| Last Name |
Burford |
| First Name |
Sherman |
| Middle Name |
John |
| Born |
14 Nov 1875 in Pennsylvania |
| Home Addresses
(Salem) |
444 State |
| Died |
28 Nov 1921 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
| Place Buried |
Salem Pioneer Cemetery in Salem, OR |
| Spouse |
None |
| Date of Marriage |
N/A |
| Children |
None |
| Dates of Employment |
1890-1893 |
| Job(s) |
Spooler, Spinner |
| Story |
Sherman Burford worked for TKWM for a short time after its official opening as a spooler, then spinner.
Sherman John Burford was born 14 Nov 1875 in Pennsylvania to David and Nancy Jane [Reifenberick] Burford. Sherman was one of four children born to the couple. Sherman’s father passed away in 1877 when Sherman was 2 years old. His mother Nancy never remarried. The family emigrated to Oregon in the early 1880s and settled in Brownsville. Then moved to Salem in 1889 with Nancy’s brother Frank. Mother Nancy opened a variety store with Phoebe Rice. Sherman found work at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill first as a spooler, then spinner. Then moved to the Oregon City Mills for work from 1896-1900.
In 1905 he emigrated to Canada and took work as an immigration officer in Victoria B.C. He became a naturalized citizen of Canada in 1908. He worked for the U.S. Immigration Service for 18 years, based in Canada. We learn from the physical description on his WWI draft registration card that he was medium height and build, with brown hair and gray eyes.
Sherman died 28 Nov 1921 in St. Joseph’s Hospital in Victoria, B.C. following an acute attack of pneumonia. At the time he was the chief immigration inspector for the U.S. government in Victoria B.C. The Victora Times newspaper printed that he “ranked high in the immigration department and his loss will be deeply felt by the service. The name and personality of Jack Burford was known from California to British Columbia and grief will be widespread in Victoria, Vancouver, and Seattle.”
His remains were sent back to the United States. His mother Nancy accompanied the body from Seattle to Salem where he would be buried in Salem Pioneer Cemetery. He was 46 years old at the time of his death. |
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| References |
| Name |
Remarks |
| Salem City Directories (unless otherwise noted) |
1891 Burford Sheridan, Spinner, TKWM
1896 Burford, Sherman J. Weaver, OC Mfng bds e s Water 2 s 6th (Portland)
1897 Burford, Sherman J. Weaver, OC Mfng bds e s Water 2 s 6th (Portland) |
| Federal / County Census Records |
1880 Sherman Burford. Birth Date: abt 1875 in Pennsylvania. Residence in 1880: Cranberry, Venango, PA. Single, son to HOH.
Additional household members: Nancy Burford, age 35 (mother), Zelda Burford, age 9 (sister), John Burford, age 7 (brother).
1900 Sherman J Burford. Birth Date: Nov 1874 in PA. Residence in 1900: Water St. In Oregon City, Clackamas, OR. Single, lodger to HOH. Occupation: Weaver in Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Chas. W. Wright, age 41 (head), Anna A. Wright, age 40 (wife to head), William D. Arnold, age 22 (stepson to head), Carl R. Arnold, age 16 (stepson to head).
1921 Canadian Census Shorman [sic] J Burford. Birth Year: abt 1877 in USA. Residence in 1921: 759 Yates St., Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Single, HOH. Immigration Year: 1905. Naturalization: 1908. Religion: Methodist. Occupation: M.S.A. Civil Service. No additional household members. |
| Register of Civil, Military and Naval Service |
Sherman J. Burford. Official title: Immigrant inspector. Where born: Pennsylvania. Whence Appointed, State: Oregon. County: Clackamas. Congressional district: 1. Where employed: Vancouver, B.C. Compensation: paid 4.00 |
| WWI Draft Registration |
Sherman John Burford. Birth: 14 Nov 1875. Permanent Home Address: Elks Club, Port Angeles, Clallum, WA. Occupation: Immigrant Inspector, U.S. Government, Victoria B.C. NOP: Mother Mrs. Nancy J Burford, 252 N Cottage St, Salem, OR. Height: Medium. Build: Medium. Eyes: Gray. Hair: Brown. No physical disqualifications. Registration Date: 12 Sep 1918, Port Angeles, WA. |
| Canada Death Index |
Sherman John Burford. Birth Year: abt 1876. Death Age: 45. Death Date: 28 Nov 1921. Death Location: Victoria. Registration Number: 1921-09-282542 |
| U.S. Immigration Report, Death of American Citizen Abroad |
Sherman J. Burford. Age: 45. Death Date: 28 Nov 10 p.m. 1921. Death Place: St. Joseph’s Hospital, Victoria, B.C. Canada. Cause of Death: Pneumonia. Disposition of Remains: Shipped to his former home, Salem, OR. Disposition of Effects: Sent to mother, Mrs. Nancy J. Burford, Salem, OR. Not married. Remarks: Mother accompanied remains from Seattle to Salem, OR. Sherman J. Burford was the chief U.S. Immigration Inspector at Victoria, B.C. |
| Find a Grave |
Sherman John Burford. Birth: 14 Nov 1875 in Pennsylvania. Death: 28 Nov 1921 (aged 46) in Victoria, Capital Regional District, British Columbia, Canada. Burial: Salem Pioneer Cemetery in Salem, Marion County, OR. Memorial ID: 27177735. |
| Digital Newspapers |
Capital Journal 10 Mar 1890, p 1 – Salem Woolen Mill
Victoria Times 1 Dec 1921, p 18 – Obituary
Capital Journal 30 Nov 1921, p 1 – Obituary |
| WHC Materials |
None yet located |
