BURD, Nicholas 1831-1894

BURD, SWARTS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 2/18/2011 at 20:51:21

Nicholas Burd was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, December 27, 1831, where he resided until 1853, when he moved to Ogle county, Illinois. The following year he married Miss Susanna Swarts, an estimable young lady with whom he had been acquainted in Pennsylvania almost from childhood. Four children blessed their union: three sons and one daughter, all of whom, with the mother, are left to mourn his death. Soon after his marriage he settled on a farm near Byron, Ogle county, Ill., where he resided until 1876 when he with his family moved to Tama county, Iowa, where he had previously purchased and improved a farm. There he resided until the spring of 1886, when with his family he moved to his late residence in Grundy Center, where he lived up to the time of his death, which occurred August 8th, 1894, aged 62 years, 7 months, and 12 days. His sickness was cancer of the stomach, from which he suffered for a year or more and which was ultimately the cause of his death. In his last illness he was confined to his bed five weeks and one day. During all that time he bore his suffering with patience and christian resignation and he was perfectly resigned to the will of Divine Providence. No murmur or unpleasant word escaped his lips. Those who visited his bedside were always greeted with a smile. He was an affectionate husband and indulgent father. Confiding in his Savior's love, his departure was a peaceful one. The deceased was a hard working, industrious man. After retiring from the farm he engaged in buying and shipping stock. He was temperate in his habits, quiet and unassuming and strictly honest and upright in all his dealings. No man had a greater average to trickery, deceit and dishonesty than he. When a boy he was manly and self-reliant, not given to study. The school room was too confining and monotonous for his ambitious spirit. All his energies seemed to bend toward agricultural pursuits and a life of toil, and in this he was successful, happy and contented. The funeral was held in the Baptist church and attended by a large circle of friends and neighbors. The services were conducted by Rev. C. Garner, assisted by Rev. H. Strickler. The remains were interred in Rose Hill cemetery near Grundy Center where the last sad rites were performed by Rev. C. Garner.

"Life's conflict now over and past,
He sweetly rests in his father's embrace,
Awaiting re-union of family and friends,
With the redeemed of all ages, both present and past."

--The Grundy County Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 16 August 1894