William Wallace Burroughs
(Page 186)
William Wallace (George3, Rebecca2, John1) the oldest child of George W. and Delilah Burroughs, was born at Lafayette, Ind., September 10, 1851. He was educated in the schools of his native city. He was married on January 2, 1872 to Miss Sophronie Ellen Julien. Miss Julien was the daughter of Alexander and Martha A. Julien and was born July 28, 1856, at Shannondale, Ind.
In 1881 Mr. Burroughs was appointed Deputy County Clerk of Tippecanoe County, Ind. So faithfully and with such ability did he discharge his duties that he was continued in this office until his death, a period of thirty years.
The following obituary of Mr. Burroughs, printed in the Lafayette Morning Journal of August 10, 1910, gives so full a record of his life that we give it in full:
William W. Burroughs, who spent almost a life time at the clerk's desk in the circuit court room, died at 10:50 o'clock last night at the family residence, 1308 North Sixteenth Street. He had been ill since last Thanksgiving, but there was a brief rally during the holidays and he returned to his desk for two or three days. He was ambitious and resolute, but his return to work was too great a tax upon his strength and he was compelled to return to his home. He had been troubled by valvular disease of the heart for several years and this was followed by a dropsical affection. He was not confined to his bed all the time, but there were intervals of collapse when it was thought the end would come at any moment. He possessed great vitality and these collapses were followed by rallies that gave encouragement. He would recuperate so much that he was able to sit on the porch or on the lawn and enjoy the sunshine of early summer. There were times when he gave up hope, but there were other times when he felt sure that he would some day conquer disease and return to his desk at the court house. His inability to work caused him more worry than his physical suffering. Four or five days ago he lost consciousness and remained in that condition until the end came.
Mr. Burroughs was born in Lafayette on September 10, 1851. He was a son of the late George W. Burroughs, long a prominent citizen, and was one of a large family. His mother is still living and is making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Maude Lane, in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Burroughs obtained an ordinary education in the Lafayette schools and then enlisted in the United States navy, serving four years as a seaman. He saw some active service in operations against smugglers on the west coast of Mexico and visited many ports. After leaving the navy he traveled extensively through the west. He was married in this city in 1873 to Miss Sophronia Julian, who survives with four children, namely: Miss Zoelah M. Burroughs, supervisor of art in the city schools; Mrs. W. Loraine Batt, of Philadelphia, and William and Jean Burroughs, both students.
Mr. Burroughs was an enthusiastic republican and made one race for the nomination for county clerk, an office with whose duties he had long been familiar, but never filled an elective office. He served by appointment for thirty years as deputy county clerk, most of the time as clerk of the circuit court, and was so invaluable in that capacity that he was not distrusted by either judge or county clerk when changes were made in those offices. He was familiar with every form of court work, was faithful, reliable and conscientious in the discharge of his duties and enjoyed the confidence and respect of every attorney at the bar. He was always cheerful, always agreeable, always accommodating, and his courteous manner and complete mastery of legal detail made him a great favorite and indispensable. His knowledge of probate matters was acquired by long service and was remarkable. Mr. Burroughs was fond of music and played several instruments. He was a member of different musical organizations and was connected with different drum corps and bands. He took an active part in political demonstrations and did much social playing. He was a great lover of nature and established a summer home on the island in the river opposite the Trail. Canoeing was one of his delights and he spent a part of each summer in camp and on the river. He was well read and well informed and was an agreeable companion. Mr. Burroughs' splendid character and nature was best revealed in his home. He worshipped his family and they worshipped him. He lived alone for their happiness. His home was his castle and he made it as beautiful and happy as possible. He used the magic of music and flowers to hold the love of his family and it was a privilege to share the hospitality of his home. Mr. Burroughs was a member of the First Baptist church and was secretary of the Brotherhood of that church. He was a member of the Imperial council No. 316, Royal Arcanum, and the Court of Honor. He was one of the best known men in the city and had a large circle of friends. People were won to him by his splendid traits of character and there was no more highly esteemed man in Lafayette. He lived in such a way that he will always be remembered.
The following tribute to the memory of William Wallace Burroughs was written by his daughter, Miss Zoelah M. Burroughs:
IN APPRECIATION OF MY FATHER
Over the pages of by-gone years,
My heart turns back tonight;
Back to the lispings of babyhood,
Warm in the home fire-light.
I hear the strains of a soft guitar,
And a lullaby voice singing low,
Tender and sweet with the father love
For the baby of long ago.
"This way to dreamland, little one!"
At dark or in sunshines's glow,
Always the voice and the love led on
To the land that the fairies know.
I hear the thrush's song, the bullfrog's bass,
The ripple of water clear,
The quiet patter of summer rain,
The wind so far, so near.
But now the thrush is a lady fair,
The waters sing in tune,
The speckled frog is a fiddler quaint,
Who plays to the yellow moon.
There's a whisper of elfins among the leaves,
And a fairy you cannot see
Lives down in the dark of the old guitar,
The voice and the love tell me.
The beautiful world of the child who passed
Through the years of yesterday,
Still glows with the light and the love of the voice
Whose magic will always stay.
And somehow the smiles of the little child
Who lives now, will sweeter be,
Because of the voice and the love which sang
In the years that are past to me.
Children
Zoelah Maria, b. May 29, 1875.
Ora, b. April 29, 1877, d. April 13, 1879.
Ray William, b. May 2, 1880, d. June 16, 1891.
Edna Sophronia, b. Aug. 26, 1882, d. Feb. 11, 1883.
Ruby Martha, b. May 29, 1887.
William Wallace, Jr., b. June 14, 1890.
Jean, b. May 16, 1893.
Zoelah Maria Burroughs Hoffman
(Page 190)
Zoelah Maria (William4, George3, Rebecca2, John1) oldest child of William W. and Sophronia Burroughs, was born in Lafayette, Ind., on May 29, 1875. She graduated from Lafayette High School in 1893. She taught in the Lafayette public schools as grade teacher, primary -- 1894-97. She attended the University of Illinois, specializing in art, English and pedagogy, 1897-98. She taught again in the Lafayette public schools, upper grades, 1898-1900. Then 1900-01, she attended Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, N. Y., Normal Art course. She was superintendent of art instruction in the Lafayette schools, 1902-11.
Miss Burroughs is a member of the Lafayette Art Club and a director of the Lafayette Art Association. She is a member of the First Baptist church of Lafayette and is an earnest worker in church and Sunday School. She is a quiet, retiring person and of a sunny, happy disposition. She is kind to all, and patient in her treatment of the erring.
Miss Burroughs was married on August 3, 1913, to James David Hoffman, who is a professor in the college located at Lincoln, Neb. Their home is in Lincoln.
Ruby Martha Burroughs Batt
(Page 191)
Ruby Martha (William4, George3, Rebecca2, John1) was born at Lafayette, Ind., May 29, 1887. She was graduated from Lafayette High School in 1903, and from Purdue University -- scientific course -- in 1907. Her thesis on the history of Fort Ouitenon, written for graduation, was preserved for historical reference by the Daughters of the American Revolution in Lafayette. She taught high school history, and was supervisor of music and drawing in the public schools of Otterbein, Ind. for one year. She taught drawing another year in Bosinell, Ind.
She was married October 28, 1909, at Lafayette, Ind., to William Loraine Batt, of Philadelphia, Pa., formerly of Lafayette, Ind. William Loraine Batt, son of George M. and Hattie M. Batt, was born at Salem, Ind., July 31, 1885. He was graduated from the Lafayette High School in 1902, and was graduated from Purdue University -- mechanical course -- in 1907. He was made a member of Tau Beta Pi fraternity.
He holds at present a responsible position with the Hess, Bright Manufacturing Company, of Philadelphia. He is a member if the M. E. church. He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Society for Testing Material, the Association of Railway Electrical Engineers, and National Geographical Society.
Mrs. Ruby M. B. Batt is a member of the First Baptist church, Lafayette. She sang contralto in the quartet of St. John's Episcopal church of Lafayette for some time. Mr. and Mrs. Batt resided in Philadelphia, Pa. Their present address is 256 Mather Ave., Jenkintown, Pa. (1913)
Children
Martha Loraine, b. July 28, 1910.
Barbara Burroughs, b. Jan. 5, 1912.
William Wallace Burroughs, Jr.
(Page 192)
William Wallace (William4, George3, Rebecca2, John1) was born June 14, 1890, at Lafayette, Ind. He graduated from the Lafayette High School and from Purdue University -- civil engineering course -- in 1912. He is a member of the Triangle Civil Engineering Fraternity. After his graduation he went to Philadelphia, Pa., and was employed by the W. W. Steete Company, architects and his present address (1913) is 2004 Mt. Vernon street, Philadelphia.
He is a member of the First Baptist church of Lafayette and was tenor singer in the quartet of the church there.
Jean Burroughs
(Page 193)
Jean, (William4, George3, Rebecca2, John1) youngest child of William Wallace and Sophronia Burroughs, was born in Lafayette, Ind., May 16, 1893. She was graduated from the Lafayette High School in 1911. She studied piano at the Leeson-Hille Conservatory of Music, Philadelphia, Pa., the winter of 1911-12.
She is a member of the First Baptist church of Lafayette. Her present address is 1308 N. 16th street, Lafayette.
Of the home life of the family of William Wallace Burroughs, Miss Zoelah says: "We children were brought up out of doors. We skated, coasted, rowed and paddled in the Wabash since we were old enough to know. Consequently we all love the woods, the birds and the water. We always had music at home -- plenty of it. We sang together and had an orchestra in which all took part but mamma. Nothing pleased papa more at home than a beautiful harmony in which all of us took part. Mamma was the audience. We were brought up with stories and with Santa Claus. Papa was the annual Santa Claus in church and mission, and he made a splendid one. He was stockily built and made up well without a mask. He was so fond of children that he knew just how to please them."