posted 08-26-2009 11:07 PM            

I found a significant clue online in an excerpt from C. A. Church’s Past and Present of the City of Rockford & Winnebago County, IL (Chicago: Clarke, 1905), p. 560”:

quote:

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“William L. Burr, of Rockford, is a native of Wayne County, OH, born in 1831, his parents being James and Polly (Smith) Burr . . . [He] remained a resident of OH until 15 years of age, when he supplemented his early educational advantages by study in a school at Milwaukee, WI. He had continued his education for but a brief period there, however, when he put aside his textbooks and began learning the jeweler's trade, which he completed in Waukegan, IL. He then went to Chicago, where he worked for ten months, at the end of which time he embarked in business in connection with his brother at Beaver Dam, WI, where they remained for 12 years, enjoying a good patronage and becoming leading and successful merchants of that city.”

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Further checking revealed, in the 1860 US census for Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., Wisconsin, William L. Burr, a silversmith, age 28, born in Ohio, listed with his his wife Lucetta, two children and two apprentices: Edwin B. McClure, age 17 (whom I later determined to be his brother-in-law) and Henry Thorpe, age 19. (Burr was also listed earlier in 1850 in Lowell, Dodge county Wisconsin, though then working as a cooper.) Burr later moved to Winona, Minnesota and finally to Rockford, Illinois, by which time he had abandoned the jewelry and silver trade; he is still listed there in the 1900 census. His wife was Lucetta McClure, daughter of Jonathan McClure and Martha Yocum of Wayne Co., Ohio.

William L. Burr seems an excellent candidate for one-half of this retailer – he was working for 12 years in partnership with a brother and had connections in Chicago – but I can’t find any trace of his presumed brother Z. Burr. One would expect the limited possibilities with the initial “Z” would make it easy, but there you go. But that’s only if I’m on the right track.

posted 08-27-2009 08:26 AM            

Zebina Burr, age forty-seven, born in Ohio, was a money broker in the 1870 U S Federal Census for Mount Vernon, Ohio with a twenty-four year old Olive Burr.

Zebina Burr, sixty-two, born in Vermont, was a retired merchant in the 1880 U S Federal Census for Waupun, Dodge, Wisconsin with a thirty-five year old Olive Burr.

My thoughts are that there weren't that many Burr's in Ohio in the mid nineteenth century and even less with the first name beginning with a "Z." . Although this is all vague, it is one possiblity for the other party being sought.

posted 08-27-2009 12:43 PM            

James Burr, 58, m, farmer, b. VT
Mary Burr, 48, f, b. VT
Dexter Burr, 32, m, merchant, ($1200 real estate), b. VT
Zebina Burr, 28, f, ($500 real estate), b. VT
Dayton Burr, 18, m, clerk, b. OH
F. E. Burr, 22, f, b. OH

Although apparently inaccurately recorded as female, this is undoubtedly the same as the Zebina Burr you have found. And it seems likely that he is the brother of William L. Burr. Another biography, in Portrait & Biographical Record: Winnebago & Boone Cos., IL (Chicago: Biographical Pub. Co., 1892), pp. 415-416 has this to say about William L. Burr:

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"He was born in 1831, on his father's farm in Mohickan Township, Wayne County, now Ashland County, OH, and is a son of James BURR, a native of VT. His grandfather, Asel BURR, was also a native of VT, in which he spent his entire life, a farmer and miller living near BURR's Pond, which still bears his name. James BURR grew to manhood upon the farm and served his country during the latter part of the War of 1812. He married Miss Polly SMITH, who was also born and reared in VT. Her parents were natives of New England, and at an early day emigrated to OH, locating on a farm in Wayne County. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. BURR also became residents of Wayne County, and spent the remainder of their lives upon a farm in that locality. They were quiet, unassuming people, highly respected by all who knew them. Mr. BURR died at the age of 84 years, and his wife was called to her final rest when 68 years of age. In their family were three sons and three daughters who are yet living, the sisters being residents of IA, while the brothers of Mr. BURR make their homes in WI."

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“Polly” is, of course, a common nickname for Mary. Although this makes no mention of James & Polly being in Wisconsin, I strongly suspect this is all one family, and that Zebina & William L. Burr are brothers and the retailers in question here. I can’t yet find Zebina in the 1860 census, but I’ll do a little more digging.

posted 08-28-2009 01:55 PM            

Your research is always topnotch. Keep up the great work.