705 N High St. 

Vera Burch (1911-2001)  

George McLellan Burch was born on 27 September 1872, in Albia, Iowa, to John Colburn Burch and Columbia Caroline Howard Burch. His mother died when he was five, and he was raised by his stepmother, Catherine E. Wolfe Burch. By the time of Catherine’s death in 1905, George had ten full siblings and four step-siblings, including those who had already died.   

In 1880, nine-year-old George lived with his family in Kansas, where his father farmed. Though the details of his early adulthood are unclear, the 1900 census recorded George living in Northern California while his birth family remained in the Midwest. That November, George married Charlotte Edna Chamlee, and the couple settled in Healdsburg, California. Their first child, Claude Lawrence Burch, was born in Yuba City in the summer of 1901. 

Not long after, the family moved to Washington State, where they rented a farm near Wenatchee. Here their second child, Virgil John Burch was born on 25 March 1904. In 1909, the family moved to Oregon. According to the 1910 census, George was farming mortgaged land in Alsea. His father John was also recorded living with the family. By early 1911, the family moved to Salem, Oregon, where daughter Vera was born. George farmed for T.A. Livesley and took on odd jobs. George and Edna suffered the tragic loss of their son Virgil in March 1918. He was killed in a shooting accident involving a playmate. He was 12 years old.  

Between 1917 and 1924, George held a series of odd jobs before he, Edna, and Claude began working at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill. Edna worked as a spooler and weaver beginning in 1920, Claude worked as a helper for about a year, and George began work as a carder in 1924, remaining for approximately six years.  

By 1930, son Claude had married Viola Ash and moved to California to pursue a music career. Daughter Vera married Ray Morrow in 1935 but remained in Salem. George left the woolen mill, and he and Edna managed the Haseldorf Apartments on Cottage St. until 1936, then moved to another complex on North High St. Their final home was on North 23rd St., where George died on 18 May 1949, at age 79. Edna followed in 1955. They were both buried in Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem. 

1900  George M. Burch. Age: 22. Birth: Sep 1877 in Iowa. Residence: Ukiah, Mendocino, California. Single, HOH. Occupation: Painter. No other residents in home.  

1910  George M. Burch. Age: 32. Birth: 1878 in Iowa. Residence: Alsea, Benton, Oregon. Married, HOH. Occupation: Farmer. 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  George M. Burch. Age: 48. Birth: abt 1872 in Iowa. Residence: 596 Turner St. Salem Ward 6, Marion, Oregon. Married, HOH. Occupation: Laborer, Odd Jobs. Household members: George M. Burch, age 48 (HOH), Edna C. Burch, age 37 (wife), Claude L. Burch, age 19 (son), Vera Burch, age 8 (daughter).  

1930  George M. Burch. Age: 57. Birth: abt 1873 in Iowa. Residence: 705 N. High St. Salem, Marion, Oregon. Married, HOH. Occupation: Carder, Woolen Mill. Household members: George M. Burch, age 57 (HOH), Edna C. Burch, age 47 (wife), Vera H. Burch, age 19 (daughter).  

1940  George M. Burch. Age: 67. Birth: abt 1873 in Iowa. Residence: 705 N. High St. Salem, Marion, Oregon. Married, HOH. Occupation: None listed. Household members: George M. Burch, age 67 (HOH), Edna C. Burch, age 57 (wife). 

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  

Edna Chamley [Chamlee] Burch. Birth: 29 Nov 1881 in Arkansas. Death: 4 Apr 1955 (aged 73) Marion County, Oregon. Burial: Belcrest Memorial Park, Salem, Marion County, Oregon. Plot: Block 33, Section 44, Lot 3. Memorial ID: 73171580    

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.  

List of siblings from Ancestry.com Esther Walter Burch Collins Family Tree. 

From mother Columbia Caroline Howard Burch 

Christopher Columbus Burch 1867-1935 

John Colburn Burch Jr 1868-1946 

Samuel E Burch 1869-1869 

Albert H Burch 1874-1915 

Ida M Burch (1st) 1875-1876 

William Burch 1877-1877 

From Stepmother Catherine E Wolfe Estes Burch 

Four Stepsiblings and  

Ida M Burch 1879-1903 

Arthur H Burch 1881-1904 

Charles Henry Burch 1884-1938 

Bertha Mary Burch Buerger 1886-1950 

Walter Joseph Burch 1890-1943