Early 20th Century Archive Handwritten Diaries Ephemera Burrill Family Urbana Il For Sale

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I have no problem at all with anyone purchasing my item and reselling it, however my description that I’ve worked hours on is not allowed to be copied by anyone for the above purposes. The main reason I write this is because I was contacted about a listing where someone had copied my exact sale and tried to sell a diary that they didn’t even have. It ended up being a fraudulent sale and I’m thankful they caught it in time. Thank you so much for your understanding.

“In Memoriam, Mrs. Gertrude T. Burrill

One of Urbana’s oldest and most highly respected residents, passed away at 8:15 o’clock Tuesday evening, September 6th, 1927 at the home of her niece, Mrs. Lida Nicholson, 702 West Elm Street Urbana. Gertrude Troutman was born May 16th, 1850 in Hardin County, Kentucky, a daughter of Richard M. and Elizarill (Stovall) Troutman. She was next to the youngest of six children, three sons and three daughters, and the last of the family. Her sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Veirs of Urbana died August 12th, 1920 and a sister, Mrs. Cena A. Miller, of New Ross, Indiana, formerly of Urbana, died December 30th, 1925. At the age of two years, Mrs. Burrill was bereft of both parents. (I found that both of her parents died in 1853 but I don’t know how or why; how terribly sad).

She lived with her grandmother until she was nine years of age; she went to live with her sister and husband, Elizabeth J. and Daniel C. Veirs near Ladoga, Indiana. In March, 1864, she moved with them to Remington Indiana. While living in Remington, she was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1870….She was married February 21st, 1895, to Robert F. Burrill, a Civil War Veteran, a brother of the late Dr. T. J. Burrill…..After her marriage she resided continuously at the Burrill homestead 609 West High Street, until three and a half years ago since that time she has made her home with her niece, Mrs. Lida Veirs Nicholson…..Last October she entered St. Luke’s hospital at Kansas City Missouri for the removal of a cataract from her eye. There she developed pneumonia which aggravated a bronchial trouble of long standing. However, she recovered sufficiently to go with her niece to Florida where she spent a comfortable winter. She returned to Urbana and on June 20, and since that time spent three weeks at Battle Ground, Indiana and visiting relatives. She passed away after an illness of less than an hour, due to a spell of coughing, resulting in a hemorrhage…..”

Following are a few examples of the entries you’ll find in this diary….

(After traveling through Cameron, Kansas City, Fort Scott, Girard, Columbus, Oklahoma City, Ponca City)

“May 4th, Started for Holly. West of Dodge City country desolate looking. Did not go thru any really dusty area tho we saw high drifts. Plants seen. Yucca, cactus, jack rabbits think as hogs.”

“May 10th, Left Holly. Dust starting to blow. Reached Trinidad about 4 P.M. and glad to get out of dust bowl and into mountains. Mountain scenery magnificent between Trinidad and Raton N.M. Crossed Raton Pass, 7893 El. Spent night in cabin camp on side of mountain above Raton. Weather fine and view from cabin very fine. Interesting to see lights in city below and to watch car lights going up winding road to the pass.”

“May 11th, Left Raton at 8 P.M. The country was rolling somewhat desolate cattle country until we reached Cimarron where we entered the Cimarron River Canyon. A beautiful winding road following the ever changing river until we came to a beautiful mountain Lake. We climbed to the top of Apache Pass El. 9083 ft. Stopped for our lunch and found a offer snow bank under the pines. Stopped at Taos Pueblo. Soon entered Rio Grande Gorge. Wonderful scenery. Arrive Santa Fe 6 P.M.”

“May 13th, Pecos River Trip. Visited Civil War battle field called Pigeon Ranch, March 28, 1862. Also visited and bought a drink at what is claimed to be the oldest well in U.S. Drover car to ruins of old Mission church built in 1617. Some of the adobe brick walls are standin but some cement has been put around foundations to prevent crumbling. Had some difficulty in finding ruins of Pueblo but by walking about ¾ mile found the ruins only partially uncovered but saw a lot of relics from the ruins in Trading Post and in the museum in Santa Fe. Spent night in River Camp near town of Pecos. The Pecos River only a few feet from cottage.”

“May 20th, Holbrook to Grand Canyon. Weather good for most of the day. Began to sprinkle before we reached William but drove in a heavy downpour all way from Williams to G.C. Arrived about 5 P.M. and got last cabin. Rain stopped and we got our first glimpse of Canyon thro mists. Finally fog and mists lifted for a moment and we had a grand view. The books have not exaggerated. Our view was only for a moment then the rising mist hid the wonderful panorama and so the night settled down. We drove to Sunset Crater and Ice Caves near Flagstaff. Thro Cinder Hills.”

“May 22nd, Trip to bottom of Canyon. 9:30 A.M. bus from hotel to start of trail. I mounted old Parson and Lida on ___. Party posed for picture. Away to a good start. First the guide on his fine horse, the rest on mules. 10 in our party and 8 in 2nd party. The mules are trained to keep together and one need pay little attention to guiding the mule as most of them know the trail better than the rider. Reached the river just before noon, ate our lunch in shade of cliff along side of a cool sparkling stream. Temp above 100 degrees in shade. Trip back required frequent stops to rest mules which were sweating and puffing in the heat. Wonderful changing panorama.”

(On to L.A. and San Diego)

“June 7th, Visited Exposition. Got to grounds before bldgs. were open. Took sight seeing bus around the grounds. Visited most of buildings except Natural History and Zoo. Ford Bldg was very interesting. Showing methods of manufacturing. Listened to music on big organ. Also music by symphony orchestra in Ford Bowl. Saw colored lights on fountains varied as music changed. Wonderful display of colored lights in the Palm Canyon at night.”

“June 10th, Visited with A. W. Rea. Spent the day with old school chum, Al Rea who has made quite a reputation for himself as an architect specializing in schools and hospitals. Looked over several of his plans for schools, churches and mausoleums. His son-in-law’s house plan won 3rd prize in San Diego Exposition competition was reproduced at the Exposition.”

(Deep sea fishing off of Manhattan Beach. Her first plane ride. Then on to Madera and Yosemite.)

“June 20th, Arrive at south entrance to park at 10 A.M. Spent some time among the Big Trees, taking photos, visited museum. Drove to Glacier Point over worst road in all our travels. View of valley below was worth while. Took some pictures from the point. Reached our reserved cabin late in afternoon. Our cabin was in sight and sound of Yosemite Falls. The roar of the falls was with us as we went to bed after a day of wonderful sight seeing. Too late for P.O. Cabin very good. Outside toilet some distance away. Florence and L. went to campfire and saw Fire Fall from Glacier Point.”

“June 23rd, Merced to San Francisco. Drove in a heavy wind and not very hot. Crossed S. F. Bay over the San Mateo Bridge. 7 ½ miles long at a toll of 90 cents. Stopped at a cabin camp at Daily City just outside city limits of San Francisco. Drove thro the city limits of San Francisco. Drove thro the city and onto the military reservation and viewed the work done on the Golden Gate Bridge. The approach passes over one of the forts. Followed the Shore Blvd until we came to Golden Gate Park and watched the sun set over the ocean. Got hot dogs for our supper.”

“June 24th, Drover over the Blvd to the Twin Peaks but did not get to the top. Went to P.O. for letter from Charles and thro business district to the foot of Market St. for the Oakland Ferry (toll 75 cents). The ferry took us under the Oakland Bridge (cat walks are in place for about half the span). Drove thro campus of U. of C. at Berkley. Had to pay 90 cents toll over Carquinez Bridge. Arrived at Napa State Hospital just after 12 M. and had lunch with Mildred Krohn. Mildred took us for drives over the State Farm and to Soda Springs.”

All in all a great group that deserves further research.

CONDITION OF ITEMS:

Handwritten items such as diaries and letters are never usually in mint condition. I try and describe my items the best way I can and post as many photos as I can. If a diary is tough to read for me I always say so in the description. If it is in bad condition I also say so and I usually describe the condition at the end of my descriptions. I have never, or I should say rarely, had a handwritten piece be in mint condition and there is a very good reason for that; they are made of paper, they’ve been carried around sometimes for 100’s of years and have been opened and shut hundreds if not thousands of times. So, please keep all of this in mind when purchasing diaries and letters from me..

MY BLOG: I’ve decided, finally, to start a blog site using the diaries in my personal collection. Over the years I’ve got so many amazing people emailing me asking me to share from my own personal collection of antique diaries. I’ve been trying to develop a web site but that is taking time so I thought I’d do this first and also facebook. There is also a page on the blog where I’ve written about why I collect. You can search for the blog by putting into one of the search engines (such as Google) the name; sallysdiaries (no apostrophe and all one word).

This item has been shown times. Early 20th Century Archive Handwritten Diaries Ephemera Burrill Family Urbana Il: $48