West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1894-01-25
col. FRANK A. BURR DEAD.
A Most Remarkable Career Brought
TO q Close.

Colonel Frank A. Burr, the veto.
ran newspaper correspondent, poll
tician and biographer, died at his
home, No. 40l North Second street,
IN Camden, N. j., Jan. l5, 1894.
from dropsy. lie had been suffer.
ing with liver complaint and gen.
eral debility since August. Colonel
Burr was one OF the most remarka
BILE men Of his iay, and the range
of his career took in nearly every
section of the Union. He was
known to nearly every man in pub
lie life. The story of his career is
most romantic. He was born 90
years ago on November "a last.
His birthplace is unknown, but is
supposed to have been somewhere
on the frontier in Michigan.
AT the age of three he was stolen
by the Chippewa Indians and car
ried into the wilderness. Raised as
one OF the tribe Burr learned all
the handicraft OF the savages and
until he was nine years Of age pad
died around in his bark canoe in
tho water near the present city of
Graud Rapids. He was tho finest
marksman in the trihc aud was
without peer with the bow and
arrow. In 1852 he tired of the
wandering life of the plains aud
learning accidentally that he had
been stolen when II baby, he deman.
ded to be restored to his parents.
The chief of tho tribe took the
young man to Detroit, then trad
ing post, and deserted him under
cover of night.
The waif became newsboy,
sleeping Mt night in the cellar Of
the Free Press Building and while
selling papers picked up an elemen-
tary education. Somehow the lad
attracted the attention of Zachariah
Chandler and the famous politician
and homeless boy became fast
friends. AT the breaking out of
the war Burr, who was but IL years
OF age, enlisted, and before he was
20 he was in command of q battal-
ion of cavalry, in which POSITION he
performed many heroic deeds that
won for him the approval of his
superiors. During one engagement
Burr sustained a wound OF the right
arm, which troubled him a,l
through his literary career.
After the war he studied law and
was admitted to the bar. lie took
up his residence in West Virginia
and was the Republican candidate
for Congress in this district in
1873, but was defeated 10y Col. Ben
Martin, of Grafton, the Democratic
nominee lie was beaten as a
carpet-baggcr after "A novel cam
paign, in which he Travelled through
the district on horseback. lie be-
came attached to Henry G.. Davis,
the millionaire, and it was largely
through his efforts that Mr.. Davis
was elected TO the United States
Senate. For some time Burr was
superintendent OF Davis Deer Park
property, but he finally parted from
his patron through business dis.
agreement. After this Colonel
Burr became attached TO Senator
Simon Cameron as private sccre-
tary, and he twice crossed the ocean
with the statesman. Later he star.
ted newspaper IN Pottsville, Pa. !,
and afterwards became travelling
correspondent, writing for various
papers.
He made a national reputation
by securing an exclusive interview
with jefferson Davis on historical
topics, and subsequently branched
out as a biogrspher. lie coIlabor-
atcd with General Adam Badeau on
the life Of Grant and prepared the
biography Of General HartraDft.
Colonel Burr was a great admIror
Of the late James O.. Blaine and
stood high in the favor Of the ez-
Secretary ct State. His most nota.
ble literary work was collection Of
war sketches nader the title Of
BATTLE Fields Of the Rebellion"
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