705 N High St. 

Virgil John Burch 1904-1918 

Vera Helen Burch Morrow 1911-2001 

Edna Charlotte Chamlee Burch was born on 29 November 1881, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Thomas Young Chamlee and Matilda Elizabeth Bush Chamlee. Her family relocated to California during her early childhood, and by the time of the 1900 census, they had settled in Ukiah. Edna, then 18, had completed high school and was the eldest of six siblings.  

In November 1900, Edna married George M. Burch, a 22-year-old house painter, and the young couple began their married life in Healdsburg, California. The following summer, they welcomed their first child, Claude Lawrence Burch, born in Yuba City. A few years later they were farming near Wenatchee, Washington, where their second son, Virgil John Burch, was born on 25 Mar 1904.  

By 1909, Edna and George had moved again – this time to Alsea, Oregon, where George farmed mortgaged land. The 1910 census finds not only Edna and her growing family there, but also George’s elderly father, John, and Edna’s younger sister, Bertie, living under the same roof.  

In early 1911, the family resettled in Salem, Oregon. Their third and final child, Vera, was born that January. George found work sawing wood and they lived modestly on North 22nd and Nebraska Ave. Sadly, in March of 1918, son Virgil was killed by an accidental gunshot from a playmate. He was twelve years old.  

George had a series of odd jobs between 1917 and 1924 in addition to farming for T.A. Livesley off Turner Rd. Then from 1920 to 1924, he as well as Edna and son Claude took work at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill – Edna as a spooler and weaver, Claude as a helper, and George as a carder.   

By 1930, son Claude had married and begun a music career in Los Angeles. Daughter Vera married Ray Morrow in 1935 and remained in Salem. Edna and George became apartment managers, first at the Haseldorf Apartments and later at 205 North High St. for several years. Their final residence was on North 23rd St. where George passed away in 1949, at age 79. Edna outlived her husband by six years and died in Salem in 1955. Both were buried in Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem. 

1910  Edna C. Burch. Age: 27. Birth: abt 1883 in Arkansas. Married, wife to HOH. Residence: mortgaged farm in Alsea, Benton County, Oregon. Occupation: None listed. Household members: George M. Burch, age 32 (HOH), Edna C. Burch, age 27 (wife), Claude L. Burch, age 8 (son), John C. Burch, age 72 (father), Bertie M. Chamley [Chamlee], age 17 (sister-in-law).   

1920  Edna C. Burch. Age: 37. Birth: abt 1883 in Arkansas. Married, wife to HOH. Rents home at 596 Turner St, Salem, Oregon. Occupation: Spooler, Woolen Mill. Household members: George M. Burch, age 48 (HOH), Edna C. Burch, age 37 (wife, spooler woolen mill), Claude L. Burch, age 19 (son, helper woolen mill), Vera Burch, age 8 (daughter).     

1930  Edna C. Burth. Age: 47. Birth: abt 1883 in Arkansas. Married, wife to HOH. Owns home at 705 N High St, Salem, Oregon. Occupation: None listed. Household members: George M. Burch, age 57 (HOH), Edna C. Burch, age 47 (wife), Vera H. Burch, age 19 (daughter).  

1940  Edna C. Burch. Age: 57. Birth: abt 1883 in Arkansas. Married, wife to HOH. Owns house at 705 High St, Salem, Oregon. Highest grade completed:  Elementary school, 8th grade. Household members: George M. Burch. age 67 (HOH), Edna C. Burch, age 57 (wife).  No employment shown for either.  

1950  Unable to locate 

1917  George M. Burch (Edna C), laborer, res 496 Turner. 

1924  George M Burch (Edna), carder TKWM, h 705 N High 

          Edna Burch Mrs., weaver, TKWM, h 705 N High 

1928  George M. Burch (Edna), carder TKWM, h 705 N High 

1930  George M Burch (Edna), carder, h 705 N High 

1932  George M. Burch (Edna C) manager Haseldorf Apts h 173 S Cottage Apt. 103 

1935  George M Burch (Edna C) manager Haseldorf Apts h 173 S Cottage Apt. 103 

George McLellan Burch. Birth: 27 Sep 1872, Albia, Monroe County, Iowa. Death: 18 May 1949 (aged 76) Salem, Marion County, Oregon. Burial: Belcrest Memorial Park, Salem, Marion County, Oregon. Plot: Block 33, Section 44, Lot 4. Memorial ID: 73171529   

Capital Journal 11 Mar 1918, p. 8 – Funeral announcement for Virgil Burch, the 13-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. George Burch on 596 Turner St. who was accidentally killed Saturday by a playmate who discharged a loaded pistol into Virgil.    

Oregon Statesman 24 Jul 1924, p. 5 – Mrs. Claude Burch (Viola Ash) is attending the summer series of orchestra concerts at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.  Her husband, son of Mr. and Mrs. George M. Burch of Salem, is a cornetist with the Victor Recording orchestra.    

Capital Journal 12 May 1925, p. 5 – Word received of the arrival of a son to Mr. and Mrs. Claude Laurence Burch in Los Angeles.  The couple was formally predominant in the Salem musical circles. The boy’s name is Claude Laurence Burch, Jr.  

Oregon Labor Press 22 Jun 1928, p. 2 – Claude L. Burch, trumpet, joining Jole McElroy orchestra of Seattle.    

Ft. Worth, Texas, Star-Telegram 14 May 1937, p. 19 – Marriage License.  Claude L. Burch of Los Angeles and Miss Muriel Vartanian of Los Angeles.  

Capital Journal 4 Apr 1955, p. 5 – Mrs. Edna C. Burch 75, resident of Salem for 46 years, died 4 Apr 1955 after a long illness. Born 22 Nov 1897 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Came to California as a small child.  Married George E. Burch in 1900 in Santa Rosa, CA. Moved to Salem in 1909. He was an apartment house manager and owner who died three years ago. Survivors:  Mrs. Vera Morrow of Salem and son Claude Burch of Los Angeles. Belcrest Cemetery. 

1904 Washington Birth Record. Virgil Burch born in Chelan County, Washington on 25 Apr 1904. Mother Edna Chamley, 21 born in Arkansas, second child.  Father Geo. Burch, 26, born in Iowa, farmer.  Recorded in Wenatchee, Washington.  

1918 WW1 Draft Card.  William McClellan Burch of 596 S Turner St, Salem, OR.  Age: 45. Birthdate: 23 Sep 1872. Occupation: Farming for F. A. Livesley and Co, Box 85, R #8, Salem, OR.  NOK: Mrs. Edna Burch same address. Described as short, slender, blue eyes and dark hair.  Registration Date: 16 Sep 1918.    

1918 Oregon Death Record. Virgil John Burch, 13y, 11m, 12 d, of 596 Turner St, Salem, OR, died of an accidental gunshot wound on 9 Mar 1918.  Born 25 Mar 1904 in Washington. Father and informant Geo. M. Burch, born in Iowa. Mother Edna Charmley, born in Arkansas.  

1949 Oregon Death Record.  George M. Burch, res 577 N 23rd St. Salem, OR.  Born 22 Sep 1872 in Des Moines, Iowa. Died of a heart attack on 18 May 1949 at Salem General Hospital in Salem, Oregon.  Age 76. Wife and informant Edna Burch. Father John C. Burch.  Mother Caroline Smith. Not a vet. Apt house mgr.    

1955 OR State Death Cert.  Edna C. Burch of 577 N 23rd St, Salem, Oregon, died of cancer in Salem Memorial Hospital on 4 Apr 1955 at age 72. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas on 22 Nov 1882. Father Thomas Chalee [Chamlee]. Mother Elizabeth Bush. Widowed housewife.