Searles, Burton "Burt" 1876-1946

SEARLES, SEARLS, DOUGLASS, MOORE

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/13/2022 at 22:13:44

Note: His mother's maiden name is Douglass. On his grave stone his last name is spelled Searles but he is related to the other Searls in the Riverside Cemetery.

B. O. SEARLS WAS PROMINENT IN RAILROAD CIRCLES

The death of B. O. (Burt) Searls, 70, of Sioux City, a resident of Akron during his boyhood and young manhood, was briefly noted in these columns last week. He passed away on Sunday, September 29, 1946, after several years of ill health.

Burton O. Searls was born September 15, 1876, in what was then the Yankton Indian Agency, where his father was then a clerk in the Greenwood Traders Store. In childhood he moved with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Searls, to Centerville, S. D., and in 1861 to Akron, his father taking the position as agent for the Milwaukee position as agent for the Milwaukee railroad here, which he held for thirty-five years. Burton Searls’ attended and graduated from the Akron public schools and also assisted his father in the depot work.

On August 16, 1897, he was united in marriage with Miss Mae Moore, of Akron, and they located at Sioux Falls, S. D., where he became agent for the Milwaukee road, then appointed traveling passenger and freight agent for that railroad and subsequently division freight and passenger agent at Sioux City, going to that position in 1924 where he served until his retirement in 1933. He became widely known and highly regarded in railroad circles.

Mr. Searls was a member of the Masonic lodge at Sioux Falls, of Sioux City Consistory 5, Abu-Bekr Shrine B. P. O. E. and the Rotary club Sioux City.

Survivors include the widow; a son, Chett C. of Postville, Ia.; two daughters; Mrs. Edwin L. Wilson of Excelsior, Mo. And Mrs. J. E. Griller, of Des Moines; a brother, Dwight C. of Sioux City; two sisters, Mrs. J. R. Goodwin, of Philadelphia, and Mrs. Neil Marsh, of Minneapolis and seven grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Tuesday after, October 1, at Christy’s chapel in Sioux City, with Rev. Joseph Steele, pastor of Mayflower Congregational church, officiating. Interment was in Akron’s Riverside cemetery.

Akron Register Tribune
October 10, 1946
Akron, Iowa