• Father- Amos Reynolds Burgess 1853-1928
• Mother-Myrta (Anna) Eacret 1857-1947
• Spouce- Lydia Olga Kobi 1880-1954
• ~~Children~~
  • Lauree Evelyn 1902-1956 (Has her own page)
  • Eldon Dewitt 1905-1998
  • Kenneth Alvin 1907-1992
  • Merle J 1910-1991
  • Myra Aileen 1912-2006
  • Gladys “Ernilie” 1924-2017

*Asterisk stories told by Gladys “Ernilie” Burgess Storrs

~~1870~~

Arthur Edmond Burgess was born to Amos and Anna Burgess on November 3, 1876, in Westville, Indiana. He was the oldest of eight children. This is the youngest picture of Arthur I could find. He’s in the middle.

~~1880~~

Amos and Anna moved their family of six before the 1885 Iowa State Census was taken, from Westville, La Porte County, Indiana to Douglas, Polk County, Iowa where Amos was a farmer.

~~~~~

Arthur’s future wife, Lydia Olga Kobi was born on February 28, 1880, in Ankeny, Polk County, Iowa, to Andrew and Anna [Weyrauch] Kobi. She was the seventh born of ten children.

~~~~~

This is the 1885 State Census for Douglas, Polk County, Iowa. Amos was farming and Arthur, 8 years old, was probably at school.

This is the only record I have found with Amos and Anna’s fifth child Glen Chester on it. He passed away at only 8 months old.

~~~~~

What a great family photo of Arthur, his parents, and his siblings. It was taken close to the turn of the century based on Arthur’s youngest brother Almond’s appearance. Almond was born in 1895.

~~1900~~

Name

Relation

Birth Month & Year

S E X

Color or  Race

Age

Married/ Single/ Widowed

Child. Born/ Living

Education At School/ Read/ Write

Birth-place

Father Birth- Place

Mother Birth-Place

Occupation

Burgess,  Arthur

Border

1876

M

W

22

S

–

-No, Yes, Yes

IN

IN

IN

Carpenter

In this 1900 Census, Arthur was a Border at the Bouge House in Crocker, Polk County, Iowa. He was working as a carpenter.

Arthur’s future wife Lydia Kobi. 20, and her sister Anna, 14, are living in Cocker, Polk County, Iowa. It says the girls are Orton and Corrie Brubaker’s daughters-in-law but their one and only child is one year old. Most likely a misprint from the census taker.

-Side note spoiler, The orange arrows on Lydia’s census are Horning brothers Noah and Fred. Their sister Mary Ellen Horning married Charles Betts in 1880. Their only son Weston Betts would marry Arthur and Lydia’s firstborn Lauree. I know this is spoiling the story a bit, but I love finding family and future family in censuses and wondering if they knew each other? Were they friends?

~~~~~

Arthur Edmond Burgess married Lydia Olga Kobi, from Ankeny Iowa, on June 5, 1901, in Ankeny, Polk County, Iowa.

*They settled in Ankeny, Iowa, where he built a home for Lydia, and they started a family.

~~~~~

And just like that Arthur and Lydia’s firstborn was a daughter they named

Lauree Evelyn Burgess.

She was born on February 22, 1902, in Ankeny, Polk County, Iowa.

Too bad Arthur and Lydia will never know that quite a few of their future descendants

would include Lauree in their children’s names.

~~~~~

Arthur and Lydia’s first son, Eldon De Witt Burgess was born on January 9, 1905, in

Ankeny, Polk County, Iowa.

~~~~~

This is the 1905 Iowa State Census for Ankney. Arthur, Lydia, Lauree, and Eldon are listed.

Other familiar names on this census are the Hornings and Hildreths.

~~~~~

A couple years later Kenneth “Kenny” Alvin Burgess arrived on January 16, 1907, in

Ankeny, Polk County, Iowa

~~~~~

*Arthur was a carpenter, and by 1907, he was looking for a better and more prosperous life for their growing family. He heard there was more work out west, and came to Washington, or bust! They arrived in Tacoma by train on April 7, 1907. It was raining. Arthur promised Lydia if things didn’t work out, they would return to Iowa in a year. Lydia was so homesick, she couldn’t see any beauty in this wonderful northwest, never unpacked her good dishes, just sat and rocked baby Kenny, and thought of home. Arthur was busy and happy, and they stayed. He built a new house for his family, and that home still stands on Thompson Avenue in south Tacoma.

Arthur would probably be beside himself if he saw the condition of the house and its current Zestimate.

~~1910~~ 

At the start of the new decade, Arthur and Lydia welcomed Merle J Burgess, born on January 19, 1910,

in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington

~~1910~~

-Side note, I see an Ellsworth Reynolds from Indiana in the Census also.

He could possibly be a second cousin of Arthurs on his grandmother’s side. Still checking…

Name

Relation

Birth Month & Year

S E X

Color or  Race

Age

Married/ Single/ Widowed

Child. Born/ Living

Education At School/ Read/ Write

Birth-place

Father Birth- Place

Mother Birth-Place

Occupation

Burgess,  Arthur E

H

11/1876

M

W

33

M/8y

–

-No, Yes, Yes

IN

IN

IN

Carpenter

Lydia O

W

2/1880

F

W

30

M/8y

4/4

-No, Yes, Yes

IA

Germ

MO

–

Lauree E

D

2/1902

F

W

8

–

–

-No, No, Yes

IA

IN

IA

–

Eldon D W

S

1/1905

M

W

5

–

–

-No

IA

IN

IA

–

Kenneth A

S

1/1907

M

W

3

–

–

-No

IA

IN

IA

–

Merle J

S

1/1910

M

W

3/12

–

–

-No

WA

IN

IA

–

~~~~~

Rare family photos. I have only seen one with most of the family.

These pictures were taken in front of their Fern Hill house in Tacoma.

~~~~~

Fern Hill School, Tacoma, Washington. Lauree’s first school.

~~~~~

Snow day!

~~~~~

Arthur and Lydia add another girl to the family. Myra Aileen Burgess was born on February 2, 1912, in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington.

~~~~~

This is the 1913 Tacoma City Directory. There are a lot of names under Burgess. There are three Arthur Burgess listed. The family’s listed address is 8629 S Thompson Ave, Tacoma (pictured earlier).

~~~~~

*When Eldon was nine years old (1914), Dad decided his boys should live in the country, and moved them to Weyerhauser, on the old Mountain Highway, on 80 acres on the lake (based on the 1920 census it was Tanwax Lake). They moved into an old log house, which was replaced by a new house on the other side of the lake.

Not sure if this was the Burgess house but it was some of Arthur’s Carpentry work. Possibly Lauree standing out front?

The Weyerhaeuser School off Highway 7 (340th & Mt. Hwy. E). Not sure when this picture was taken, but I spot a few kids that could possibly be the Burgess kids.

~~~~~

*Arthur went to work in the shipyards and was only home on weekends, leaving Lydia to cope with five children and the farm all week.

The above picture is of the early Tacoma shipyards on the tide flats, Arthur worked there as a carpenter for The Foundation Company. If the family didn’t have a vehicle, it’s possible Arthur used the Eatonville-Tacoma Stage pictured below or maybe the train?

Stock photos. Names unknown. Found on http://www.eatonvilletorainier.com

~~~~~

*One day Merle was found floating on the lake in a washtub after Myra went to the house for the wash boiler for her own mode of sailing.

Although this is not Merle or Myra, it paints the picture well.

~~~~~

*While living there, when Myra was five (1917), she suffered an appendicitis attack, her appendix ruptured, and although our parents were told she would not survive the night, she is still with us (up until her passing in 2006). She spent 57 days in Tacoma General Hospital, through Halloween and Thanksgiving, and at The Davis’s home (pictured earlier) through Christmas.

Tacoma General

~~~~~

September 12, 1918, Arthur’s registration card. He had brown hair, brown eyes,

medium height, and medium build

~~~~~

~~~~~

Eldon won $1 for the neatest account book from the National Bank of Tacoma.

~~1920~~

Name

Relation

Home Owned

Mortgaged Y/N

Sex

Age

Marital Status

Attend School

Can Read

Can Write

Birth- place

Father’s Birth- place

Mother’s Birth- place

Occupation

Industry

Burgess, Arthur E

Head

Owned

Y

M

44

M

Y

Y

IN

IN

IN

Farmer

General Farm

Lydia O

Wife

F

39

M

Y

Y

IA

Germany

MO

Lauree E

Dau

F

17

S

Y

IA

IN

IA

Eldon D

Son

M

14

S

Y

IA

IN

IA

Kenneth A

Son

M

12

S

Y

IA

IN

IA

Merle J

Son

M

9

S

Y

WA

IN

IA

Myra A

Dau

F

7

S

Y

WA

IN

IA

This 1920 Census shows the family living at Tanwax, Pierce County, Washington. Arthur is a farmer. Lauree, Eldon, Kenneth, Merle, and Myra were all attending school.

~~~~~

*When Myra was in the second grade (about 1920-1921), Dad sold the farm and moved the family

to Alder to work as a carpenter.

~~~~~

This is the school (based on location) that Eldon, Kenneth, Merle, and Myra attended.

~~~~~

This old Alder Schematic is very interesting. If this is our Burgess family it shows where their first house in Alder was #12. I’m not sure about what #26 is though? There may have been other Burgess families living in Alder

*Arthur eventually rented a farm for $25 a month, built up a dairy herd, and sold milk to a logging camp kitchen, where the loggers lived while logging timber near Paradise Park at Mt. Tacoma.

Where’s Mt. Tacoma you ask? Check this link out to see what side of the mountain name debate you would be on

https://crosscut.com/2019/04/why-mount-rainier-was-once-called-mount-tacoma

~~~~~

The Burgess farmhouse is now at the bottom of Alder Lake. The picture below shows where the outline of the lake is now. When the lake is low, chimneys and foundations of houses can be seen.

*While living at Alder, Lauree attended Eatonville High School for one year.

Why in the world did Lauree not get first place for the Best Specimen of hemstitching?

No first place but she placed 2nd. Maybe she missed some stitches?

She did receive first place for the best plain washable dress and fancy apron.

~~~~~

Picture 1/4

Picture 2 of 4- Eatonville Grammer School

Picture 3 of 4- Eatonville Gym (Right)

Picture 4 of 4- Eatonville High School opened in July 1915.

Based on Lauree’s timeline, she would have attended high school in the new building, picture 4.

This picture is from Barbara Betts Englund’s scrapbook.

~~~~~

At the start of the next school year, Lauree boarded with the Davis family in Tacoma and attended Lincoln High School. Charles Davis hired Arthur to do some carpentry work.

Is this where Weston Betts met Lauree? Noah Horning, Weston’s uncle, was friends with the Davis’.

Crazy how much the trees have grown in 100+ years. This is the Davis’s house nowadays. Hard to see with all the foliage growth. The address has changed and is now 1132 North Oakes, Tacoma, WA.

~~~~~

Lauree Evelyn Burgess married Weston J Betts of Redondo, WA on August 13, 1921,

in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington.

I wonder if both of them being born in Ankeny Iowa, or having mutual friends, had anything to do with them getting together?

Mary E Betts (Weston’s mother) and Kathleen Brazell were their witnesses.

-Weston and Lauree had three children

-Evelyn Carol Betts

-Byron Lee Betts

-Barbara Jean Betts

~~~~~

This photo looks like it was taken before 1922 when Weston and Lauree’s first child was born. It’s a great photo of both families. I wonder if Weston was taking the photo?

~~~~~

Arthur and Lydia become Grandparents!

Evelyn Carol Betts was born on October 25, 1922, at Tacoma General in Tacoma, Washington.

~~~~~

What a special picture. Circa 1923. How many of us can say we have a picture with our dad, aunts, uncles, great-aunts, second cousins, grandparents from both sides, and both great-grandpas? Very rare. Such a special picture for Evelyn. Missing is Lauree (maybe she’s taking the picture?) and her brother Eldon.

~~~~~

*But the biggest event in more ways than one was the birth of Gladys “Ernilie” Burgess at 10 pounds 2oz

on July 17, 1924, at Tacoma General Hospital. Does anyone have a picture of Ernilie??

~~~~~

Arthur and N.C. Jenson were Alder school directors. They were talking about how to get the kids to the Eatonville campus for high school. They were considering the Tacoma Eastern line or auto stage like the one pictured below

~~~~~

*Eldon graduated from Eatonville High School in June 1924

~~~~~

Can you read shorthand? This would be Eldon’s graduation class.

~~~~~

1925 Eatonville Student Body. I think I can point out one of the boys but I’m not 100%. Kenny would be a Junior and Merle would be a Freshman.

~~~~~

Kenneth graduated in 1926

Do you see Kenny? Try to guess before you see the next picture. This is his graduating class and the picture after the names is from their 50th Class Reunion in 1976.

Kenny is in the middle of the back row

~~~~~

~~~~~

Merle graduated from Eatonville High School in 1928

~~~~~

*After Myra’s freshman year at Eatonville, in 1928, The family moved to the 5 acres on Woodland Road, near Puyallup. Dad was a carpenter again and worked at Camp Lewis.

~~1930~~

Name

Relation

Birth Month & Year

S E X

Color or  Race

A G E

Married Single/ Widowed

Child. Born/ Living

Education At School/ Read/ Write

Birth-place

Father Birth- Place

Mother Birth-Place

Occupation

V E T E R A N

Burgess,  Arthur E

H

11/1876

M

W

53

M/29y

–

-No, Yes, Yes

IN

IN

IN

Carpenter/ Construction

-No

Lydia O

W

2/1880

F

W

50

M/29y

6/6

-No, Yes, Yes

IA

Baden Germ

MO

–

Eldon D W

S

1/1905

M

W

25

–

–

-No, Yes, Yes

IA

IN

IA

Carpenter/ Construction

-No

Kenneth A

S

1/1907

M

W

23

–

–

-Yes, Yes, Yes

IA

IN

IA

Helper/ Public Park

-No

Merle J

S

1/1910

M

W

20

–

–

-Yes, Yes, Yes

WA

IN

IA

Truck Driver/ Public Park

-No

Myra A

D

2/2012

F

W

18

–

–

-Yes, Yes, Yes

WA

IN

IA

–

Ernilie

D

5/1924

F

W

5

–

–

-N0

WA

IN

IA

–

*The five acres were part of the sale of the Weyerhauser farm. Dad also farmed the five acres, raising chickens, strawberries, and eventually the peach orchard.

-Fun Fact on line 57 of this census is Myra’s future husband Robert Geddes. I love finding things like this.

~~~~~

Does anyone know more about this plane crash? Is this our Eldon? Was the pilot related to his future wife? This happened in November 1930.

~~~~~

Kenneth Alvin Burgess married Miss Lola Marjorie Young of Kahlotus, Washington, on April 18, 1931. Parents Arthur & Lydia were witnesses

-Kenneth and Lola had three children

-Marjorie Anne Burgess

-Carol Ann Burgess

-James Allen Burgess

~~~~~

Myra graduates from Puyallup High School on June 4, 1931

This picture is from Myra’s junior year (1930) at Puyallup High School. No one seems to have the 1931 yearbook uploaded anywhere yet

~~~~~

Application for Merle J Burgess to wed Miss Lillian Iris Sturgis from Puyallup, Washington, on June 20, 1932, in Snohomish County, Washington.

-Merle and Lillian had two children

-Jackson M Burgess

-Ronald Lee Burgess

~~~~~

Arthur and Lydia’s oldest son Eldon DeWitt married Miss Mildred Aflhild Glein on

May 31, 1934, in Pierce County, Washington

-They had one child Donald Glein Burgess

~~~~~

Myra Aileen Burgess married Robert W. Geddes from Puyallup on February 1, 1936, in Puyallup, Washington. George Geddes and Arthur Burgess were the witnesses.

-They have one daughter Joni Geddes

~~~~~

Merle and Lillian celebrate their son’s second birthday on August 9, 1936, in Puyallup, Washington.

There are some familiar names on the guest list

~~1940~~

 

Name

Relation

Birth Month & Year

S E X

R A C E

Age

Married/ Single/ Widowed

Child. Born/ Living

Education At School/ Read/ Write

Birth-place

Father Birth- Place

Mother Birth-Place

Occupation

V E T E R A N

Burgess,  Arthur E

Head

11/1876

M

W

63

M/39y

–

-No, Yes, Yes HS-1

IN

IN

IN

Carpenter/ Farmer Private Work

-No

Lydia O

Wife

2/1880

F

W

60

M/39y

6/6

-No, Yes, Yes HS-1

IA

Baden Germany

MO

–

Ernilie

Dau

5/1924

F

W

15

–

–

-Yes, Yes, Yes HS-1

WA

IN

IA

–

In this 1940 Census, only Ernilie is at home with her parents and attending High School in Puyallup. Arthur and Lydia have been married for 39 years. Arthur is still working as a Carpenter and Farmer. We also see in this census that Robert and Myra are living next door.