolph Odell

(2-15-1888) and Gordon Jacob Burrer (2-2-1894).
"At least no two were in diapers

at the same time." commented Dilly.

Sprague Gammill Burrer

Sprague, the first born was named after the

partner and then Probate Judge, F. B. Sprague.

He was killed while playing in the mill.

The following has been preserved in the

Townley-Ports Scrapbook in the historical files

at the Community Library.


HORRIBLE ACCIDENT

Caught on a Revolving Shaft and Thrashed to Death.

Last Friday morning about 1 o'clock the

terrible news flashed from mouth to mouth that

Sprague Burrer, the 10 year old son of G.J.

Burrer had been killed by machinery in his

father's mill.

We immediately went to

the house and there in the

mangled form of that child

beheld the most horrible and

sickening sight it has ever

been out lot to witness.

It seems that he with his brother, still younger, and two
of S.S. Gammill's little boys

were playing in the basement of the mill; and had put a string
around the end of a shaft

to see it wind up. When trying to get the string off, the shaft
caught in his loose waist and

wound it up in such a manner as to bring the shaft under his left arm,
and there he

whirled at the rate from 150 to 200 revolutions per minute,
his feet striking four times

every revolution, first against a sill overhead, then an upright beam,
then the floor, and last

against the corner of a rack suspended from the ceiling,
breaking and tearing them off

almost piece by piece and throwing a circle of blood
and pieces of flesh on everything

near.

His father and uncle, John Burrer, were in the mill
just above and hearing him striking

against the floor thought some of the machinery had broken
and both hurried down to

see what it was, and not until they saw him in that
horrible position did the awful truth

dawn upon their minds with almost a paralyzing shock.
The father rushed back to throw

the belt from the pulley, and the other to the engine to stop it,
then back again just as he

[photo: Sprague Burrer]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 17)

[page 17]

[corresponds to page 10 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]


was going around the last time. He tried to pull him off the shaft
but could not until he

turned him back three or four times to unwind his clothing.
As he was being carried

across the road he put his arms around his uncle and spoke
for the first time sayin, "Oh,

Uncle John!" and from that time on till he died, about five hours
later he knew all that was

being done. Drs. WIlliams and Mosher were immediately summoned
and did everything

in their power to relieve his suffering. On examination they found
that both feet were torn

off at the ankles, and were just hanging by a little flesh,
the ribs on the left side were

crushed in and some of them broken in several pieces.

Stimulants were constantly given him but he did not rally
and continued to grow

weaker until about half past two o'clock when his spirit left the body
and returned to God

who gave it.

All the assistance that could be rendered by
sympathizing friends was kindly given the

bereaved parents. The funeral was held at half past two o'clock
at the M.E. Church

Sunday afternoon, Rev. Jas. Matlock officiating. The church was crowded
with the many

friends who had assembled to pay their last tribute of respect,
and almost as many

remained outside the church."

This incident must have truly scared Amy but she continued to
allow the

other boys to spend time in and around the mill throughout their
childhood and

teen years. Knowing the perils of childhood around such a mass of unprotected

drive belts, pulleys, sprockets, gears, clutches, engines fly-wheels,
rotating, shaking

and reciprocating machinery, it is indeed a miracle that all of the other boys were

not injured.


Community Activities

Early in their married life, G.J. and Amy became interested
in the Baptist

Church and took an active part in it. Their names appear in the
church records

for the building of a parsonage

(still used in 1996) and again in

the replacement of the old

church building with the new

brick structure in 1907. Indeed,

one young man from the

community received enough

encouragement from them to

continue his studies for the

ministry and became prominent

in the field. G.J. and Amy saw

to it that all their boys attended

Sunday School and Church

regularly.

Although Amy wasn't a

great cook, her husband would

send the farmers waiting for

their grain to the house for a

bite. Amy probably fed them

pancakes from the mill's own

pancake flour.

Amy was known for

beans! When her life was too

[photo: Amy and Gordon Burrer]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 18)

[page 18]

[corresponds to page 11 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

busy to cook-such as washday-she cooked beans. When she was busy calling

on the new folks in town with her friend, Pearle Whitney, she cooked beans.

Like many people from her generation, Amy was very frugal. Her

philosophy was to waste nothing. Most people who burned coal had it delivered

to the house where it slid down a coal chute, through a basement window, into

the coal cellar. If Amy was out walking after the coal deliveries and saw coal lying

on the ground, she would pick it up, put it in her purse, and add it to her

household supply when she got home.

Louise Sheets used to come spend a week with her Aunt Amy each

summer. Since Amy only had boys, she treated Louise like royalty. Each visit

they went shopping and Louise got a store-bought dress, a real treat since her

mother made her clothes. Later Louise Sheetes owned her own clothing store,

The Litte Shoppe, facing the east side of Sunbury Square.

Jakie did not approve of Amy's two fun loving brothers, who managed to

get into trouble. One time one brother, who had a wooden leg, drove his buggy

into some wires after drinking and had to have his leg replaced.

Someone stole something from the other brother and he found out who did

it. He took matters into his own hands and went to the party's house where he

broke in and stole his things back. Unfortunately, he got caught and had to serve

a sentence. Jakie decided the uncles were a bad influence on his boys and

refused to allow them to be associated with his brothers-in-law.

[photo: Flouring Mill and Home of G.J. Burrer in 1909]


Electricity Comes to Sunbury

Carleton Burrer wrote the following account for Sunbury's Sesquicentennial book

of the coming of electricity to Sunbury.

Soon after 1900, electricity was becoming popular and useful in cities

and the Burrer boys (Karl, Parker, Rudolph and Gordon and their father

Jakie) recognized the advantages and convenience this new energy could

provide if made available in the village. Steam pressure built up in the

boilers to operate the mill during the day, could not be utilized and therefor

wasted after the mill shut down in the evening. Realizing that this power

was already available, they purchased and installed a belt driven 'Dynamo'

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 19)

[page 19]

[corresponds to page 12 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

to make electricity for use in the mill and to distribute throughout the

village. A few lights were strung around the engine room and in the mill.

Wires were run to the house and across the street to the Methodist Church

(then located across North Columbus Street from the mill) which was one

of the first customers. Then as fast as the boys could recruit

'knowledgeable' help, lines were extended to other nearby buildings and

houses. Wires were extended along the streets and across back lots as

more and more citizens determined that electricity was practical and 'here

to stay' and therefore they should have it.

"The Blakely-Williams Store at the corner of Vernon and Cherry Streets

was the first mercantile building to have the new lights. Mrs. Kimball, the

banker's wife, already having the finest gas light fixtures then available

had the electricity installed just to run her water pump. In the beginning and

for sometime thereafter, service was provided from dusk until midnight, and

if something went wrong, there would be no electricity at all."

Dilly told how Jakie determined when it was

time to turn off the electricity. Each night he would

take a page from an old Bible which was coming

unbound and head to the mill. When he finished

reading the page, Jakie would turn off the electricity

for the town.

One night, Joe Landon had a hot appendix

which needed to be removed. The electricity had

already been cut off for the night when the doctor

knocked on Jakie's door and asked to have it turned

on so he could operate. Jakie fired the mill and the

entire town was bathed in light while the doctor

operated on Joe on the Landon's kitchen table at 52

Otis Street. Joe gave Jakie the credit for saving his

life.

"Soon the first street lights were installed,

one on each corner of the square and one at

the mill. These were of the carbon-arc type and

produce a very brilliant, although flickering light.

Gas street lights were previously used and Charlie Gaylord, who

lived just south of the Baptist Church, had the job to light them each

night. He had a long pole with a taper and a key on the end to

open the valve and ignite the gas. Turning them off required

another trip around the square for Charlie.

"It wasn't long before the need for longer hours of elecrtic

service and enlargement of the generating facilities became

necessary. The wood fueled boilers were no longer capable of

supplying the demand. To correct the situation, provide for future

increases and more flexible operation, the steam power was

abandoned and two stationery, internal combustion engines were

installed. They were natural-gas fueled and water-cooled. One was

a 2-cylinder with 25-horsepower and the other 3-cylinder with 35 hp.

Both were manufactured by Reeves and were joined together with

[photo: G.J. 'Jakie' Burrer]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 20)

[page 20]

[corresponds to page 13 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

a system of line-shafting, belts, and clutches so that either or both engines

could be used to drive the mill machinery and/or the generator as desired.

One of the first 'two-phased' generators to be used in this area was

secured and installed by the Erner & Hopkins Electric Company of

Columbus. The installation was supervised by M.A. (Milt) Pixley of Ohio

State football fame, this being his first such undertaking as an Electrical

Engineer.


[photo: Employees of the Mill outside the south door: Charles Draper, Marion Parks

Jesse Doane and K.O.Burrer]

"The engine room was enlarged and covered with a poured-concrete

and steel roof. Arches to support the roof were made from structural

members obtained from a steel bridge then being replaced along the

Croton Road (Hartford Road).

"Large pressure tanks were installed for the storage of compressed air,

necessary for use in starting the engines. A concrete 'pool' or open tank,

was constructed in the outside area at the rear of the buildings and the

necessary piping installed to circulate water for cooling the engines.

"This new system was very satisfactory for a few years until the electrical

'load' again called for more capacity. A 6-hp, 2-cylinder Westinghouse

engine and an additional belt-driven generator were installed and the

earlier equipment was retained for stand-by and peak load assistance....

"The final modernization of the electric plant at the mill was

accomplished with the installation of a still larger generator and exciter.

This was direct-connected to a 90hp Anderson Oil Engine and its output

fed into a new and larger switchboard. This engine was of a new and

improved type, utilizing the "Diesel' method of fuel injection and

combustion. No spark plugs or ignition system was needed, but to start

the engine one had to use a blow-torch to heat special firing pins red hot,

before applying the compressed air to 'turn it over.' If the plugs cooled too

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 21)

[page 21]

[corresponds to page 14 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

much before the air could be applied, the injected oil spray would fail to

ignite and the engine would not start. It would then be necessary to reheat

the plugs and start over again. Once started, however, the plugs would

stay hot and although the engine had only two cylinders, the flywheels

were very large and heavy thus enabling it to provide exceptionally smooth

and efficient power with no noticeable flickering of lights. With the old

system it was a common occurrence for the lights to dim down and

frequently go completely out. Whenever that happened one would hear

the expression - "Jakie's belt's slippin." It was rumored that 'certain small

boys' of the day, found ways to make a belt 'fly-off' at the most

inopportune times. This not only caused Jakie considerable consternation

and exasperation but was a great inconvenience to the citizenry to have to

sit in the dark during some community gathering while he or one of the

boys put the belt back on the pulleys and got things going again. The

patrons and operator of the early movie theatre would be especially

unhappy about it. One can imagine how unreliable electric clocks would

have been had they been available."

"Just prior to the early 1920's, demand for electrical energy began to

develop in the rural areas and small, individual light plants were becoming

popular. The names "Delco-Light" and Lalley-Light" appeared in the farm

journals and electrical 'trade' papers. Recognizing an opportunity to

expand in an allied business, the mill operators formed the Ohio Lalley

Light Co., and established sales offices on North Sandusky Street in

Delaware and on the North High Street viaduct in Columbus. Their

franchise encompassed the central Ohio area and installations were made

and services provided as far away as Marysville and Bellefountaine. The

'plants' and batteries were purchased in carload lots and business

flourished for a few years. ...

"Electrical equipment manufacturers developed 32 volt, direct-current

appliances and motors for use on these systems and such items as fans,

vacuum sweepers, toasters and irons as well as water pumps and washing

machines became available. Due to the fact that very heavy wires were

required to 'carry' the current for more than very short distances, it was

impractical to attempt to use more than just a few lights in outlying

buildings.

"The small light plants and the batteries themselves were also incapable

of supplying current for very heavy loads, except for short periods of time.

The lady-of-the house, therefore had to be sure that on ironing day, too

much current would not be needed for other purposes and that the storage

batteries were in good condition and well charged.

"Westinghouse and Delco (and perhaps others) later produced instant-

start systems which generated 110 volts. Whenever a light was turned on

or a motor connected, the generator would start and keep running until

current was no longer needed. This seemed like a good idea but was

short lived because at about the time of the introduction of these systems,

power companies were beginning to offer contracts for service and to

extend their lines into the more thickly populated rural areas where

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 22)

[page 22]

[corresponds to page 15 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

farmsteads were close enough together to justify the cost of the

extensions. Connections to these lines could be purchased on the basis

of a construction cost of about $2400.00 per mile of line. This cost was

divided by the number of customers per mile. Of course, those most

anxious to get the service usually divided up the cost per mile and

authorized construction, by passing those along the way who could not or

would not share the cost. Contracts were usually drawn, however, so that

after a specified time, additional connections could be purchased at a

reduced rate and after an additional length of time, taps could be obtained

free. Even though initial contracts were expensive, the former light plant

owners were glad to subscribe because their existing wiring could be used

with, usually, no revision and inconvenience and cost of maintaining the

private system was forever eliminated.

"Expansion of these power companies quickly eliminated the market for

its products and services and The Ohio Lalley Light Co., was forced to

liquidate its stock of plants, parts and equipment.

"In 1925-6, the Suburban Power Company with headquarters in Utica,

Ohio, offered to purchase the generating equipment at the mill and the

distribution and metering facilities from the mill owners and made

arrangements to secure current for resale from the Columbus Railway

Power and Light Co., whose recently constructed transmission line crossed

the Granville Road near the Big Walnut Creek. Their line was then serving

Westerville, Centerburg and Croton. The generating equipment and two

of the engines at the mill, being no longer needed, were then dismantled

and sold for use in other areas, leaving only the two Reeves gas engines

to operate the mill. The Suburban Company then opened an operating

headquarters and an appliance store in the glazed tile business building,

later designated as 17 E. Granville Street (and torn down in 1982 for the

parking lot at the Municipal Building). Sales people, line construction

engineers, and construction men operating from there extended the

distribution system very rapidly and appliance sales were promoted."

"Carleton recalled the first electric ironer (a Thor) was purchased by

Phoebe (Mrs. Henry S.) Cook. She was then operating a rooming house

at her residence on the west side of the square and wanted to iron her

linen. In that same year, Rudolph Burrer purchased the first household

refrigerator, a Kelvinator with a wood-frame cabinet. The installation was

made for his mother at their home on North Columbus Street. At that time

it was considered advisable to install motor and compressor in the

basement to avoid the operating noise and improve efficiency. An

engineer came over from Utica to do the work. The refrigerant used was

sulphur dioxide and any gas leak which developed would evacuate the

household in short order."

Let's leave Carleton's account of Sunbury's electrical progress and see how

this impacted the family. With the Burrer family on the cutting edge of the new

technologies, they were able to bring a new way of life to the community.

Individual members of the family were looked upon to serve on various civic and

educational committees.

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 23)

[page 23]

[corresponds to page 16 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]


Clifton, a community resort about a mile north of town on the Big Walnut Creek.

[photo: The Burrers at Camp Clifton July 1909

Mr. and Mrs G. J, Burrer, Mr. and Mrs. Parker Burrer,

Mr. and Mrs. K.O. Burrer, Rudolph Burrer, Gordon Burrer]

[photo: Swimming at

Camp Clifton's

Fern Bank

Mr. Cockrell

unknown,

Mrs. Cockrell,

Dr. Gerhardt,

Mrs. Sedgwick,

Mrs, Marshall

Smith,

Mrs. Amy Burrer]

[photo: Camp Picture on

July 30, 1911

K.O. is the second man

from the left in back.

Daisy is 4th seated lady

from left. Carleton is on

her lap.

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 24)

[page 24]

[corresponds to page 17 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

As the young men grew into adults, the family flourished. Although the rigors

of a family owned and operated business left them little free time, the family did

actively take part in church activities and spent time each summer at camp.

Camp Clifton flourished from the turn of the century until the 1920's.

Consisting of cabins, community kitchen with cooks, a dining room, and of course

a swimming hole, the camp made a perfect get-away from summer heat for those

who could afford the luxury. When it was no longer an exclusive resort, it

continued to be used for civic events such as Sunday School picnics, and a cook-

out spot for hikers. The Burrer family made good use of these facilities as shown

in these photographs.

Mr. and Mrs. G. J.

Burrer

Celebrate Fiftieth

Wedding

Anniversary

On May the twenty sixth eighteen

hundred and seventy five a group of

friends assembled at the home of Mr.

and Mrs. S. Gammill to witness the

wedding of their daughter Amy Ann

Gammill and Gottleib Burrer and on

Tuesday evening may twenty-five, five

of the original wedding party with sixty

relatives and friends were entertained

by the bride and groom of fifty years

ago, at their home in Columbus street

in honor of their Golden Wedding

Anniversary.

Mrs. Burrer was born in Porter

Townshp in 1858 and has spent her life

in the community. Mr. Burrer was born

in Wittenberg, Germany in August 1848

and came to this country with his

parents, when five years old. Located

at Sunbury in 1872, he entered the

milling business and has been a very

successful miller, giving all his personal

attention to this work, retiring only a

few years ago.

Their sons, K. O. Burrer and P.

P. Burrer continuing in the business so

well established by their father. R. O.

Burrer, assistant cashier of Farmer's

Bank of Sunbury, Gordon J, Burrer of

Huntington, W. Va., of two grandsons,

Carleton Sperry Burrer and Gerald

Jacob Burrer, one grand daughter,

Barbara Burrer, are the members of the

immediate family.

Mr. and Mrs. Burrer and their

entire family are members of the

Sunbury Baptist Church and the

Masonic organizations of the city.

Yellow candles and draperies

decorated the dining room, the same

color scheme being carried out in the

refreshments, most appropriate for the

Golden anniversary.

Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Davis sang two

numbers that were greatly appreciated.

Several beautiful and useful

remembrances were presented the host

and hostess, which will bring back

memories of a happy occasion for many

years to come.

Mr. and Mrs. J. Rowe, Mrs. A. R.

Sheets and Mrs. Aloia Barber, who

were present at the wedding fifty years

ago, and the following guests registered

in a yellow guest book. Dr. and Mrs.

H. J. Powell of Bowling Green,

Marshall Smith, Mr. Harold Smith,

Mrs. L. R. Smith. Mrs. Wendell Miller,

Mr, and Mrs. Charles Druggan, Mr.

and Mrs. James Cockrell, and Mr. and

Mrs. William Moore of Columbus, Mr.

and Mrs. Arch Gammill, Westerville,

Mr. and Mrs. P. W. Gage, Mr. and Mrs.

H. H. Snider, Delaware, Mr. and Mrs.

P. P. Burrer, Gerald Burrer and

Barbara Burrer, Mr. and Mrs. Clyde

Gammill of Centerburg, Mr. and Mrs.

H. s. Cook, Mr. and Mrs. O. A.

Kimball, Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Williams,

Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Wheaton, Miss

Myrtle Mosher, Mr. and Mrs. K. O.

Burrer, Mrs. Anna Blakeley, Mr. and

Mrs. D. H Davis, Dr. and Mrs. J. H.

Gerhardt, Miss Louise Sheets, George

sheets, Mrs. Louise Sedgwick, Mr. and

Mrs. I. T. sperry, Mrs. A. Barber, Mr.

and Mrs. W. T. Kuhlman, Mrs. Etta

Davidson, Mrs. Adelaide Lott, Mr.

John Gammill of Centerburg, Mrs.

Hazel Davidson, Mrs. Ersel Farris, and

Mr. and Mrs. O. W. Whitney.

Amy and Gottlieb Jacob celebrated fifty years of marriage on the 26th of May,

1925. He was to die before the next anniversary.


Jakie Burrer Dies

In 1926, Jakie was attacked with influenza which was followed by sleeping

sickness which resulted in a peaceful sleep from which there was not awakening.

Jakie's obituary in The Sunbury News of February 18, 1926, says "he was a

man who attended strictly to his own business thus building a large

acquaintanceship, and a wide circle of friends." He is "leaving the business which

daily manufactured a product which shall stand as a monument to the life of a

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 25)

[page 25]

[corresponds to page 18 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

man who built for Sunbury and community."

Aside from his business and the church, G.J. always found time to lend

assistance to the welfare of the town. He served as village councilman, was

elected to the Board of Education several times, and took an active role on all

proposed movements to make the town a better place for its inhabitants.

At his death, G. J. was one of the oldest members of Sparrow Lodge No. 400

F. & A. M., a member of the Masonic Veterans Association, and Charter member

of Columbis Chapter No. 33, O.E.S. He was director and vice-president of the

Farmers Bank of Sunbury at the time of his death. He left a void in the family

which had relied on him for guidance and looked up to him as a role model.

Grandson Carleton never forgot the suit Jakie bought for him.


Electric Story Continues

Before we look at each of the sons, let's continue on with Carleton's electric

story.

"Rudolph and Gordon and left the mill by the time their father died

leaving the business in the hands of Karl and Parker."

Many older residents told Carleton of the humming of the machinery

and the chugging of the gas engines exhausted into the tall smokestack.

They recalled the operations continuing, night and day, for weeks on end,

during World War I when flour and other food products were urgently

needed for the war effort."

Early in world War I, during

the Belgian Relief Program

under the direction of Herbert

Hoover, much White Loaf Flour

was sent by G. J. Burrer &

Sons to Europe in sturdy linen

bags."

The story goes that in Belgium

many were jobless, including the

embroidery workers who had no

orders and no material on which to

work. The Gugenheim warehouse in

Charleroi was full of embroidery

thread. Alice Aron Gugenmeim (1872-

1955) conceived the idea of using the

flour sacks. There was no bleach

available to remove the printing so the

needle-factory workers, school-girls,

and even ladies of high social rank

covered it with exquisite stitchery.

These sacks were then used to cover

lampshades, waste baskets, tea-

cozies, make school smocks, pillow

covers, et., The items were sold in a

shop on a prominent street in Brussels

[photo: Flour Sack with Embroidery]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 26)

[page 26]

[corresponds to page 19 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

5 LBS. NET WEIGHT

[image: Sunbury Mills

The

Famous

White

Loaf

Flour

Since 1872 Bleached

MANUFACTURED BY

G. J. BURRER CO.

SUNBURY-CONDIT-CENTERBURG

MT. LIBERTY, OHIO.]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 27)

[page 27]

[corresponds to page 20 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

and yielded tens of thousands of gold-standard francs to the Belgium Relief.

Carleton tells that, "In appreciation, some of the Belgium women and

children embroidered, and therefore colorfully decorated five hundred

of these bags from various manufacturers and sent them to Mr. Hoover.

A number of them, including one of the most colorful ones from the old

mill in Sunbury, are on permanent display at the Hoover Institution on

War, Revolution and Peace (The Hoover Peace Tower), Stanford

University, Palo Alto, California. Some of the sacks are also at the

Herbert Hoover Presidential Library, West Branch, Iowa. Later Charlotte

Burrer in Cincinnatti made a replica for the Burrer family of the flour

sack which is now in the Community Library archives. Thus a small

town industry took part in an important world humanitarian undertaking.

[image: A needle used to sew the flour sacks at the mill. It is shown actual size.]

"During the depression,

1929 through the early 1930's,

a local Farmers' Co-Operative

organization was formed and

the Condit (which burned in

January 1996), and Sunbury

Elevators were constructed and

operated by them. After a

short time it was determined

that the interests of the

community could best be

served by combining the

various facilities operating in

the area. A stock company,

The G.J. Burrer Mill & Elevator

Co., was formed.

"In addition to the two new

elevators, the Sunbury and

Centerburg mills and the property in Mt. Liberty were acquired and

operated Farmers' Co-Operative. Headquarters were set up in office space

newly prepared at the Sunbury elevator and the mill office closed except

as needed for a branch operation.

"As the years passed the market for locally produced flour and allied

milling products rapidly diminished. As communications and transportation

[photo: The Sunbury Elevator on South Vernon

Street. Company known as G.J. Burrer Mill

& Elevator Co. Photo circa. 1940]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 28)

[page 28]

[corresponds to page 21 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

improved the large midwestern mills began to advertise their products and

quickly took the place of the small producers. Farmers no longer brought

their grists to be ground or traded for flour and meal, but shipped their

grain to Chicago, Toledo and other large midwestern markets for cash and

then purchased specialized cooking and baking needs at the stores.

Commercially baked bread and biscuits, for which White Loaf and Tip-Top

Flour became locally famous as ingredients, disappeared from the scene.

"Electric motors replaced natural-gas engines. These motors could be

started and stopped more conveniently and required practically no

maintenance. A motor driven commercial feed grinder was installed,

together with mixing machinery and equipment and an addition built on the

mill to house it. Formulas were developed, mixing ingredients procured

and a line of commercially prepared feeds was manufactures and sold

under the trade name of 'Burco.' Small mixing and automatic packaging

was installed and a new product called Red-A-Mix Pancake flour marketed

in the areas. This was a good idea and the product gained considerable

acceptance until the larger processors entered the field.

"The milling machinery was kept in tack although seldom used except

for procession of small specialized orders. The building area which had

been used for storage of milling products was now holding commercial

feeds, and the heavy-walled bins which had stored wheat, oats, rye, and

barley for milling purposes were being used to collect and store grain for

shipment to market.

[photo: Burrer Mill Barn on North Street]

"In about 1944,

Karl Burrer, President

of the Corporation

and Manager of the

operations of various

properties, was

injured in an accident

at the elevator in

Sunbury. In

consideration of the

possibility that he

might not be able to

continue with active

participation in the

business, the

stockholders decided

to dispose of the

assets and in 1945 transferred ownership of the properties to the then recently

organized Delaware County Farm Bureau. In the dissolution of the corporation,

Parker Burrer retained the facility in Centerburg. Milling of flour was, of course,

discontinued there as in Sunbury, many years ago.

"The new owners, unable to foresee any future need for the mill

property, offered it for sale. The machinery and engines were dismantled

and disposed of, the old stone walled and concrete-roofed engine room

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 29)

[page 29]

[corresponds to page 22 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

was torn down and

the tall, brick

smokestack felled

and demolished.

The heavy timbered

frame building and

storage bins were

razed and the

property passed into

other hands. In 1966

fragments of the

walls of the 'pool'

and the frame

building at the rear of

46 North Columbus

Street were all that

remained of the old

mill."

[photo: The Barn in 1991]

This frame building (known as the Burrer barn) once housed the horses and

wagons used for transportation and later converted into garage space for the

chain-driven, solid-tired Republic truck. The top floor of this building was

subsequently used as a loft for storing hay for the horses and later provided

storage for commercial feeds. In 1917 the Republic was exchanged for a 4-

cylinder, flat-bed Packard truck, also with solid tires but without the chain-drive to

the rear wheels. It was purchased with a cowl and dash only, and a special

weathertight cab with sliding doors was manufactured for it and installed in

Columbus."

[photo: Burrer Mill 2 1/2 ton, 4 cylinder Packard Truck with solid

rubber wheels and sliding cab doors was made in

Columbus, Ohio. Mill workers are Karl Burrer,

Charles Draper, Jesse Doane, and Marion Parks.]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 30)

[page 30]

[corresponds to page 23 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[photo: JAKIE'S SURVIVING SONS

Gordon Jacob Burrer

Rudolph Odell Burrer

Paul Parker Burrer

Karl Ormand Burrer]

[photo: Amy Gammil Burrer surrounded by her sons:

Parker, Gordon, Karl, Rudolph]

[photo: Karl Burrer

with Horse "Bashful"

Rudy Burrer at the car

in front of Jakie's Barn

July 1909.

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 31)

[page 31]

[corresponds to page 24 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[photo: Karl Ormand Burrer]

Karl Ormand Burrer

Karl, the oldest of the surviving boys,

attained the highest degree of formal

education. Following graduation from

Sunbury High School, he went to Denison

University in Granville, Ohio.

During one of his winter vacations

home from college, his brothers, Parker and

Rudy, were looking for fun at their brother's

expense and they convinced Karl to sit on a

sled at the top of the hill behind the house.

The boys had greased the runners under the

sled so when they pushed it, the sled went

so fast it could not be controlled thus the

sled and Karl went through the back of a

shed at the foot of the hill.

While he was still in college, he took a

year off to help with installation and initial

wiring for the first electricity in Sunbury. He

then returned to Granville to complete his

education. He and other students undertook,

and completed a project of wiring a new science building and laboratory then

being constructed at the university. In the early 1960's one of Sunbury's local

contractors, doing some remodeling at Denison, removed a partition and found

a copy of The Sunbury News lodged in the partition. It had been sent to Karl by

his father while Karl was a student and apparently it was accidently left behind

during the construction of the building.

Karl graduated from Denison University Class

of 1902-3 and taught there for a period.

Soon after 1900, the family installed a

'Dynamo' to make electricity for use in the mill and

to distribute throughout the village. Karl was

persuaded to remain home and supervise the

operations. Thus the beginning of the end of his

teaching career. Karl had dated a doctor's

daughter from Galena for many years and everyone

thought they would marry. The girl's mother let it be

known her daughter had a bad back and would be

unable to scrub clothes over a washboard. Amy

heard this and proceeded to stop the romance. She

wanted her sons to marry healthy women, preferably

with money.

At the Sunbury Baptist Church, Karl met

Daisy Sperry who accompanied her family to church

each Sunday in a horse and buggy. Daisy was the

only daughter of Isaac T. and Sophronia (Cummins)

[photo: K.O. Burrer]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 32)

[page 32]

[corresponds to page 25 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[photo: Physic and Chemistry Lab at Denision University in Granville Ohio, early 1900's.

The Instructor, Professor K.O. Burrer, is the second from the left.]

[photo: Professors and students wiring the Science Building at Denison University for

electricity. Professors Chamberlain and K.O. Burrer are at the far right.

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 33)

[page 33]

[corresponds to page 26 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

Sperry who operated a farm

south of Berkshire, near Rome

Corners. Isaac was the son of

Albert and Matilda Vernon

Sperry, and grandson of Jacob

and Mary Wilson Sperry, a well-

to-do- farmer in Utica. Jacob

and Mary gave each of their

children a home and $40,000.

The couple were returning from

Mt. Vernon where they went to

buy a large print Bible when

their buggy was struck by a

train. Mary died instantly and

Jacob a couple of weeks later.

More on this family is in the

appendix.

[photo: Daisy Sperry teaching piano to Bertha Church

who became Mrs. Leroy Gill]

Albert Sperry was also thrifty and provided well for his family. He bought

each of his four sons a 100 acre farm. Isaac sold his farm and moved to Rome

Corners, south of Berkshire Later he purchased a second farm on the same

road. Times were good and he bought a third farm north of Berkshire Corners.

[photo: Old Berkshire M. E. Church and School

Daisy Sperry attended.]

Daisy had

gone to Rome

School, Sunbury

High School, the

Ohio Wesleyan

University in

Delaware. She

also had post

graduate work in

music at Denison.

She met Amy's

daugher-in-law

requirements.

Karl and

Daisy married

December 30,

1908, in her parents home, a large brick house just north of the Corners in

Berkshire. The couple lived there with her parents. On November 9, 1909, their

son, Carleton Sperry Burrer, was born.

When he could be spared from the family business, Karl moved his family

to the University of Wisconsin at Madison where he completed a Masters Degree

in Electrical Engineering and did some part-time teaching.

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 34)

[page 34]

[corresponds to page 27 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

Beautiful Home Wedding.

Miss Daisy Sperry Becomes The

Bride of Mr. Karl O. Burrer.

On the thirtieth of December, as the

old year 1908 was beginning to wane,

one of the prettiest weddings of the

holiday season was solemnized when

the only daughter of Mr and Mrs Isaac

T. Sperry became the wife of Mr Karl

O. Burrer, a promising young instructor

in Wisconsin State University.

The large and spacious home of the

bride was artistically decorated green

and white being the predominating

color. An improvised alter was ar-

ranged in the front parlor where, from

a group of potted plants arose a prettily

constructed arch made of cedar from

which was suspended a white wedding

ball. Promplty at 2:30 o'clock, when

the guests numbering about seventy

were assembled, Miss Lucile Campbell

of Mt Vernon, a cousin of the bride,

play Mendelssohn's wedding march,

accompanied on the cornet by Prof Ed.

Wing, also a cousin of the bride, Then

Miss Edith Bell of Mt Vernon sang

very sweetly and impressively the

hymn, "Oh, Love Divine" As the

strains of the wedding march were re-

resumed, the Bridal party descended

the stairs, advanced through the long

hall, and entered the parlor through

the rear door. First in order came the

ushers, Mr. Harold Bell of Mt. Vernon

and Mr. Albert Lindsay of Barb [illegible]

Then came Miss Nora Wing of Mt Ver-

non, the maid of honor, followed by

Miss Mary Palmerton of Granville, the

bride's maid. The bride then appeared

on the arm of her father, and was

at the alter by the room; accompanied

by his best man, Mr. Randolph [illegible]

brother of the groom. T [illegible]

was performed by Rev. G [illegible]

Granville O, a former college [illegible]

the [illegible] and pastor for a [illegible]

of both bride and groom, at the Baptist

Church of Sunbury, having officiated at

the baptismal service of the groom.

[photo: Karl Ormand and Daisy Sperry Burrer

Wedding, December 30, 1908]

The bride was beautifully gowned in

white embroidered net over cream satin,

with lace trimmings and carried a

cluster of bride's roses. Miss Nora

Wing wore white net over white silk,

and carried a boquet of white carna-

tions. Miss Mary Palmerton wore white

silk, and carried a shower of maiden

hair fern.

Immediately after the ceremony a

wedding luncheon was served. The

back parlor and adjoining room across

the large ball were transformed into a

large dining hall; the tables were

graced with carnations, narcissus and

ferns. At two large tables were seated

the bridal party numbering ten and

immediate members of the bride and

groom's family together with the of-

ficiating clergy and his wife.

The bride is a graduate of Ohio Wes-

leyan University class of '02 and was

also a student in music at Denison Uni-

versity for a short time. Since her

graduation, she has been a successful

teacher of music in this vicinity and

was highly esteemed by all who knew

her The groom, the eldsest son of G

J. Burrer, proprietor of Sunbury flour

ing mill, is a graduate of Denison Uni-

versity, Granville, O., of the class of

'02; was prominent in college circles,

being an instructor in the college after

his graduation for three years and a

member of the Phi Gamma Delta fra-

ternity. In 1908 he went to Madison

Wisconsin, and has since been a stu

dent of Electrical Engineering in the

State University, and is at present em

ployed as instructor in that department.

Mr and Mrs Burrer left Wednesday

evening for a short wedding trip

through parts of interest in Michigan

and on Jan. 5th Prof. Burrer will re-

sume his duties in the University in

Madison. After Feb 20th, Mr and

Mrs Burrer will be at home to their

friends at 228 Longdon St., Madison,

Wis. and the best wishes of all for a

bright and happy future will be with

them in their future home.

The out of town guests were as fol-

lows:_H. E. Bell, Edith C. Bell, Mrs

Annie Bell, Mr and Mrs Will Wing,

Miss Nora and Mr Ed. Wing. Mr. Ed.

Campbell, Mr and Mrs Hugh Campbell,

Miss Lucile Campbell from Mt Vernon;

Mr. and Mrs B. P. Benton, Mr and Mrs

D. D. Crawford of Delaware; Mr and

Mrs E Smith, Mrs Elvira Smith, Mr

and Mrs M. Cummings, Mr and Mrs M

Smith, Mr and Mrs C. Druggan of Co

lumbus; Mr and Mrs Watterman of

Chicago; Mr and Mrs G. R. Dye and

Miss Mary Palmerton of Granville; Mr

and Mrs Geo Smith, Mr and Mrs E H.

Lindsey of Mansfield; Mr Albert Lind-

[illegible] Mr [illegible] R Sperry,

Mrs Ella Wornstaff of Ashley; Mrs

Martha Ball of Newark

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 35)

[page 35]

[corresponds to page 28 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

RECEIVED MANY PRESENTS.

Following is the list of presents received at

the Sperry-Burrer wedding at Berkshire, an

account of which appeared in our issue of

Tuesday:

Mr. and Mrs. G.J. Burrer, Sunbury, O.-

1 set of silver forks, 1 set of silver knives, 1 set

of sterling silver spoons, Rogers Bros. make.

Mr. and Mrs. Hults and daughter, Sunbury

- 1 set of sterling silver tea spoons.

Wm. Wing and wife, Nora, Ed., Mt.

Vernon, O.- set of sterling silver spoons.

Mr. and Mrs. Chesley Wornstaff, Ashley,

O.- set of sterling silver teaspons.

Mr. and Mrs. Al Sheets and daughter

Louise, Delaware - set of bouillon spoons.

Mr. and Mrs. S.S. Gamil, Sunbury- set of

silver Table spoons.

Mr. and Mrs. Parker Burrer, Sunbury -

silver sugar shell.

Mrs. Sarah Pettibone, Columbus - sterling

silver tea spoons.

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Finch - silver meat

fork.

Clement L. Waldron - silver meat fork.

Mr. and Mrs. Elmore Lindsey and J. V.

Sperry and Albert Lindsey of Mansfield, O.-

silver vegetable dish.

Mrs. O. K. Armstrong, Sunbury - pair

silver napkin rings.

Mr. and Mrs. E.R. Sperry, Ashley - silver

celery dish.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sperry, Ashley - cut

glass deep dish.

Mr. and Mrs. E.J. Smith, Columbus - cut

glass deep dish.

Mr. and Mrs. Ed Campbell, Mt. Vernon,

O.- cut glass sugar and creamer.

Mr. and Mrs. I. T. Sperry, father and

mother of the bride - set of silver knives and

forks, Roger Bros.

Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Campbell and Lucille,

Mt. Vernon - cut glass water pitcher.

Mrs. Edwin Bell and family, Mt. Vernon -

cut glass tumblers.

Mrs. Alvira Thrall Smith, Columbus - cut

glass vase.

Mrs. Geo. Smith, Mansfield - cut glass

syrup dish.

Miss Marie Roof, Sunbury - cut glass olive

dish.

Mr. and Mrs. Watterman, Chicago, Ill. -

set etched glasses.

Mr. and Mrs. Sumner Druggan, Columbus

- doz. etched glasses.

Mr. and Mrs. Burton Benton, Delaware -

gold embossed jelly stand.

Mr. and Mrs. Marsh Smith, Columbus -

gold embossed candelabrum.

Mr. Chas. L. Herrick, Chicago, Ill. - silver

paper knife.

Mr. W.E. Forsythe, Madison, Wis. - set of

elk horn carving knives.

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Fleckner, Sunbury -

china hand-painted tea pot, sugar and

creamer.

Aunt Christian Crawford, Delaware -

china hand-painted and embossed salad bowl.

Dr. and Mrs. Gerhardt, Sunbury - hand-

painted china vase.

Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Gamel, Pauline - linen

drawn work center piece.

Mr. and Mrs. Sam'l Barr, Canton, O. -

Battenburg dresser scarf.

Mr. and Mrs. M.D. Cummings, Columbus

- 1 embroidered linen lunch cloth.

Aunt Fred and Uncle Charley Rice,

Westerville - drawn linen lunch cloth.

Mrs. Watson Sperry Campbell,

Philadelphia -pair linen towels.

Mattie Hall, Newark - book, white

binding. title What Is Worth While.

Mr. and Mrs. E. R.Smith, Columbus -

hand-painted picture.

Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Knox, Sunbury -

Photos.

Mr. and Mrs. S. R. Walker, Sunbury - pair

of hand-painted salts.

Rev. and Mrs. G. R. Dye, Granville -

ornament from Bethlehem.

Miss Mary Palmerton, Granville - hand-

painted panel picture

Prof. Chamberlain, Vassar College,

Chicago, picture Happy Valley Road by.

Frank V. Cummings, Columbus - Five

dollars.

Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Rineheardt, Seattle,

Wash. - Pearl Handled silver butter knife.

Father and mother of the bride - one

hundred dollars.

Mr. Ernest Gamel. Sunbury - hand

painted olive dishes, rose and gold decorated.

Rev. and Mrs. W. N. Ferris, Howel, Mich.

- Photos.

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 36)

[page 36]

[corresponds to page 29 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[photo: Burrers Lived in the Langdon House]

[photo: The Parlor]

Karl Burrers

in Madison,

Wisconsin

[photo: Bedroom]

[photo: Karl and Daisy]

[photo: Carleton Sat Still 8 Seconds for this Picture!]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 37)

[page 37]

[corresponds to page 30 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[photo: Carleton Sperry Burrer with his Stuffed Dogs

January 7th, 1912 in Madison Wisconsin]

Following graduation, Karl moved on to a Professorship at Vassar

College in Poughkeepsie, New york. Throughout these years, Karl returned to

Sunbury during his summer vacations to help at the mill. Daisy loved the social

life and prestige of being a professor's wife and the family flourished in Wisconsin

and New York.

Daisy's mother, Sophronia, died in 1916 after being thrown from a horse

and her father married Margaret Walker Gelvin. Like his father and grandfather,

Isaac and his new wife were also thrifty. (A family story tells that once Mr. Sperry

sent Mrs. Sperry to the grocery store for a penny's worth of pepper.) Farming

became too much for the couple and they bought the house at 47 North Morning

Street in Sunbury.

After a short period at Vassar, affairs at home dictated the advisability of

returning to Sunbury permanently. As the

family Electrical Engineer, Karl had the

knowledge necessary for the expansion

into the electric service business.

They purchased a home at 153

North Columbus Street known as the

Bailey Mead property. (In later years

Carleton's classmate and friend Hoyt

Whitney raised his family in this same

house).

Daisy taught piano lessons, one of

her pupils being the daughter of the late

Senator Frank B. Willis. She was a

member and officer of the Progress Club,

and in the Columbia Chapter, O. E. S., in

Sunbury.

Dilly remembers her mother-in-law

[photo: 153 N. Columbus Street in Sunbury

Built by Brooks and Emsorler in 1909.

Purchased Isaac Sperry in Nov. 1909.

K.O. Burrers moved into it in 1910.

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 38)

[page 38]

[corresponds to page 31 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[photo: Daisy and her Studebaker]

using Reader's Digest to help

plan the programs for her club.

Daisy spent much of her

lifetime in the work of the

Baptist Church and its

statewide associations. She

was Vice President of the Ohio

Baptist Missionary Society. In

1955 she was presented a gold

watch for serving as organist of

the church for 53 years. She

said she began playing the old

pump organ in the church.

When it quit she played the piano. She began playing

the organ again when the church purchased an electric

organ. Her son, Carleton, Miss Lillie Kempton and Mrs.

George Stout rotated the duties of church organist

following Daisy's retirement.

Unfortunately, Daisy was never really happy with

life in a small town and longed for the social life of a

college campus. Their marriage ended in divorce in the

late 1920's.

Daisy helped her son Carleton with the electrical

contracting and merchandising business in Sunbury

from its inception in 1932.

[photo: Daisy Burrer in Morning St. Home]

Upon retiring from farming, Daisy's father and

stepmother bought the Andrews house on Lot #1 on

the southwest corner of North and Morning Streets

known as 47 North Morning Street. After her step-

mother died, Daisy and

Carleton moved in with

her father so she could take of him. She

continued to provide care for her widowed father

until his death at the age of 90.

When her son was serving his country during

WWII, Daisy continued to run the electrical business

with the faithful help of Walter Gross, Harry Snow,

Leta Barnhard, and Lily Kempton. Monday was her

usual day to shop for the appliances her customers

wanted.

[photo: Daisy Sperry Burrer]

In 1955, Daisy married J. J. VanHorn, a

former classmate at Ohio Wesleyan, and moved to

Cleveland, Ohio, where she passed away February

6, 1958, and was buried in Sunbury Cemetery. At

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 39)

[page 39]

[corresponds to page 32 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[photo: Daisy (Sperry Burrer) and Jesse Van Horn

Following Their Wedding at Mar-Jon's in Berkshire,

October15, 1955

the time of her marriage she

put a $1000 in the Sunbury

Savings and Loan to bury her

when the time came. However

this caused a ruckus after her

husband discovered she had

no social security after the

years she had worked in the

Sunbury Electric Shop.

Daisy is buried in the

Sunbury Memorial park.

[photo: Sunbury Baptist Church, 1850-1907

Sunbury Waterworks Tank Behind House]

[photo: New Baptist Church Which the Burrers Attended]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 40)

[page 40]

[corresponds to page 33 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[photo: Proud Father K. O. Burrer and Carleton Burrer

At Their Summer Address]

Karl's many

activities in the mill and

its evolution and

extensions in electrical

generation and

distribution in the village,

include the formation

and operation of The

Lalley-Burrer Electric

Offices in Delaware and

Columbus for the

distribution of Farm

Lighting systems and

their installations, the

development and

marketing of Burco

Feeds of various types,

and the formulation and

distribution of 'Red-a-

Mix' pancake flour.

Karl was very

active in civic and social

affairs in the community.

He served 12 years on

the local board of

education during the

consolidation of schools

into Big Walnut, and

then served on the

Delaware County Board.

[photo: K.O. Burrer in 1929 as

Past Master of Masons.]


[photo: K.O. Burrer Working in the Elevator

1944]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 41)

[page 41]

[corresponds to page 34 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

He served on the Community Library Board of Trustees.

He was a charter member of the Sunbury Lions Club and as its president

worked hard to develop the sunbury Playground. He was a proficient athlete in

high school and college and continued his interest by promotion of such activities

locally. His name appears on a tablet in the Deeds Field House at Denision [sic Denison]

University, recognizing his support toward its erection.

Karl was a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, a fifty year member and

Past Master of Sparrow Lodge No. 400, F. & A. M. in Sunbury, a member and

past officer in the Council and Chapter Masonic bodies in Westerville, Ohio.

In later life Karl married Mary Schwin, of Waukarusa, Indiana. Mary was a

large woman who was self-conscious of her appearance. Her father was a sheriff

in Texas. Her Aunt Mary owned a newspaper so Mary had learned to use a

linotype. Mary was a simple, kind gentle Gran-Mary to grandson, John Burrer.

Never fully recovering from the accident in the Elevator, Karl died in White

Cross Hospital in Columbus, December 5, 1957 and was buried in Sunbury

Cemetery. Mary was also buried there when she died in 1962.

[photo: K.O. and Mary Burrer in Their Yard

at 80 Letts Avenue, Sunbury, Ohio.]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 42)

[page 42]

[corresponds to page 35 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]


Paul Parker Burrer

Paul Parker was the second surviving son of Gottlieb and Amy Ann. He

grew up in the mill and remembered his first job there paid 25 cents a day.

Parker graduated from sunbury School. After a very short time at Denison

University, he worked in the mill.

On October 7, 1908, he marrried Sarah Minerva Hess and to them were

born a son, Gerald Jacob, on January 23, 1910, and a daughter, Barbara, on April

18, 1918.

Sarah Minerva was a strong willed woman who tended to get things done

her way. She was in her glory doing cooking demonstrations at the fairs and was

very competent.

Working with his father and brothers in G. J. Burrer & Sons mill, Parker

became known as a qualified "Master Miller" and implemented his skills as a

natural mechanic with a proficient knowledge of electricity, and by constant

exposure to the vagaries of steam and internal combustion engines. To keep the

Light Plant and the Mill running on schedule, and faced with the constant

breakdowns experienced with the early autos and trucks, mechanical ability was

essential to survival.

In addition to producing and processing flour, feed, and allied grain

products, Parker helped wire the family home and the mill for lighting and power

in days when little was known about it. He installed electricity in public buildings

and houses, old and new, as requested. He installed poles along the streets and

backyards where necessary, together with the associated overhead primary and

secondary wiring, transformers and metering equipment. Street lights were

installed (carbon-arc type) at important intersections and at the mill. Water pumps

and systems were installed and household appliances furnished as they became

available.

[photo: Parker Burrer Playing the Organ in

Carleton Burrer's Home in 1971]

Parker sold, installed and kept running

many of the early "Lalley" (32 volt D.C.) farm

lighting plants and systems in the years

before rural electric lines were extended into

the country.

In addition, Parker found time to teach

Sunday School in the Baptist Church, sing in

his deep baritone voice in the church choir,

play the piano for services, and was very

active in church affairs.

He played an E-Flat Horn in the Knox

Band throughout the county as well as the

Shrine Bank in Columbus. Parker also

enjoyed taking part in group performances

and even played the organ.

At the turn of the century, Parker and

his brother, Rudolph, purchased the lines,

water tank near the Baptist Church, and

equipment of the original Sunbury Waterworks, then practically 'defunct' for the

sum of $1.00 and managed to keep it working for a time. However, before long

time spent looking for leaks and digging them up to fix them made the operation

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 43)

[page 43]

[corresponds to page 36 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]


more and more unprofitable. One Sunday morning during church services the

water tank fell down with a loud crash and that put them out of business.

Following the war in 1918, Parker took over the operation of the mill in

Centerburg to make "Light Sponge" and "Tip Top Flour' and the operation of the

Mt. Liberty business, commuting back and forth by auto or train. In a retirement

article in the Centerburg paper (June 7, 1973), Parker reminisced about traveling

by train. In those days people met the trains just to have something to do so

there was often a crowd at the station when the train was due. During one of his

commuting trips to Sunbury, Parker and a traveling partner decided to ride the

cowcatcher from the Condit stop to Sunbury. "It was a wild ride for the two daring

young men clinging to the swaying front of the engine. And to top it off when

they arrived at the depot in Sunbury there was the usual crowd gathered to 'meet

the train' and the cowcatcher passengers received a warm hilarious welcome.

Parker didn't say what the conductor or engineer of the train had to say about the

incident."

Finally in 1923, he moved his family to Centerburg.

In 1937, after taking their daughter to college, Parker and Minerva were in

an automobile accident. While trying to protect the dog on her lap, Minerva was

thrown into the windshield and died shortly after in the hospital. Parker was also

badly injured and had to spend time in the hospital.

Five years later, in 1942, Parker married Mrs. Minnie McLeod of Columbus.

She was a very fun loving woman who brought happiness to Parker.

Dan Clancy, a writer for the Columbus Dispatch, wrote a feature about

Parker and his recollections of the mill. He recalled in 1903 wheat brought $1 a

bushel and corn 50 cents. But he says, "In the Depression, wheat went down to

36 cents and corn to 10 cents. I can

remember when I didn't even want corn at 10

cents a bushel."

[photo: Paul Parker Burrer

1886-1976

Master Mason Photo]

A workaholic, Parker noted, "When I'm

awake, my mind is working." Stories around

Centerburg tell of Burrer phoning people at 2

or 3 a.m. to ask business questions while he

was working on his books.

In 1965, Parker noted the demise of

mills across the state. In 1927 there were

1376 mills in Ohio, 260 in 1939 and only 20

in 1965.

At the age of 80 in 1966, Parker sold

his mill to Harold C. "Butch" Cordle and semi-

retired, continued to operate the fertilizer

sales portion of the business until his health

necessitated almost complete curtailment of

business activities around 1975.

For more than fifty years, he was an

active member and a Past Master of

Sunbury's Sparrow Lodge No. 400, F. & A.

M. In 1973 he received his 65th service

award. In 1976 he was honored as the

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 44)

[page 44]

[corresponds to page 37 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]


oldest living Past Master. He was also a member of Clinton Commandry, Knights

Templer and a charter member of Centerburg Lions.

Distinguished as the longest living Burrer, Parker died in Martin Memorial

Hospital in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, September 1, 1976 at the age of 90. He left his

wife, his children, Gerald Jacob of Monroe Michigan, and Barbara of Romulus,

Michigan, three grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Gerald Jacob, cast in the Burrer mold, loves mechanical challenges. He

bought an old car and

totally rebuilt it to mint

condition. He built his

own home on Lake Erie

using pegs instead of

nails.

[photo: Paul Parker Burrer and the Burrer Women

Louise Griffiths Burrer (Mrs. R.O.),

Minnie McLeod Burrer (Mrs. P.P.) and

Charlotte Pagels Burrer (Mrs. G.J.)

Barbara, who has

made her living as a very

successful accountant,

also has a flair for

mechanical things. Her

very practical view of

things has allowed her to

design and oversee the

building of her home.

See the Appendix

for Parker's family line.

Rudolph Odell Burrer

Like his brothers, Rudolph worked in the mill

through graduation from Sunbury High School then

went to Denison. He had beautiful red curls and

was popular with the girls. However, in class he sat

back and did not recite but still got the best grade

on his exam. The Professor said he could not have

an 'A' because he had not participated in class

discussions. When he went home at Christmas,

Rudy refused to return to college. His parents were

very upset and went to see the Professor. Rudy was

given a second test which he also passed with flying

colors but he still refused to go back to school.

Since his parents had already paid the non-

refundable tuition, they sent Parker to use the

remaining funds. Parker took music lessons on the

E-Flat horn, piano and voice lessons for his deep

baritone voice. After using the remaining Denison

funds, he went to London for business school.

[photo: Tintype of Rudy Burrer on the

left in the big hat.]

Rudolph became assistant cashier in the

Farmer's Bank in Sunbury where his father was Vice-President when he died in

1926. Rudy worked his way up to the President of the same Bank. He was very

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 45)

[page 45]

[corresponds to page 38 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

conservative and never loaned more than the bank assets so the bank survived

when many others failed during the Depression. He always gave customers

conservative uses for their money so none would lose their savings.

Many people hired Rudy to build buildings for them because he knew what

needed to be done.

On October 31, 1915, Rudy married Helen Campbell Dryer of Delaware who

opened a millinery shop in Sunbury. The marriage was short lived when she

passed away the following January 15 with pneumonia. Rudy wasn't interested

in girls after that.

Rudy served in the army for a period during WWI and then returned to the

Farmer's Bank.

[photo: Rudy and Louise Griffiths Burrer

May 4, 1932]

One day, Louise Sheets told Rudy she

would find him a wife if he found her a husband. Louise held up her part of the

agreement and introduced him to a friend.

So seventeen years after the death of his

wife, Rudy married Martha Louise Griffiths,

daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. J.

Griffiths of Delaware. Rudy never did find a

husband for Louise Sheets.

As a young girl, Louise Burrer had a

beautiful operatic voice and went to New

York to be in musical comedies. Although

she loved the music, the city life in New York

was not for her and she returned to Delaware

and became deputy clerk in the Delaware

County Probate Court where her beautiful

penmanship still shows on the records. The

Sunbury News article telling of their wedding

noted until just a few months before their

wedding, Rudy was a woman hater. Louise

changed his mind.

[photo: R. O. Burrer

Master Mason 1912-13]

Louise fit right in with the community. She

joined in the art classes taught by Mr. Fraley even

though she wasn't very artistic. She had a sweet

personality which endeared her to her peers.

For twenty years, Rudy was Treasurer of the

village of Sunbury, and member of the Board of

Public Affairs. He was very involved during the

difficult time the village was installing the waterworks

system.

He was member of the Masonic Order for

over 50 years and a member of the Knights Templar

of the Order. Rudy was a life-long member of the

First Baptist Church. He served as President of

Sunbury Manufacturing Company during its period

of operation in this community.

Following the death of his mother in 1932, he

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 46)

[page 46]

[corresponds to page 39 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

purchased the family

home at 46 North

Columbus Street and

resided there the rest of

his life. One day he

went to see his nephew

Carleton and asked,

"Since you are the only

Burrer in Sunbury, would

you live in the house if I

leave it to you?"

Carleton agreed.

[photo: Rudolph Odell Burrer in front of The Farmers Bank, 1960]

In 1965, Rudy

retired from the Farmer's

Bank as President and

Chairman of the board of

Directors with sixty years

of service to the bank.

In later years

Rudy suffered with

emphysema and could

not maneuver the stairs

so a lift was constructed

and positioned in the

front room of the house.

He died July 17, 1965, in

Riverside Hospital in

Columbus.

Louise continued

to live in the homestead

as long as she was able then went to live with her

sister in Franklin County. She died May 15, 1982.

Rudy and both wives are buried in the Sunbury

cemetery.

[photo: G.J. Burrer, Master Mason]

Gordon Jacob Burrer

Gordon also graduated from Sunbury High

School. The one time his family went to California

to visit their cousins, the Bollingers, Gordon was up

town watching a fire and got very cold resulting in

pneumonia. The family got the word when they

arrived at the Bollingers and had to turn right around

and return to Sunbury.

Like Karl, he graduated from Denison

University. He entered the Infantry during WWI as a

commissioned officer and obtained the position of

Captain by the end of his enlistment.

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 47)

[page 47]

[corresponds to page 40 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[photo: Jakie Burrer, second from left, and Amy, far right,

visiting the Bollingers in California.]

Gordon became

associated with the Travelers

Insurance Company in its Fire

Division. At his retirement he

was a manager of its Dayton

and Cincinnati offices.

October 3, 1929, Gordon

married the beautiful, poised

Charlotte Grace Pagels of

Cincinnati. Charlotte's family

came from Germany and

owned several buildings,

including a tall warehouse. The

Pagels family lived over their

business and saw to it that

Charlotte had all the education

and charm of a lady. To

Gordon and Charlotte three

children were born - Charlotte Amy, and the twins, Fred Pagels and Gordon

Jacob (the third in the family

so he was called Don). Don

inherited the Burrer

mechanical aptitude and, as

a child, made his own

television. While he was in

school he rowed in the

Regatta on the Thames

River. "When we were in

Boston, his wife, Nancy

toured us around and it was

wonderful," recalled Dilly.

All three

children have

grown into

beautiful, well-

educated

adults.

[photo: Gordon Passing Mechanical Skills on to His Son, Don]

[photo: Charlotte Burrer, age 92]

[photo: Don's '28 Ford Deluxe]

G. J.

served as the

Director and a

stockholder in the Farmers Bank of Sunbury and

was active in its operation and in the planning of its new building.

He died suddenly at his home in Cincinnati on July 4, 1960. Charlotte lived

to be 96.

Don has updated information on his siblings in the Appendix of this book.

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 48)

[page 48]

[corresponds to page 41 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[photo: Mrs. Davidson and Her Daughter, Hazel, Louise Burrer,
Mary Burrer, Dorothy Dillenbeck,

Parker Burrer, Karl Burrer, and Rudolph Burrer in the
Living Room of 80 Letts Avenue]

Dilly's Recollections of the Burrer Men

Not being raised in a mechanical family, Dilly remembers being intimidated

by the talk of the Burrer men. She recalled the first time she sat at a family

gathering and heard the boys all talking. They were all mechanical and loved to

figure out how to make things work. As a result they all spoke a language

unfamiliar to her. "To contribute to the conversation, I would try to figure out what

they were talking about but I never could," noted Dilly.

"They were an amazing family. The genes were mixed so well that no two

men were exactly the same. While they all understood the basics of the trade,

some excelled in bookkeeping, some in electricity, and some in mechanics. Each

thought his field the most important and often did not understand why his brothers

did not feel the same way. While they would disagree among themselves, they

were always a loyal family, willing to help each other for the good of the family.

"The distinguished Roman nose dominated the faces of many of the Burrers

and carried through generations of the Burrer family. Note the pictures of Rudy,

Carleton and Gottlieb Jacob, pointed out Dilly. "However, their personalities were

all so different. Karl and Gordon were the closest."

"They were a wonderful bunch of men and I am glad I had the pleasure of

knowing them. After my background in a Lutheran minister's family, they brought

a totally new exciting dimension to my life."

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 49)

[page 49]

[corresponds to page 42 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[photo: Burrer Market on Haupstrasse near Center of

Heidelberg, Germany]

[photo: Burrer Barn near Elyria]

Tracing Roots

Carleton and Dilly have

spent many hours trailing the

paths of their ancestors.

Sometimes they found kin and

other times they were left with

more questions. Sometimes

driving through the countryside

they would spot a barn roof or

perhaps a store with the Burrer

name displayed and that would

lead to more questions.

Trekking through cemeteries,

became a part of their trips.

Occasionally trips weren't

too fruitful, such as the trip to

Sperryville, Virginia. It was a

disappointment to discover no

Sperrys in the phone book so

Dilly took Carleton's picture at

the post office as the only

Sperry in Sperryville.

Along the way many

new-found friends and distant

relatives filled in gaps. Corwin

Burrer was very helpful on the

Elyria-Medina branch of the family.

This branch is from Johann

Jacob's half brother, Christoph

Friedrich III who originally settled

there.

Kermit Burrer has traced the

Texas branch and has been in

communication with the relatives

still in Germany. There Wilhelm

Burrer and Richard Burrer have

been working on the Burrer family

tree.

Through the years Carleton

and Dilly recorded their findings

and granddaughter, Sherry Burrer,

recorded them on a large family

[photo: Carleton Sperry Burrer in Sperryville, Virginia

September 22, 1965]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 50)

[page 50]

[corresponds to page 43 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[photo: Corwin and Earl Burrer of Elyria, Ohio, in 1983]

tree which hangs in their

home.

Parts of the family

were written up and

printed in The People

Book, a local community

Bicentennial project

which was indexed by

Carleton and Dilly. Later

Dilly paid to have the

book published after

Carleton's death.

For this account,

we have tried to put all

of their research

together. Copies of the

old German documents

are in the Appendix.

[photo: Dilly Burrer at Christian S. Burrer's

(1844-1920) Marker in Elyria, Ohio

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 51)

[page 51]

[corresponds to page 44 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]


American Burrers Go

to Germany to

Celebrate Heritage

On September 5, 1995,

the village of Botenheim, in

Germany, celebated its 1200

year. The Burrer family which

still lives there organized a

family reunion. Three of C.F.

Burrer's boys, who immigrated

to America, had descendents

attending the festivities and

meeting 150 Burrers from

around the world.

[photo: Kermit and Elsie Burrer of Texas riding

horses in Botenheim's 1200 Year Parade]

[photo]

[photo: Tom and Louise Burrer]

[photo: Nancy Burrer, Dick and Charmy Voss]

Kermit and

Elsie are from the

line of Johann

Gottlieb who went

to Texas.

Tom and

Louise descend

from Christoph

Friedrich Burrer

of Elyia, Ohio.

Don, Nancy,

Charmy and Dick

are from Johan

Jakob (as are the

Sunbury Burrers).

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 52)

[page 52]

[corresponds to page 45 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]


[photo: Botenheim, Germany]

[image: map]

The German Burrers

The arrow goes to Botenheim as shown in the aerial taken in

1993. Cleebron is the next village south, Hofenstein and

Besigheim are all in the immediate area, north of Stuttgart,

south of Heidelberg. -Photos from Don and Nancy Burrer

[photo: Wilhelm Burrer]

[photo: Richard Burrer]

[photo: Parade before Richard Burrer's House]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 53)

[page 53]

[corresponds to unnumbered page]

FLASKBACK:

THE BURRER

FAMILY

[photo: three male members of family]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 54)

[page 54]

[corresponds to page 47 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]


[photo: Carleton Burrer, 4 years, 26 days]

On November 9, 1909, Carleton

was born to Karl and Daisy (Sperry)

Burrer. Carleton was very much like

his father. He was a good mechanic

but also very intelligent and treasured

books. He loved Sunbury and as a

good historian he and his wife traced

the origin of the name of Sunbury

across the country then across the

ocean. It is enclosed in the Appendix

of this book.

His family moved to Wisconsin

when he was a toddler. Then while he

was still small, the family moved into a

house at 153 North Columbus Street

and Carleton attended Sunbury School

for the first five grades. He told Joan

Fuller he remembered clearly accepting

Jesus during one of the special meetings

in the Baptist Church when he was six or

seven years old.

[photo: Carleton, 4, with "Krib", the family's

first car which had wooden wheels,

at 153 North columbus Street, 1913]

[photo: "Carleton trying hard to

smile while his picture was

taken on the porch at

Berkshire. I was real proud

of that little gray coat and

hat trimmed in blue velvet I

had just finished for him,"

wrote Daisy. 1914]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 55)

[page 55]

[corresponds to page 48 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]


Glimpses into Carleton's Childhood

[photo: Carleton in two-wheel cart]

[photo: Karl, Daisy, Carleton, 6 months]

[photo: Daisy and Carleton at the Hudson River

Railroad Bridge in February 1912.

The neighbor is pulling Carleton.]

[photo: "Carleton enjoyed riding in his carriage so much,

we would go down town early in the morning,

dressed as he is here, with our market basket tied

on behind. He has on his fur outfit, pair of black

shoes with white tassels on front and white

buttons," wrote Daisy in his scrapbook.]

[photo: Karl, Daisy, and Carleton

20 months, at Camp Clifton]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 56)

[page 56]

[corresponds to page 49 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]


[photo: Brick home north of

Berkshire Corners with

12" thick walls, 12'

ceilings on the first floor

and 9' ceilings on the

second floor. Heat was

supplied by a pipeless

furnace. Lalley light plant

(32 volt DC) installed in

early 1920's. Photo 1910.]

[photo: Carleton on

pony, Karl,

Maurice in

cart, sister

Katherine

Van Horn

next to

Daisy,

Mrs. Van

Horn in Car

with Isaac

Sperry.

1916 or 17.]

Life in Berkshire Corners

The family moved

back to Berkshire and

Carleton went to a one

room school for grades

6-8. He frequently rode

his pony, walked, or

drove his pony cart the 3

plus miles to school as

was a common practice

then.

After Carleton's

eighth grade, the family

moved into town to 47

North Morning Street

which was to become

Carleton's home until

1979.

[photo: Carleton and son of

Harry and Grace Finch]

[photo: Carleton and pet rabbit

which died of pneumonia]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 57)

[page 57]

[corresponds to page 50 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[image: Report of Carleton Burrer 1917-1918]

[image: Sunbury Public Schools 1889-1890

Record of Carl Burrer]

[photo: Carleton

and his father

shared much more

than letters in a

name. Note how

similar the grades

were on these

report cards.

Carleton

also enjoyed sleds

as did his father

uncles.

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 58)

[page 58]

[corresponds to page 51 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

Like his

father and

uncles before

him, Carleton

played in and

around the mill

and the Burrer

homestead.

This note was

found on the

back of the

privy doors in

later years

when Carleton

was an adult.

Note the men

who worked in

the mill also

signed the

back of this old

mill statement.

Education

During

his Sunbury

High School

years, Carleton

took pleasure

in his friends

and in his

church. Many

of his

classmates

became his life-

long friends.

Carleton

graduated from

sunbury High

School in 1927.

With only 5

boys (including

Hi Morris and

Hoyt Whitney) in his class, Carleton played football, basketball and baseball. He

served as Captain of the first Sunbury football team. Sports were expected of all

the boys, but Carleton never really enjoyed them. Years later he couldn't

understand how his wife could listen to a Reds' baseball

[image: On Back of Door

of Burrer Privy.

John Edwards

Truck Drver

2/20/28

[illegible]-1925

14 years old

Sunbury, Ohio

Box 352

[illegible]

[illegible] 1925

15 yrs

illegible]

must be small to

write his name on

this s-h wall

Pres

S-H Cleavers Union

J.P. Doane started

to work for G.J. Burrer

on Sept 15-1921

P-ON

Jesse

P. Doane

[illegible] cross

Truck Division

Sunbury Ohio

APR 20, 1919

Has Just S-T]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 59)

[page 59]

[corresponds to back of page 51]


Statement

THE G.J. BURRER MILL & ELEVATOR CO.

WHITE LOAF FLOUR--BURCO FEEDS

SUNBURY, OHIO.

ACCOUNT OF

ACCOUNTS DUE 15TH OF MONTH FOLLOWING PURCHASE. 7% INTEREST AFTER DUE

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 60)

[page 60]

[corresponds to page 52 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]


[photo: Sunbury High School 1927

Top Row: Eleanore Huston, Princ., G.E. McFarland, Supt.

2nd Row: Carleton Burrer, Pres., Berniece Brookens, Tres.,
Evelyn Patrick, Sec., Freda Linnabary,
V.P., Henry Beaver

3rd Row: Emma Fox, Fac., Nellie Gunnette, Gerald Knoderer,
William Lee, Olive Mathews,

H. R. Fisher, Fac.

4th Row: Mae Miller, Kerfoot Morris, Ruth McCluer, Hoyt Whitney,
Frances Stelzer.

game on the radio and hang on every play.

As Daisy became more and more disenchanted with her life, the family's home

life deteriorated whle Carleton was growing up. Throughout his adolescent years,

Carleton stayed away from the home turmoil whenever he could. His parents

misunderstood his behavior and thought he was into mischief. He turned to a friend,

Frank Stelzer, who helped many confused youths in the community.

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 61)

[page 61]

[corresponds to page 53 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]


[photo: Mrs. Davison, Hazel Davidson, Daisy Burrer,

Carleton Burrer, K.O. Burrer]

Once Carleton and some

friends wanted a car for a date

but his father refused so

Carleton turned to the

Superintendent of the Sunday

School. He let the boys borrow

his car but later claimed they

stole a lap-rug from it. Much

later a 'friend' admitted to the

mischief but not before Carleton

was humiliated.

By the time he

graduated, his parents were

dissolving their marriage and

Carleton was floundering trying

to decide where his allegiance

should lie. He went to see an

old family friend, Fawn Druggan, and she wisely told him to not take sides but

accept each as individuals. This advice was sound and Carleton became a

neutral force in family matters.

After high school, his first job was setting poles for the Central Utilities

Company when they installed the power line from Cheshire to Sunbury. Little did

he know at that time how much this experience would help in his future.

When he should have been sent to college, his parents were so caught up

in their own bitterness, they did not consider his needs. Karl wanted him to go

to military school and receive some discipline. Daisy knew that was wrong and

so they settled on technical school.

Westinghouse was looking for bright young men with scientific and

mechanical minds. A teacher told Carleton about the school, he applied and was

accepted. He moved to Pittsburgh for his training. There he worked in

Westinghouse in the day and attended classes in the evening for about a year.

The classes were free and they received enough pay to be able to afford the

apartment if they pooled their funds.

A group of five boys lived together in an apartment, did their own cooking

and went to school. While Carleton was in the trade school, he met and roomed

with Seward Arnold. They both knew they wanted an education and were a cut

above some of their other roommates. One time Daisy went to see her son and

called to let him know she was there but a female answered the phone.

Apparently she had been living with one of Carleton's roommates but she scooted

before Daisy got to the house. No one ever told Dilly who the woman was visiting

but she knew it wasn't Carleton. Another time a policeman came to see one of

the fellows who hid in a closet. The others did not want to get into trouble so

they dragged the man out to talk with the policemen. Carleton and Seward got

more education than they had bargained for.

Meets Dilly

At this time Dilly was attending Elmira College in New York. Her little sister

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 62)

[page 62]

[corresponds to page 54 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]


[photo: Carleton and Dilly During Prom

Weekend at Elmira College]

at college had a friend who was interested in

taking Dilly to the prom. She was all dressed

in a prom dress of tulle over taffeta and felt

very special as she went to the dance.

Unfortunatley the date was not a winner. In

addition to the flask in his pocket, he couldn't

dance, made an improper advance and lastly

got her to the dorm 15 minutes late which

caused Dilly to be grounded for two solid

weeks.

Dilly wanted nothing more to do with

that young man so she now was facing the

senior prom without a date. Her friend

Margie, who was engaged to one of

Carleton's roommates, knew of some guys in

Pittsburgh who were interested in going to

the prom. Dilly said, "Count me in," but faced

it with reservations. All the girls had spent

time learning to dance and she was afraid

she would be disappointed, again. However,

this time the two short people, Dilly and

Carleton, were paired off. "Carleton danced

like a dream," remembers Dilly. "We hit it off

right away."

There was some sort of a problem and

Westinghouse closed the program. Carleton

and Seward bought a sporty convertible automobile with a rumble seat and went

to Toledo where they heard there were jobs. Their funds were very limited so they

lived at the YMCA. Carleton found a job selling appliances on commission.

Unfortunately, it was the Depression, money was tight, and not many bought

appliances. Seward couldn't find a job.

Carleton made

enough money to pay

the room for both of

them and by so doing

paid off Seward's half of

the car and became the

sole owner of it.

As a natural

leader, Carleton became

president of the YMCA

while in Toledo.

Meanwhile,

Carleton and Dilly's

relationship blossomed

through the mails.

Although they both

[photo: Mr. Saunders, Seward Arnold and Carleton with THE CAR

in which they took a trip to the east coast. May 1929]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 63)

[page 63]

[corresponds to page 55 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]


dated other people, Carleton drove to New York whenever he could - one time

taking only 12 hours for the trip. Another time Dilly came to Ohio to visit Carleton.

He drove her to Cleveland and put her on an overnight boat to Buffalo. "I didn't

get much sleep but the idea was good," noted Dilly.

Sunbury Electric Shop

Business was very slow in Toledo so Carleton decided to return to

Sunbury. There in the height of the Depression, Carleton, as the electrician, and

Wayne "Slim" Crawford opened an electric store in the basement of the old post

office building (Blue Door Antiques in 1996) on East Cherry Street. "If we sold a

box of fuses or some light bulbs, we figured we'd had a pretty good day in those

times," Carleton told The Sunbury News editor, John Whitney, when the latter

wrote the Burrer's retirement story in 1975.

Carleton gave Dilly an engagement ring for Christmas in 1934. At the time

she was teaching school and working for the WPA as a librarian in Stratford, NY.,

a small mountain town in the lower Adirondacks.

In 1933 or 34, Carleton bought Crawford's share of the business and then

in 1937, moved it to the east side of the square (where Glenn Evans Insurance

Agency is located in 1996.) Sunbury Electric Shop collected payments for electric

bills due to Columbus and Southern Ohio Electric. The shop handled electrical

appliances and Carleton did electrical contracting.

Following in the footsteps of his father and uncles, in 1938, Carleton,

wearing a new tuxedo his father purchased for the occasion, was installed as the

Master of Sparrow Lodge No 400 F.& A.M. in Sunbury. The next year Carleton

was the youngest Past Master of the lodges in Ohio.

In 1939 Sunbury Electric Shop moved next door to Blakely-Williams in a

large frame building at the southeast corner of Vernon and Cherry Streets.

Military Service in World War II

[photo: Carleton April 5, 1943]

The war

began and the

papers were all

asking for

anyone with a

knowledge of

electricity.

Carleton

enlisted as a

Corporal and

was sent to

Lexington for

training in the

special

electrical

forces.

[photo: Cpl Carleton burrer of the Army

Signal Corps is stationed at Gover-

nor's Island, N. Y.

awaiting orders.

Carleton has been

studying and in-

structing in radio

at an Army

school in Lexing-

ton, Ky. He re-

ceived his lieu-

tenant commiss-

ion two weeks

ago and stopped

off here enroute to New York. Lt.

Burrer owns the Sunbury Electric

Shop which is being operated by

his mother since his enlistment.

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 64)

[page 64]

[corresponds to page 56 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]


[image: Government Request For Transportation

MEMORANDUM]

Following his

training he was sent to

England in 1942 for nine

months. while he was

there he was notified that

his unit, Army Specialists

Corps, had been

dissolved and he was no

longer in the military.

The men in his unit

made a coffin and buried

the A.S.C. In 1943,

Carleton returned home.

About a month

later he was again

notified that Uncle Sam

needed his services.

This time Carleton went as a civilian in charge of the Signal Corps to hang

telephone lines in Hawaii.

[photo: End of the Army Specialists Corps.]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 65)

[page 65]

[corresponds to page 57 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[photo: Civilian Carleton in Hawaii, 1943-44]

[photo: Carleton, top, on pole stringing lines in Hawaii.]

While he was

gone his mother, Daisy

Sperry Burrer, Walter M.

Gross, Leta (Speer)

Barnhard, Harry W.

Snow and Lily Kempton

continued on with the

business.

During his war years, he continued to

correspond with Dilly. In

the meantime, she had

graduated from

Columbia with a Masters

in Library Science and

become the Assistant

Librarian at Capital

University in Columbus

in 1941.

[photo: Interior of sunbury Electric Shop in the Blakely-Williams

building during a WW II christmas. Note no appliance

available. Walt Gross, Daisy Burrer and Minneta Hoover

Ritchie are running the business.

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 66)

[page 66]

[corresponds to unnumbered page of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]


FLASKBACK:

DILLENBECK

FAMILY

[photo: 3 photos]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 67)

[page 67]

[correspnds to page 58 of

[foldout: Dilly Burrer's Ancestor's]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 68)

[page 68]

[corresponds to page 59 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[photo: Dorothy Dillenbech

2 years, 9 months]

Dorothy MacNaughton Dillenbeck was

born January 6, 1907, to Andrew Luther and

Stella Pearl (Whitbeck) Dillenbeck while he

was studying in Hartwick Theological

Seminary in Hartwick Seminary, New York.

Dorothy was not given a middle name at the

time of her birth because Dorothy Dillenbeck

was a long enough name for a little girl.

Wishing for a middle name, all through her

youth she made up her own. Finally when

she was going away to school she decided

she needed a middle name and her father

helped her settle on MacNaughton, her great-

grandfather's surname. "A MacClain girl had

married a MacNaughton man which was

better than a MacNaughton girl marrying a

MacClain man!" - so the family saying goes.

All through school she was called

Dorothy, her father was Dil and her brother

was Dil. One day the three of them were

sitting on the porch and someone went by

and called "Hi, Dilly." "We weren't sure who they were talking to but the name

stuck and I became Dilly with a 'y although many spell it with 'ie.'" With the new

nickname she fit in when her friend whose name was Fitch was always called

Fitchie.

The Dillenbach family has been traced to Switzerland where two forms of

the name are in common usage - Dallenbach and Tallenbach. Indeed the two

names are so often interchanged the telephone directory in Bern, Switzerland, (in

1969) showed cross references between the two spellings. The family legend

says the family is descended from Wilhelm Tell (Tallen) whose family lived by the

brooks (bach) thus Tallenbach. Those who remained on the hillside or mountain

(bergs) slopes are called Tallenbergs. Time flattened the sound of the T to D thus

Dallenbach. Quite probably William Tell was a relative.

Although the family is found in Switzerland, both the name and the family

are German noted Andrew Dillenbeck and Karl Dallenbeck who co-edited the

family genealogy, The Dallenbachs in America.

Jorg Martin Dillenbach

Jorg Martin (Martin as he was known) was born about 1690 to Nicholas

and Anna Barbara Dallenbach of Lauperswil, a small Swiss village in the Alps a

few miles northeast of Bern. In 1710, Martin, his wife Sarah Catherine

(Baumann?), and his widowed mother were among the second migration of

Palatines from the Rhine Valley to New York. Historians have decided Sarah

probably died giving birth to Anna Margretha August 1, 1712, and the baby died

soon after. Six months later Martin married Anna Elizabeth (Castlemann) and they

lived in Neu Castle across the Hudson from Germantown, N.Y.

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 69)

[page 69]

[corresponds to page 60 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

Martin served under Col. Nicholson in 1711 in Queen Anne's War thus

becoming the first in the family to bear arms on American soil.

It is unknown when Martin moved to the Mohawk Valley but most of his

children were born there and he is probably buried on the old homestead which

is still in the family in 1996.

He founded Stone Arabia Church in a log cabin in 1728 on land secured

from the government known as the Stone Arabia Patent. Since its founding, the

church has never been closed although fire destroyed the log structure and it was

rebuilt. Dilly and her father have always maintained membership in this church.

Ten children were born to this union: Johannes (1714), Henrich (1716),

Christian (1718), Anna Maria (1720), Wilhelm (1722), Elisabeth (1725), Martinus

(1729), John Dietrich (1731), John Baltasar (1733), and John David (1735).

Henrich Dillenbach

Our family follows through Henrich (1716-1795) who married Anna

Margretha (Wagner) March 19, 1735. Anna was born April 15, 1712 to John Peter

and Maria Margretha (Loucks) Wagner in New Paltz. To this union nine children

were born: Anna Margretha (12-22-1735), Andrew (12-29-1736), Anna Maria (12-7-

1738), Elizabeth (4-4-1740). Henrich (3-29-1741), Catherine (12-26-1743),

Johannes (1-13-1747), Magdalena (10-5-1749), and Barbara Elizabeth (6-22-1752).

All were members of the Lutheran church but it is not known if they are buried in

the old church cemetery or at the homestead.

Andrew A. Dillenbach

Andrew (12-29-1736 to 8-6-1977) married Catharina Finck on November 27,

1764. Catharina was the daughter of Andreas and Margaret Finck and had grown

up with Andrew. They had 6 children: Anna Margretha (3-26-1766), Catherine (3-

3-1768), Maria (4-11-1770), Andrew A. (4-26-1775) and Magdalena (4-24-1778).

His last daughter was born months after her father's death.

When Sir William Johnson called for troops to march on Ft. William Henry,

March 20, 1757, twenty-one year old Andrew was in Capt. Soffrines Deychert's

Company. The Company disbanded nine days later. Again on July 24, 1763,

when the alarm went out that German Flatts was in danger of attack, Andrew

responded.

In 1768, Andrew signed a petition to Sir William to compel him to issue a

new deed when the Lutheran congregation of Stone Arabia had lost its deed to

their property.

Andrew was active in events leading up to the American Revolution. He

served as a Lieutenant in the Palatine Militia. Then in 1776, he and Capt. John

Zielley and others, were made a Committee of Vigilance to procure arms and

equipment for the Militia. In 1777, he marched on Oriskany as Lieutenant in Capt.

Severines Cook's Company, Col. Klock's New York Regiment under General

Herkimer.

On August 4, 1777, General Nicholas Herkimer gathered together 800

militiamen at Ft. Dayton (now Herkimer, N.Y.) for the relief of Ft. Schuyler (Rome,

N.Y.) which was besieged by British under Col. Berry St. Leger and Indians led

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 70)

[page 70]

[corresponds to page 61 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

by Joseph Brant a Mohawk Indian. On the 6th, General Herkimer's troops were

ambushed by the British under Sir John Johnson and Indians under Brant in a

ravine 2 miles west of Oriskany, a village in Oneida County, N.Y. The rear portion

of Herkimer's troops escaped the trap, but were pursued by the Indians, and

many of them were overtaken and killed. Between the remainder, the British and

the Indians, there was a desperate hand-to-hand conflict, interrupted by a violent

thunderstorm, with no quarter shown by either side.

Soldiers were dropping right and left, so Lieutenant Dillenbach was made

Captain on the battlefield.

Captain Andrew Dillenbach, knowing how Indians treated prisoners, told

George Walter (to whom we are indebted for his eye witness account of the

following events) he would not be taken alive. "Three of Johnson's Greens set

upon him. One of his assailants seized the Captain's gun, but he suddenly

wrenched it from him and felled him with the musket butt. He shot the second

dead, and thrust the bayonet through a third. But in the moment of triumph a ball

laid him low." He was shot through the head and died instantly. A tradition in the

family says that the gun that killed the Captain was fired by a Tory neighbor living

on the farm adjoining the Old Homestead and one with whom Captain Andrew

had grown up and into whose family his oldest daughter was to marry. Following

the Captain's previous instructions to his comrades, his silver buckles were

removed from his shoes and knees and put with his pocketbook to later be taken

to his wife. There was no time to bury the victims, so the Captain's body was put

in a field of tall wheat to hide it from the Indians and prevent scalping.

Hearing the firing near Ft. Schuyler, the British finally withdrew but not

before 200 Americans had been killed and as many more taken prisoners. The

British losses were equally as heavy. General Herkimer, though his leg had been

taken by a shot at the beginning of the action, continued to direct the fighting on

the American side. Herkimer died August 16 as a result of the clumsy amputation

of his leg. The battle was not decisive but it did prevent St. Leger's troops from

joining up with General Burgoyne. Story of the Battle is taken from Encyclopedia

Britannica.

Since the dead were never buried, it is said that for months after the battle,

travelers detoured the field to avoid the stench of decaying flesh.

Members of the family know the exact spot where Andrew was killed. In

1877, one hundred years after his death, Dilly's grandfather, Luther, and others

visited the spot and found a sign nailed to a tree which read "Here Captain

Andrew Dillenbeck was killed." In 1930, Dilly's father and brother also visited the

battlefield. A tall obelisk monument marks the place today.

Catharina was left pregnant and with five chilren, the oldest only eleven.

In 1780, she married Capt. John Zielley, a friend, neighbor and co-militiaman of

Andrew's, and guardians were appointed for the children. To this union more

children were born and family tradition says they received preference over captain

Andrew's children.

Andrew A. Dillenbach II

Andrew A.(4-26-1775 to 12-20-1868) was only 2 when his father, Captain

Andrew, died at the Battle of Oriskany and only 5 when Johnson's raid burned the

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 71)

[page 71]

[corresponds to page 62 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

churches and buildings in Stone Arabia in 1780.

However, the vivid sight of the burning buildings and

crops became a lasting memory for him.

It is possible Andrew was raised by

grandparents after his mother remarried when he

was five years old. Documents show his

grandfather Finck saved his Dillenbach inheritance

for him after a guardian was appointed for Captain

Andrew's children. So at 17, Andrew took charge of

the family farm.

Andrew A.

married Margaret

Woolever (Wohleben)

March 11, 1777.

Margaret's family had

come to America with

the first Martin

Dallenbach. She was

born May 1777 in German Flatts or Manheim.

Andrew and Margaret had six children:

Magdalena (7-14-1798), Andrew A. (9-18-1800).

Eva, Engel (6-22-1804 who died an infant), John A.

(5-25-1807) and Catharine (6-22-1812)

In 1807 Andrew purchased a 16 year old

Negro slave named Sam from the Pastor Philip

Grotz because the pastor was afraid he would be

forced to beat the boy if he kept him. Sam was "an

imp of mischief" who had tried the pastor. It is not

known if Andrew had other slaves.

He served as Orderly Sergeant under Capt. John I. Cook (his uncle) in the

War of 1812 and spent 3 months stationed at Sacketts Harbor. Margaret died

February 21, 1863, and Andrew December 20, 1868. They are the first interred in

the family plot at the Old Homestead.

Andrew A. Dillenbach III

Andrew A. was born on the Old Homestead September 18, 1800. Named

after his father and grandfather, it was intended that he would one day inherit the

homestead. Unfortunately difficulties arose after his marriage when he and his

wife attempted to live at home, so his father purchased a farm for him about 2

miles east where he and his wife lived, died and are buried.

This Andrew was known as "Little Andrew" because he was small in stature.

He married Margaret (Neahr) and they had eight children: Eliza (1824 to 1904

who never married), Margaret (1828-1912), Julianna, Charles A. (1834-1903),

David (1837-1908), Luther (7-4-1843 to 6-19-1894), and Hannah (1847-1933).

Margaret died December 14, 1874, and Andrew died January 6, 1881.

[photo: Andrew A. Dillenbeck,

Dilly's Great-Great

Grandfather]

[photo: Margaret (Woolever)

Dillenbeck, Dilly's

Great-Great Grandmother]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 72)

[page 72]

[corresponds to page 63 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[photo: Andrew A. and Margaret

(Neahr) Dillenbeck

Dilly's Great

Grandparents]

[2 photos: Luther and Helen

(Van Wie)

Dillenbeck

Dilly's Grandparents

Photos

are from

tintypes]

Luther Dillenbeck

Luther was born July 4 1843, in Stone Arabia. His family lived in a huge

house on one side of the Erie Canal and Van Wies lived in a hugh house on

the other side of the canal. Both families were very prosperous.

As a young man, Luther began to drink beer which caused some mixed

feelings in the family. Then to make matters worse be [sic he] married his third cousin,

Helen (Van Wie) January 13, 1870, and they stayed with the Dillenbecks for a

short time. Helen was the daughter of John and Helen (Wormuth) Van Wie. John

was the son of Daniel and Anna (Dillenbach) Van Wie. Anna was the daughter of

Johannes and Maria (Sprecher) Dillenbach. Johannes was Captain Andrew's

brother.

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 73)

[page 73]

[corresponds to page 64 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

Soon Luther and Helen were on

their own farm raising hops just a mile

east of his sister Julianna and his

brother Charles. They had four

children: John L. (1871-1872), Andrew

L. (1878-1963), Marie (1882), and

John W. (1887). Farming is always a

gamble and when it is mixed with

excessive drinking the odds begin to

stack against the farmer. Luther

began to put everything into hops and

after a few bad seasons, he lost all the

money which was to pay the

mortgage.

[photo: Dilly's Great-Grandfather John D. Van Wie

Helen Dillenbeck's Father]

[photo: Helen Van Wie Dillenbeck]

Due to the drinking Luther's health failed

so they sold the farm and moved to a little house

near Stone Arabia schoolhouse.

While Luther was drinking he was the life

of the party but he could also be nasty and in

one of the nasty times he kicked the family dog

which resulted in its death.

When Luther wouldn't return

home, his son Andrew was sent

after him although Andrew was

only a small boy.

Luther died June 19,

1894, when Andrew was only 9

years old. This period in

Andrew's life was to have a

lasting impression on him. He

became a teetotaller for life.

[photo: Helen Van Wie Dillenbeck

Dilly's Grandmother]

The Dillenbeck and Van

Wie families would not help

widow Helen so she began

cleaning houses and hired out

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 74)

[page 74]

[corresponds to page 65 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[photo: Andrew L. Dillenbeck

11 months]

to help in kitchens when the harvesters needed to

be fed. Thus she provided for her family. She and

the children moved to St. Johnsville where she

died January 22, 1917.

[photo: Dillenbeck Home

Where Andrew Luther Grew Up]

[Photo: Pearl Whitbeck]

Andrew Luther Dillenbeck

Andrew was born in Palatine,

N.Y. November 11, 1878. He attended

High school at Canajoharie and

Hartwick Seminary and taught school

for four years. He worked his way

through college working in the dorms

and leading tours on the battlefields of

Gettysburg and became a scholar

about the war. He graduated from

Gettysburg College in 1905. In June

7, 1905, he married Stella Pearl

Whitbeck of Hartwick Seminary.

Pearl's Swackhammer and Whitbeck

Ancestors

Pearl was born December 16, 1877, to Charles and Catherine Margaret

(Swackhammer) Whitbeck.

The Swackhammers came from Scotland about 1776. Samuel

Schwackhammer, born 1700 in Germany, came in 1731 to the American

wilderness, married three times and fathered 25 children, 73 grandchildren, and

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 75)

[page 75]

[corresponds to page 66 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

25 great grandchildren (according to his funeral notice in the old- church book).

He leased a tract of 600 acres. Samuel died February 3, 1782. His will dated

February 1, 1780, and probated March 8 (Trenton Lib. 23, fol. 247) names his wife

Elizabeth, son-in-law Daniel Samis (maybe Lamis), brother in-law Fred Miller, and

thirteen children. It was witnessed by Joseph Snider, Charles Hildebrand, and

Sarah Clymer. The fourth listed child was Stephen Swackhammer who married

Jane Bowman, the daughter of Lambert Bowman. Their children were Rev.

Lambert Swackhammer, Susan who married a Dewey, David, Eliza, and one

other.

Dilly has a quilt made by her family from Jane Bowman Swackhammer's

dresses after her death in 1853.

[photo: Jennet MacHaughton

Swackhammer

Dilly's Great-Grandmother]

Rev. Lambert Swackhammer and Jennet

MacNaughton Swackhammer married June 14, 1828

in Clay, N.Y.

Rev. Swackhammer (b.1805-d. 11-2-1857)

served many Lutheran churches across the

countryside from the middle of New York state to

New Jersey where he actually started to build a

church in Middle Valley which he never finished but

the ruins remain. (Articles about his church are on

the following pages.) Between services he taught in

schools along his circuit, perhaps

supervising lesson plans for the young

teachers. He became an abolitionist

which was not popular. More black

than white people attended his

services. One of his sermons has

been saved at Rutgers University.

[photo: Four Generations

Dilly's Aunt Alice (Whitbeck) Barringer,

Great-Grandmother Jennet (MacNaughton)

Swackhammer holding Alice's son Harry,

and Catharine Margaret (Swackhammer)

Whitbeck]

Catherine Margaret

Swackhammer was born January 11,

1838 in Manheim, New York. She

became the wife of Charles Edward

Whitbeck and mother of Stella Pearl

Whitbeck. She, too, taught school.

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 76)

[page 76]

[corresponds to page 67 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]


[foldout: Rev. Swackhammer's

Church]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 77)

[page 77]

[corresponds to page 68 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[foldout: Rev. Swackhammer's

Church]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 78)

[page 78]

[corresponds to page 69 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

Rev. Swackhammer continued to travel a set route and would stay in each

community for services, baptisms, weddings, etc. On one of his travels among

his parishes, he got the chills and developed TB from which he died at the age

of 51. At that time he was making his home with the family of his daughter,

Catherine Margaret Swackhammer Whitbeck.

[photo: Charles E. Whitbeck]

[photo: Catherine Margaret

Swackhammer Whitbeck

Both Photos are Tintypes]

A descendent of

Dutch forbearers who

settled in Albany County,

N.Y., Pearl's father, Charles

Edward Whitbeck, came

from a family of weavers.

A woven coverlet handed

down through the family

is in the Burrer Room at

Community Library.

[photo: Charles E. Whitbeck

Dilly's Grandfather]

A letter (copied on

the following page) was

written to Johnathan

Whitbeck by his father

giving the son business

advice. The letter was

folded, addressed on the back and delivered to

Johnathan who must have cherished it for it to be in

Dilly's possession today.

Charles Whitbeck was a house painter in the

summer but the job was seasonal. His wife Catherine

was the laundress for

table linens at Hartwick

Seminary. This was a never ending task and

the irons were always

ready for anyone to

take a turn.

[photo: Donald McKenzie, Alice May

Whitbeck and Pearl Whitbeck]

Pearl was one

of seven children; two ministers, two teachers, a

firefighter and a farmer. Her first two brothers,

Lambert and Clarence ate Queen Anne's Lace

and died very young. Her older sister Alice, who

was like a mother to her younger sister Pearl,

became a teacher. George became a minister

and the father of three but due to a family fallout

they were not well known by Dilly. Harry was a

farmer with a wonderful sense of humor and a

favorite of Dilly's. "Harry's wife was missing a

front upper tooth which showed whenever she

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 79)

[page 79]

[corresponds to unnumbered page of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

This pale blue paper was

folded so the part at the right was

on the outside. There is no

stamp but it is addressed as

though it were mailed so perhaps

it was hand delivered.

[image: Jonathan Whitbeck]

[image:Johnathan Whitbeck I leave a few lines for

you if you think best you may help Wm

[illegible] get in corn and [illegible] his or the hay

[illegible] is in the Barn if he will pay you

for your trouble, you can ask him if

he wants you to help him and make

your own bargain but I want you to

be particular and Keep the account of

the number of Bails of Hay and See

by what [illegible] they are shiped and

Say Nothing to any one but Mrs. W [illegible]

dont let any one know you are Keeping

the account of Hay and weight you

May Have all he will pay you only I

want you to take good care of the

family, if I have time I will tell Mrs

Richards to let you have a pair of

Boots as you may order a pair made

for you]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 80)

[page 80]

[corresponds to page 71 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[photos: Lambert and Clarence Whitbeck,
Who Died as Small Boys

After Eating Queen Anne's Lace in 1878]

opened her mouth. Since

she was always talking or

laughing, the hole was very

visible," remembers Dilly.

Edward was a firefighter.

At last, Pearl joined the

family.

Aunt Alice managed

to keep all the brothers

and sisters in touch

through the years.

Charles died August

31, 1912, and Catherine

Margaret on January 6, 1926.

[photo: The Charles Whitbeck Homestead in Hartwick Seminary

Uncle George Whitbeck has the big ears on the left,
Grandma Jennet (MacNaughton)

Swackhammer, Pearl Whitbeck is small girl, and Aunt Alice
(Whitbeck) Barringer.

The house was built as a tavern and post office in 1790.
About 1854, it was owned and

enlarged by Rev. Levi Stemberg, the principal of Hartwick Seminary.

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 81)

[page 81]

[corresponds to page 72 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[photo: The whitbeck Homestead in Hartwick Seminary, New York

Following extensive remodeling in 1927-28

by Rev. Russell and Mrs. Alice (Whitbeck) Barringer.

[photo: Ivona Whitbeck

Showing talent as a singer

and dancer which

she later became.]

[photo: At Uncle John's

Levina ?, Martha Dillenbeck, Albert Dillenbeck,

Marie Dillenbeck, Pearl Whitbeck,

Uncle John Dillenbeck, man unknown in front]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 82)

[page 82]

[corresponds to page 73 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]


[photo: Charles Edward Whitbeck Family

Back Row: Donald McKenzie, Dilly's Uncle Harry Nelson Whitbeck,

Grandpa Charles Whitbeck, Aunt Alice (Whitbeck) Barringer,

Grandma Catherine Margaret (Swackhammer) Whitbeck.

Seated: Uncle Russell Barringer, Great Grandma (MacNaughton) Swackhammer,

Stella Pearl Whitbeck, Uncle George Grant Whitbeck

On the Floor: Uncle Ed Whitbeck

[photo: Catherine Margaret

Whitbeck age 75,

January 11, 1913

Dilly's Grandmother,]

[photo: Charles Edward

Whitbeck, age 80,

March 1, 1911

Dilly's Grandfather,]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 83)

[page 83]

[corresponds to page 74 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[photo: Paul Whitbeck, 4 years old]

[photo: Rev. George Grant Whitbeck Family in 1907

G. Paul, Earl C. George, and Myrthl Fatima Whitbeck]

[photo: Earl Whitbeck]

[photo: Paul Whitbeck]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 84)

[page 84]

[corresponds to page 75 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[photo: Fort Hunter School Where Pearl taught]

[photo: Mrs. Russell Barringer

Alice May Whitbeck. 1891]

Stella Pearl Whitbeck

Pearl graduated from Hartwick Seminary in

1895 and taught school for thirteen years. From the

age of eighteen, Pearl suffered with bronchial

asthma. To get to her school the short way, she had

to walk straight up a hill which brought on asthma

attacks, If she walked the long way around the hill,

the slope was more gradual and she would feel

better.

[photo: Pearl Whitbeck]

[photo: Clarence Whitbeck]

Pearl had

mastered the

English language

and always knew

the right word for

each occasion.

She drilled it into

her children and

students, "Use the

right word in the

right place."

Andrew also loved

words but if he

didn't if he

couldn't think of

the right word, he

would make one

up. "Guess that is why I've always enjoyed making

up words," chuckled Dilly.

[photo: Pearl Whitbeck]

Pearl also loved to paint. she took lessons

for which her sister Alice paid and developed a

knack for it. several of her paintings are hanging in

Dilly's home.

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 85)

[page 85]

[corresponds to page 76 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[4 images: Samples

of the many

Cards and

Programs

Pearl Had

Printed for

Her Pupils]

Souvenir

Hartwick Sem'y

Public School,

District No. 1,

Hartwick Twp.,

Otsego Co., A. D.

1901-1902,

PRESENTED BY

STELLA P. WHITBECK,

Teacher.

Names of Pupils

Hattie Root Greta Whitbeck

Jennie Estes

Mabel Mercer Mabel smith

Elva Smith

Zoe Wikoff Lottie Smith

Vera Acker

Elsa Weeks Luella Petrie

Myrtle Van Court

Claude Whitbeck Paul Weeks

Clarence Whitbeck

George Mercer Willie Mercer

Rufus Wikoff

Carter Burnett Ora Murdock

George Beatty

Dorr Augur Harry Murphy

Lewis Mercer

Clyde Hayne Floyd Smith

Truman Smith


Pupils

Mabel I. Beckley

Lilith Record

Blanche Record

Marion A. Augur

Carrie Salisbury

Alice Salisbury

Grace C. Lattin

May S. Fogarty

Anna S. Fogarty

Luena Blanchard

Florence Cook

Maude Cook

Amos Cook

Merton Beckley

Howard Record

W. Bassett Koch

Harry C. Sergent

Souvenir

School District No. 12

Hinman Hollow

Otsego County, N. Y.

1896-1897.

PRESENTED BY

S. Pearl Whitbeck,

Teacher

John Cross Trustee

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 86)

[page 86]

[corresponds to page 77 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

Andrew always said Pearl was

'a born teacher' and never had any

discipline problems because she had

a way of making the children want to

learn all she could teach them. Years

later when Dilly applied for a job at

Canajoharie the superintendent said to

hire her if she was Pearl Whitbeck's

daughter!

[photo: Teacher Pearl at Her Desk]

[photo: Andrew L, Dillenbach in His Dorm at

Hartwick Theological Seminary]

Pearl encouraged Andrew to

complete his theological studies because

if he wanted to be a minister she wanted

him to be a good one and not the

popular stand-up minister found in many

of the churches.

Hartwick Theological Seminary

was an excellent theological seminary

and Pearl was teaching when they

married. So he received training and

preparation for the ministry and was ordained at West Sand Lake June 19, 1907.

[photo: Favorite Pastime was the Parlor Band

Andrew is in the back left, Pearl front right.]

[photo: Andrew Dillenbeck sitting at the

Teacher's Desk used by Pearl]

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 87)

[page 87]

[corresponds to unnumbered page of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

. Y., WEDNES

[illegible]

MATRIMONIAL

[illegible] 7, 1905

DILLENBECK-WHITBECK.

The union of two young lives in

holy wedlock, and the consequent

bringing together of two families

hitherto unrelated and unknown to

each other, is an event to stir any

neighborhood to unusual activity.

Several years ago Mr. Andrew L.

Dillenbeck of St. Johnsville came

hither to pursue in the Seminary

a course of studies leading to the

ministry of the Lutheran Church.

While in school he was attracted to

one of Hartwick's fair maidens,

Miss Stella Pearl Whitbeck, then a

teacher in the public school, and

earlier a graduate of the Seminary.

. . . . . . . . Here we have a blank

into which our readers can fill the

"old, old story."

Mr. Dillenbeck entered Gettys-

burg College in 1902, and this year is

graduated therefrom with dis-

tinguished, honors, including a prize

of $30.00. Miss Whitbeck for two

years has been a teacher in the High

School at Fort Hunter.

[photo]

On the 7th of June, '05, in the

Seminary Church, these joined their

earthly fortunes in holy marriage,

saying their vows to Rev. Alfred

Hiller, D. D., pastor of the Lutheran

Church. At 8 p. m. Prof. C. S.

Derrick, presiding at the Organ,

played the wedding march, and the

bridal party approached a bower of

beauty in white and green. Rev.

Geo. G. Whitbeck of Valatio gave

his sister in marriage unto the

husband of her choice.

The immediate party fronting the

officiating clergyman were, the bride

and groom, accompanied by Stanley

Haverly as best man, and Greta

May Whitbeck, a niece, as maid of

honor. Flanking these were the

ushers, Mr. Hinkle, College class-

mate, Dallas Dillenbeck, Elton Dil-

lenbeck, cousins, and John Dillenbeck,

brother, and bride's maids, Misses

Flora and Elsie Murdock.

The rain which had been pouring

during the afternoon considerately

ceased to allow the guests, who nearly

filled the church, to go to the

ceremony, and to return to the resi-

dence of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E.

Whitbeck, the bride's parents. Being

"only a man" we shall not attempt

to describe the bride's trosseau, nor

to describe the bride's trosseau, nor

the gowns of the various sweet and

pretty attendants. Suffice it to

say they were all in keeping with

the occasion. To our thinking the

refined and intellectual bearing was

superior to any amount of "clothes"

which might be enumerated.

So, also, when we attempt to describe

the brilliancy of the reception which

immediately followed the ceremony

our pen threatens to revolt. The

home of Mr. and Mrs. Whitbeck, in-

cluding the apartments of Mr. and

Mrs. Harry N. Whitbeck, just thronged

with merry guests, while white

robe maidens flitted here, there and

yon, dispensing refreshments, many

or most of which were the product of

the bride's own deft hand.

Shall we enumerate the gifts? No,

that would be about impossible, and

surely might subject some one to a

feeling of envy. We desire, however,

to note those of the guests who

journeyed hither from other com-

munities, omitting those who dwell

within our gates.

Mrs. Dillenbeck, mother, Marie

Dillenbeck, sister, and John Dillen-

beck, brother of the groom, St.

Johnsville; Mrs. Kate Dillenbeck,

Miss Nan Dillenbeck, Elton Dillen-

beck and Dallas Dillenbeck and two

lady friends, Canajoharie; Mrs. E.

L. Tucker, Syracuse; Rev. and Mrs.

Geo. G. Whitbeck, Valatie; Mrs.

Rev. r. Barringer, Orleans 4 corners;

Mrs. Ed. Whitbeck, Schenectady;

Miss Edna Traver. West Camp; Mrs.

James Dolan, Rensselaer; Mr. and

Mrs. John McCullough, Albany; Mrs.

Burgess and Myrtle Burgess, Richfield

springs; Mrs. Wm. Hatch, O.

Columbia; Mr. and Mrs. Wm

Blencoe, Davenport; Mrs. Clark

Coventry, Norton Hill; Mr. and

Mrs. E. J. Bailey, Cooperstown;

Mrs. Carlton Fields, Toddsville;

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bauder, Stone

Arabia; Mr. and Mrs. Albert Dillen-

beck, and Miss Bertha VanWie, Mc-

Kinley; Arthur Morse, Esp., and

Mrs. Morse, New Berlin.

At a late hour Mr. and Mrs. Dillen-

beck left for Milford, and thence, Thurs-

day morning, they started for Gettys-

burg, Pa., accompanied by Miss Bertha

VanWie and Miss Flora Murdock. Af-

ter Mr. Dillenbeck's graduation at

Gettysburg, this week, the party will

proceed to Washington, D. C., and

other points of interest.--[Hartwick

Seminary Correspondent.

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 88)

[page 88]

[corresponds to page 79 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

Both Andrew and

Pearl enjoyed music and

the company of many

friends throughout these

early years. Without

television, cars, and easy

access to all the

entertainments of today,

they found it easy to entertain themselves.

Groups of faculty and

students from the

college would get

together for charades,

skits or evenings

devoted to music. Their

scrapbook made during

this period is full of

pictures of friends

getting together in the parlor many in full costumes for the characters they were

portraying.

[photo: Pearl and Andrew Dillenbeck in the Parlor of Their Home]

Dilly's Youth

Dilly was born across the road from the Whitbeck homestead located on

the creek side of the Susquehanna River, in Hartwick Seminary. Later she and

her husband would be found tracing the origin of Sunbury, Ohio, along the same

river in Pennsylvania.

According to her babybook, her mother recorded that Dilly didn't talk until

her brother Marsden did and when she once started she never stopped. Once

Dilly was asked what God said to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. She

replied. "Get out of this joint."

There was never a void of topics for discussion. Andrew always took The

New York Times when it was available. Often, the family would discuss items

from the paper at the dinner table. Of course he never bought The Times on

Sunday but rather made arrangements for the paper to be held until Monday

when it would be purchased and both papers read.

One of the many topics discussed at the table, was Mary Baker Eddy and

her movement away from doctors. When a neighbor got TB and wouldn't have

a doctor, Pearl took it upon herself to call a doctor. The woman refused to talk

with him and soon died.

Pearl never cooked on Sundays. She spent all day Saturday cooking and

then she would scrub the kitchen floor. "She never let me scrub the floor because

she disliked doing it so much and she never would ask anyone to do something

she didn't like doing," commented Dilly.

As a girl, Dilly remembers wearing layers of clothing and still being cold.

She wore black knit stockings, high buttoned shoes, long johns with a back door,

2 pair of bloomers (one brown serge and the other light brown serge, sweaters,

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 89)

[page 89]

[corresponds to page 80 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

[photo: Pearl and Andrew

Walking. Note Pearl's

Small Waist Under Her

Winter Coat]

scarves and mittens. When she was older and

complained about having to wear so many layers, Pearl

told her of the time a friend was walking by the horse

stall near the church at Hartwick Seminary and a man

pulled her into a stall and attempted to rape her. As he

pulled off each layer of her clothes she would scream

and it took him so long to get through all the layers she

was able to get away. Perhaps all the layers weren't so

bad!

Inside whenever it was possible, Dilly got near a

stove to keep warm. There was one in the middle of

the living room and a large cook stove in the kitchen.

Of course the upstairs was unheated.

Going to Grandmother Whitbeck's was always an

adventure. Dilly remembers the goose down comforter

or feather tick which was so soft and warm on her

grandmother's bed. Although she begged to sleep

there it was usually not to be. Dilly slept in a flannel

nightgown under heavy comforters to keep warm. In

her bedroom was a pitcher of cold water to be poured

into a basin to wash her hands and face. Then the water was dumped into the

slop jar and covered. Next she brushed her teeth with more water from the

pitcher and dumped the used water into the slop jar. If needed, and in the winter

it was better than the outhouse, one used the chamber pot and dumped it in the

slop pot. "Guess who got to dump the slop pot?" asked Dilly with a twinkle in her

eye. Her mother did it since it was another undesirable task.

Perhaps the slop pot experience was to set the stage for later travels. Dilly

remembers the worst outhouse she ever saw was in Lebanon but when nature

calls one has to go filth and all. It beat France where people in the country just

straddled a ditch. Once while traveling in England, Carleton hurried into a stall

and then noticed a ladies' legs under the partition and realized he was in the

wrong restroom. Another time they left a motel in New York Finger Lakes before

bedtime when they saw bugs crawling across the top of the toilet. Hurray for

modern plumbing!

Dilly remembers the Aladdin gas lights with the fragile white mantels which

burned so much brighter than kerosene and wick lanterns. One had to be so

careful while cleaning them.

The iceman came by on a wagon pulled by horse. He would check the

sign in the window which told how much ice was wanted, then he chipped off that

size chunk, lifted it with ice-tongs and carried it into the house and put it in the

icebox. Of course all the kids ran to get the large chips that fell in the road and

put them in their mouths.

Occassionally, Dilly got spanked with the back of a hairbrush by her father

but not often. She, in turn, spanked her son, John with a wooden serving dish.

One time she broke the handle on it while spanking him and he shouted,

"Mommy, see what you did?" The handle was glued back on and the family still

uses the dish.

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 90)

[page 90]

[corresponds to page 81 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

Ghent, New York

From 1907 to 1908 the family lived in

Ghent where her father was a pastor.

Marsden Van Wie was born in Ghent. Dilly

was too young to remember anything about

this town. She does recall the family later

telling her about sitting in her rocker in the

chancel singing about 'My Dolly' in the

Christmas program.

During her childhood, Dilly's family

moved at least every 6 years because her

father thought that was long enough for a

minister to be in one spot. After six years,

he might loose the spontaneity and the

parishioners would not get as much from his

sermons.

[photo: Dorothy, 2 1/2 Years Old, and Marsden

Van Wie Dillenbeck, 10 Months]

Central Bridge, New York

From 1908 to 1914, the family lived in

the little village of Central Bridge. Dilly was

small and sickly so the family did not send

her to school as she would have had to

cross the mainline of the New York Central

Railroad to walk to school. Marsden would be going in two years and it was

decided she could wait and go with him. Meanwhile since her mother was a

teacher, she used this time to give her children a wonderful head start on their

education by playing games devised to have them ready to learn to read, etc.

She would cut the numbers off a calendar and use them for the children to learn

to count and do simple math.

[photo: Visiting the Barringers in Minden, New York

Marsden on Andrew's lap,

Uncle Russell Barringer Driving the Buggy,

Aunt Alice Barringer, Dorothy and Pearl]

Holding Dilly back also met

there would be a financial crunch

when both were in College at the

same time so French Bonds were

purchased and put away for the

college education.

One day Dilly and a friend

were walking down the sidewalk

toward the parsonage when Mr.

Carmichael pulled his automobile

up next to them and ask if they

would like a ride. "Every time we

heard the chug of an automobile,

we ran to see it," remembered

Dilly. She had never been in a car

before and was thrilled with the

long slow ride up and down the

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 91)

[page 91]

[corresponds to page 82 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

hills of the town but as they returned to the parsonage both of her parents were

waiting in front of the house and she got a strong lesson - "You don't go riding

in automobiles!" To this day she isn't sure whether they were most upset because

she went without asking, went with Mr. Carmichael, or rode in an automobile.

While they were in Central Bridge, Dilly remembers her two grandmothers

coming to visit and making comforters for them. They cut the squares of scrap

fabric left from clothes, pieced them into a pattern, backed them over a lining, and

finally tied lots of knots to hold the layers of fabric together. "How we loved our

comforters! My grandchildren got to use the same comforters!"

Ministers' families usually lived in parsonages provided by the church.

Unfortunately they are not usually kept in good repair, so each move Pearl had

to learn to cook on a stove which may or may not heat to the proper

temperature. However in Central Bridge, the church built them a new parsonage

with a new stove. Dilly and Marsden put their hand prints in the concrete of the

poured sidewalk to leave a lasting memento of their life there. Fifty years later

when she went back to look, the sidewalk had been replace - the prints were

gone. So much for immortality.

While at Central Bridge, Dilly visited her first flour mill. Years later this event

gave her something to talk about on her blind date with Carleton.

Mt. Carmel, Pennsylvania

From 1914 to 1917, the family moved to Mt. Carmel, Pennsylvania, a coal

mining city located 50 miles east of Sunbury, Pennsylvania, and the Susquehanna

River. This coal was soft so all the streams and rivers were black. Nothing grew

or was green so it was depressing. Pearl hated it and Dorothy was glad when

they left although she has special memories of the coal town built on rolling hills.

Front porches on the houses were built up high to allow for the slope

of the land. Miners returning home would take off their shoes and sit on their

porches. If a child looked carefully at eye level, he or she could see white feet

below the black legs of the people sitting on the porches and that sight always

brought giggles.

Being a minister's family, they were often invited to Sunday dinner in a

parishioner's house. The dinner was usually fried chicken. One Sunday the

family was invited to Sam Clemens' house for dinner. His wife invited them to sit

in the parlor while she hurried back and forth from the kitchen. On one trip

through the kitchen door she let the door open far enough that Dilly and Marsden

saw Sam taking a bath in the kitchen. Imagine what fun two children had with the

memory of that sight!

Dilly and Marsden started school in Mt. Carmel. They were kept in the

same classroom, much to Dilly's disgust. Neither child had any trouble with

schoolwork since their mother had prepared them so well. From the time they

were very little, they had the twenty volume set of Book Of Knowledge in their

house which she and Marsden devoured. Many years later, Dilly's son John loved

a newer version of the same set of books.

In school they read books for grades and Dilly always read every word,

cover-to-cover but Marsden discovered he could read the first and last chapter

and prepare a report on just those and get the same grade. Father admitted it

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 92)

[page 92]

[corresponds to page 83 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

wasn't right but didn't know what he could do about it.

Dilly remembers having the family picture taken and her mother wearing a

new dress she had made, "It was light blue with bright orange trim and I couldn't

stand the clashing colors" commented Dilly. Already she was beginning to take

after her father while her brother resembled his mother.

[photo: The Dillenbecks in 1914 in Mt. Carmel]

The houses in Mt. Carmel were built so close together, there was barely

room to get a wheelbarrow between them. One night the family was awakened

by the neighbor banging on the wall and they looked outside to see the

neighor's house on fire just beyond Dilly's room. Mother called to wake up the

children and told them to get dressed. Marsden was so much asleep he never

really woke up to get dressed and ended up with his legs in the armholes, etc.

This frustrated and annoyed Dilly who called for help and dragged him to their

parent's room. Mother took over dressing Marsden and told Dilly to go get her

clothes and bring them back. Terrified Dilly had to leave the safety of her

mother's room and walk towards the fire blazing outside her room, get her

clothes and return to her mother's room. When she got back to her mother's

room, Dilly discovered she had dropped a black stocking and therefore had to

return to her room and brave the fire again to retrieve it. When she was dressed

and they got her brother dressed, her father carried her brother and her mother

collected their 'valuables' in a comforter and the family went to safety across the

street. The fire department was able to put out the chimney fire without damage

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 93)

[page 93]

[corresponds to page 84 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

to the parsonage but the stress of the scare caused eight year old Dilly's hair to

fall out.

Being minister's children, Dilly and Marsden were always expected to do

the right thing. This is a very difficult standard for children. One day some boys

began poking at Marsden because they knew he would not fight back. Naturally,

Marsden came out on the short end of the fight and went home the worse for

wear. His father took him aside and told him that although fighting was not right,

he would have to stick up for himself.

The mountains in Mt. Carmel, inspired Andrew, who loved hiking. He

convinced two of his parishioners to join him on a hike across the height of

Pennsylvania. This love of mountain hiking left an impression on Dilly.

Hollis, New York

From 1917 to 1921, the family lived in Hollis in the Borough of Queens in

New York City. Dilly went to School #35 where many famous people, such as Art

Buckwald, have been educated. It was a big brick school which housed grades

one through eight. It was education at its best. To Dilly's delight, the school

officials allowed her to skip the fourth grade which put her in different classes than

Marsden.

Her parents were both active in the war effort. Andrew was in charge of a

warehouse which stored the food, blankets, clothing and other items collected by

the Lutheran churches across the United States for the Belgium War Relief. He

organized them and got items shipped to Belgium. Pearl worked in the

warehouse office and helped Andrew. This necessitated hiring someone to cook

and look after Dilly and Marsden so a cousin was employed to take care of them

Her cooking was awful! Her cookies tasted so bad that the children devised

many ways to hide them until they were away from the

table and could get rid of them.

Dilly always wished she had inherited the family

ability to speak in front of a group. Her father was a

wonderful speaker. When her brother graduated from

Hamilton he got all the prizes for public speaking. Dilly

gets tongue tied and can not think in front of a group.

Once in the fourth grade she was asked to do math

mentally but when she stood up in front of the class, she

drew a blank. When she sat down, the answers came

easily. Later she was to be in a Thanksgiving play and

had learned all her lines, but when she tried to say them

she couldn't so she was removed from the cast.

[photo: Dilly and Violet Van

Houten in 1919 at Far

Rockaway Beach in

Their Swimming Suits]


Home economics was an important part of the

school curriculum. Dilly began to sew in the sixth grade.

Her first big project was a slip with shoulder straps which

she made entirely by hand. Her mother realized Dilly had

a knack for the art of sewing. For years she had made

crude doll clothes making up the patterns as she went.

Now she applied her new skills and began to make very

Flashback: A Story of Two Families (p. 94)

[page 94]

[corresponds to page 85 of Flashback: A Story of Two Families]

fashionable doll clothes. Her father hired a carpenter to make a dresser to

house all the doll clothes.

In the eight grade, Dilly made her first dress entirely by hand. Because of

her short stature, store bought clothes always needed altering from a 14 to an 8.

Often the sleeves had to be removed and the shoulder decreased. Always the

cuffs were too big. Sometimes mother had dressmaker come in and alter

clothes for Dilly. Now she could do some of this for herself. She even designed

some of her own clothes. To this day she still enjoys hemming by hand. Cooking

was also part of the home economics course but Dilly doesn't remember much

about it.

Later Dilly hemmed a skirt above her knees which really upset Pearl. As

usually happened in the family, Andrew was brought in to mediate between the

two. He decided Dilly should lower the skirt half between the two disputed

lengths. Since she had plenty of hem, she was able to do so.

Aunt Alice, Pearl's sister', taught Dilly to crochet and knit. Once Dilly knit

a coat but she never liked it after she got it finished.

[photo: Dilly and Marsden with Uncle John

Dillenbeck, a Soldier at Camp Slocam]

In 1918, a flu epidemic swept

through the Army Camp on Long

Island and through Hollis. Uncle John

who was stationed at the Army Camp,

Pearl, Dilly, Marsden and even the

cousin, Martha, who was hired to cook

came down with the flu. This left

Andrew to take care of all of them.

Not only was he not a good cook,

Andrew was all thumbs in the kitchen

and this made Pearl nervous. One

day she couldn't stand it any longer

and got out of bed to help prepare

food. At the same time she got up a

wagon full of caskets went by the

house on its way to the Army Camp

and Andrew ordered her back to bed

or she would be the next one in a

casket. "I don't remember what he fed

us but we knew not to complain,"

remembered Dilly.

The family finally got its first

phonograph, a Pathe, which was not

the most expensive but a very good player. Of course one had to use Pathe

records on it. The family enjoyed the Red Seal records which were operas and

good music.

Dilly was in the eighth grade on Armistice Day, November 11, 1918. She

remembers the headlines on the paper kept getting bigger and bigger as the war

progressed. On Armistice Day the entire student body was marched outside and

stood in lines near the cannon on the front lawn while they sang the Star

Spangled Banner and other patriotic songs. It was a moving experience.