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| Eben Burroughs Oakwood Cemetery (Source: Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Copyright October 2011) |
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| Minnie Fink, wife of Eben Burroughs Oakwood Cemetery (Source: Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Copyright October 2011) |
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| Stephen Burroughs Oakwood Cemetery (Source: Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Copyright October 2011) |
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| Partial 1861 Map of Somers Township showing Stephen Burroughs 160 acres in Section 2. The north border is Racine-Kenosha County Line Road. The curved road on the right is the Green Bay Road. Current owners of a portion of this property are Edwin "Red" and Marcella Thomas Mueller, both of Somers Township pioneer families. |
Stephen Burroughs, father
Stephen Burroughs, one of the enterprising and substantial farmers of Kenosha County, residing on Section 2, in the Town of Somers, was born on the 19th of May, 1828, in Newburg, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and is the fourth in a family comprising four sons and two daughters. He comes from one of the early New England families of English descent.
Stephen was a young man when in 1847 he came to Wisconsin and on the 5th of November set foot on Kenosha soil. Having learned the carpenter's trade he engaged in contracting and building until 1865, when he became bridge carpenter four the Northwestern Railroad Company. From that time for nineteen years he was in charge of the construction of bridges and buildings on the Milwaukee division. On the completion of the Northwestern Union that line was also added to his charge and he continued his connection with the railroad company until 1881. The previous year Mr. Burroughs had purchased the farm which is now his home and in 1881 the family removed thereon, but he continued with the railroad company for a year longer. For about ten years he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He bought an improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres, the greater part of which is under a high state of cultivation and the place is well improved with a substantial residence, good barns, etc. As a contractor and builder he made of life a success and in his present line of business is also meeting with a well deserved prosperity.
On the 14th of December, 1853, in the town of Wheatland, Mr. Burroughs was united in marriage with Miss Susan Newbury, a native of Michigan who came to Wisconsin with her father, Martin Newbury. Unto them have been born two children - Clark who now occupies a responsible position in Milwaukee, and Eben, now attending school in Racine. He will finish the commercial course study in June, 1892. Stephen and Susan also lost three children, two of whom died in infancy, and Lyman, their first born who was accidentally drowned in the river near Kenosha in 1868, when fourteen years old.
Mr. Stephen Burroughs is a Republican. He has served as a member of the Somers Town Board of Supervisors and was its Chairman for one term. Socially, he is a member of both the Masonic and Odd Fellows societies. He is a Royal Arch Mason and has filled all the offices in both the subordinate lodge and the Encampment of the Odd Fellows fraternity. His residence in Kenosha County covers a period of forty-four years. Though not a soldier of the Civil War, Stephen Burroughs gave $300 toward raising funds for supplies for the soldiers and was given an exemption on that account.
(Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Racine and Kenosha Counties Wisconsin, Lake City Publishing Co., 1892)
More About Stephen Burroughs
"On Monday morning, March 13, 1899, Mr. Stephen Burrough died at his home after a short illness, aged 70 years. The deceased was born May 19, 1828 in Ohio. Being desirous of seeking a home in the west, he left his native state arriving in Kenosha in 1847. "
(Source: Racine Journal Times, publication date March 22, 1899)
Eben Burroughs, son
Eben Burroughs, junior partner of the well-known firm of Petersen & Burroughs, implement dealers of Racine, Wisconsin, was born in Kenosha, June 22, 1871. He was the son of Stephen and Susan (Newbury) Burroughs, the former a native of New York and the latter of Ohio.
David Burroughs, the paternal grandfather, was a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and a blacksmith by occupation. He lived in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, near the city of Cleveland, on land which is now a part of that city. Both he and his wife, Mary Edwards, attained advanced age. They had four sons and two daughters: Mary (wife of Lyman Fay); Cyrus, Alfred, Stephen, Gideon, and Phoebe (wife of O.B. Houghton). The maternal grandfather of Mr. Burroughs was Martin Newbury, a native of New York, of Holland-Dutch descent. He was a tavern-keeper, and coming to Wisconsin at an early day settled in Kenosha county, conducting a tavern at the Brass Ball for several years, in Salem Township. From there he removed his family to Houston County, Minn., where he also conducted a tavern. He died there, aged about seventy-five years, his wife attaining the ripe old age of eighty-one years. They had a large family: Susan, the wife of Stephen Burroughs; Nelson; James; Albert; Mary, Mrs. Judd; and Phoebe, who was the wife of George W. Dunn. Mr. Burroughs has, on his mother's side two uncles and two aunts still living: Nelson and Albert Newbury; Mrs. Mary Judd; and Mrs. Phoebe Dunn. On his father's side two aunts are living: Mrs. Mary M. Fay and Mrs. Phoebe Houghton.
Stephen Burroughs was a carpenter and bridge builder by occupation. he came West to Wisconsin in 1846, settling in Southport, where he followed carpentering for some years. About 1860 he went to work for the Northwestern Railroad Company, as superintendent of bridges and buildings, and he continued to hold that position for twenty-two years. In 1882 he purchased a farm of 164 acres in Somers Township, and there reared his family. He died there March 13, 1899, aged seventy-one years. His wife still survives, and is now seventy-two years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Burroughs had five children, all sons, two of whom are still living: Clark, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin., who married Charlotte Wiersch and has two children, Alice and Harry; and Eben, of Racine. Mr. Burroughs was Chairman of the Town Board of Supervisors of Somers Township for some years. Though not a soldier of the Civil War Stephen Burroughs gave $300 toward raising funds for supplies for the soldiers and was given an exemption on that account.
Eben Burroughs lived in Kenosha in his early boyhood, and then went to the Town of Somers, and grew to manhood on a farm. he attended the district and public schools of Kenosha, and graduated from the Racine High School in 1892. after which he went back to his father's farm, where he spent six years. The next two years he was with the Deering Harvester Company, as salesman and expert. He then came to Racine and formed a partnership with Mr. George C. Petersen, in the implement and machinery business, the style of the firm being Petersen & Burroughs. They are located in West Racine.
On June 23, 1894 Mr. Burroughs married Miss Minnie C. Fink, daughter of James H. and Olivia (Leonard) Fink. Mrs. Burroughs spent eight years as a teacher in the schools of Kenosha County. She received her education in the district schools and also took a two years' course in the normal school at Oshkosh. Two children have been born to this union, Bernard W. and Doris E. Mrs. and Mrs. Burroughs are Presbyterians. He belongs to Racine Lodge, No. 92, F.&A.M. Politically he is a Republican, and he was a member of the School Board for six years.
James H. Fink, father of Mrs. (Minnie C. Fink) Burroughs
James H. Fink, the father of Mrs. Burroughs, was born in New York State, and her mother was born in Bristol twonship. They had seven children: Jessie A., who is unmarried; Minnie C., wife of Eben Burroughs; Levi R.,; Leonard J.; Roscoe C.; Cora Belle, the wife of Frank Roode; and Evelyn, the wife of Thomas Wilcox. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Burroughs was Levi Fink, a native of New York State, of Holland-Dutch Descent. He was an inn-keeper by occupation, and came to Wisconsin in the early days. he died in Kenosha County age the age of about seventy-six years, and his wife, Caroline Vroeman, is still living, being eighty-three years old. They had a small family. Mrs. Burroughs' maternal grandfather was Samuel Leonard, a native of New york state, and a school teacher and preacher by profession. He was an early settler of Bristol Township where he died in old age. His wife lived to seventy-six years old, and they had a family of four children. Mrs. Burroughs has three uncles living, Dr. Homer C. Leonard, Frank Leonard and Fred Leonard. Mrs. Burroughs on the Fink side of the house has an uncle and aunt living, namely: John W. Fink of Somers Township; and Mattie, who is the wife of Joseph Bishop, of Somers Station.
(Source: Biographical Record of Prominent and Representative Men of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin, J.H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1906).
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