William "Woodchopper Bill" Burleson (ca. 1870-1940)

BURLESON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 12/22/2013 at 14:51:27

From Nevada Journal May 16, 1940

Wm. Burleson Died Early Today Following Stroke

William Burleson, age about 70 years, died very suddenly early today at Iowa sanitarium from the effects of a stroke of apoplexy suffered but a few hours before.

Mr. Burleson, better known about town as "Woodchopper Bill" had been around at his work during the day but went to his room at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Swafford, where he had lived for 11 years, early in the evening and it was about 10 o'clock when he suffered the stroke.

A physician was called and he was rushed to Iowa sanitarium and there he died about 12:15 a.m. today.

Mr. Burleson came here from Missouri probably 18 years or more ago and had since made his home here, working occasionally on farms but during the winter months devoted his time to chopping down and working up trees at shich work he was an expert.

He had never married and as far as is definitely known here today has few near relatives. At the Newt Frey home, where he had worked at different times there was a suggestion that he had a sister in Detroit, while at the Frank McLain home it was believed that there was a brother and a sister in Kansas. In neither case, however, was the address or name known.

The case has been turned over to the social welfare director to make inquiry as to relatives and to make arrangements for the funeral and burial.

Mr. Burleson possibly a peculiar character in some ways, was an honest and industrious man, a man well informed on world affairs and had many friends in the community.

The body is at the Bishop Funeral Home awaiting definite funeral and burial arrangements.

From Nevada Journal May 12, 1940

Funeral Services for Wm. Burleson This Afternoon

Funeral rites for William Burleson, Nevada man, who died very suddenly at Iowa sanitarium on Thursday morning following a stroke of apoplexy at his room in the Swafford home here an hour earlier, will be held this afternoon at 4 o'clock at teh Bishop Funeral Home, with Rev. C. E. Lookingbill in Charge.

Thorough inquiry on the part of social welfare director has failed to locate any relatives of the man, who had long been known here as "Woodchopper Bill." He had been a resident of Nevada for possibly 18 years, coming here from Missouri.

He was a man who told little of his own affairs, although it is known that he has a sister in Detroit. Her name, however, is not known.

He was a single man, probably between 65 and 70 years of age, was of good character, honest, industrious and had a wide circle of friends in and about the city, with whom he had come in contact in connection with his work.