Burns, Mr. (d. 1877)

BURNS, HARBACH, BRAZIL

Posted By: Becke Dawson (email)
Date: 9/25/2003 at 09:04:02

THE IOWA STATE LEADER, Des Moines, Iowa Tuesday, July 10, 1877

A CASE FOR CHARITY - Yesterday there died a man named Burns, of consumption who left a family absolutely destitute. He had four children we are informed who were so destitute of clothing as not to be presentable. These people had lived on Ninth Street just north of Walnut on the west side of the street, and any one having anything to spare will find a worthy opportunity to dispose of it there. The man had been a book-keeper in some of our coal offices and the family seemed to be of a good stock, intelligent and graceful in all their ways. Some of the neighbors went in to see the widow upone learning of the death and though she was very reluctant to accept charity she was obliged to say of the children what we have said and that she had nothing with which to buy a coffin for her dead husband. Upon their presenting the case to Mr. Harbach he kindly told them he would furnish a coffin and bear the expense with Father Brazil. The man was a Catholic and of the most exemplary habits. It was their pride and reluctance to expose their condition to the public view that brought them to such a deplorable state of want and wretchedness.