Edwin W. Burch (1869-1954)

BURCH

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 4/7/2023 at 12:14:34

Edwin Welch Burch
(November 5, 1869 – April 14, 1954)

Edwin W, Burch, cashier of the Security Bank of Rockwell City, was born in Jackson Township, Calhoun County, November 5. 1869. His ancestry is distinctively American, and at an early period in the history of this section of Iowa the Burch family was established here. In the district schools our subject obtained his early education, moving with his parents to Rockwell City, in December, 1881. He there attended school regularly until the summer of 1885, when he began to do office work, beginning with his father, Rollin Burch, who was then county treasurer. Through the next two years he did clerical work for George R. Allison, county treasurer, W. E. Fuller, county auditor, and C. E. Offenbach, county recorder, and it is said of him that he was never out of employment. On the 1st of July, 1887, he entered the office of George L. Brower to learn the abstract, farm loan and real estate business, and received instruction from L. R. Patty, a very thorough business man. After working there during the months of July and August he returned September 1st to the office of Mr. Allison, where he assisted in collecting the second installment of tax for that year. On the 14th of October, 1887, Mr. Burch returned to Mr. Brewer's office, taking charge of the abstract department of his business until the 1st of November, 1891, when the land and abstract office became the Security Bank, and Mr. Burch aided in its organization and has since that time served as cashier.
On the 30th of June, 1897, Mr. Burch was united in marriage to Miss Lillian Loughhead, who resided in the family of her uncle, R. W. Murphey, then county superintendent of schools, the wedding being
celebrated in the Murphey home in Rockwell City. She was born in Morris, Illinois, November 21, 1875. a daughter of Charles W. and Esther (Murphey) Loughhead. Both were born of American parentage, the
mother a native of Canada. They resided for several years in Grundy County, Illinois, removing to Grundy County. Iowa, in 1879, where her father died in that same year. Her mother removed with her people to Calhoun County, Iowa, in 1882, but died the following year. Mrs. Burch taught several terms of school in the rural districts of this county, later attending the Woodbine (Iowa) Normal School, where she graduated with the class of 1896. The following school year she taught one of the intermediate grades in the schools of Lake City, Iowa. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Burch has been born one child, Edwin W., born November 22, 1901. The parents hold membership in the Baptist church and are active in church and Sunday-school work. Their home is on the southeast corner of Seventh and Court streets, in Rockwell City. [Source – Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S.J. Clarke, 1902, p.493]