The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-01-08
Thomas Burress.

He emanated from Virginia aid North
Carolina ancestors, and these from English
stock of "numerous name" He had born
unto him several sons and daughters. One
If tho sons was called John. This SOD,
John Burr's,, married Miss Elizabeth Davis
From this uuiun were born the fullo wing
named Sons and daughters:
Aaron, born May 30tb, 1901, died In
middle life. Nancy, born September "a,
Baptist preacher and her first cousin. Both
died in South Carolina full Of years Re-
bekah, born March Is. 1906, married Mat
thew Tppen. Both died In Texas, honor.
ed through long lives Thomas. the sub
jsct of this sketch. waa born September 18,
lS0s, and married Miss Sarah Anthony
Berry. Both died In Mississippi. Orange.
born October o. 1910 married MISS D,1le
MCGEE, died In early maohood In South
Carolina Davis was born May l3 1873
he was "taller than his brothers from hiA
shoulders up," and larger otherwise,
though not corpuent. He was twice
Milford was born March Is. 1916. he was
twice married. Died In South Carolina
Polly, born May IA. 1918. was married to
VIM FAINT. Both died In Goliad. Texas,
after many u eful days Elbert was turn
Auuust 8, 1921 Died in Goliad, Texas.
Each Of these sons was rem arkable for
physical statue and strength, each weigh
ing more than two hundred pounds, and
Davis more than three hundred. yet none
possessed surplus flesh. There were
giants In those day." The daughters.
save Polly, who was tsll and slender, we're
Likewise Of large mould.
The sons were generation OF farmers.
aud, judging by their success, their phys
ical greatness was not superior to their
mental endowments. They exhibited no
special fondpess for books, but were wise
10 their own affairs
Anotber very remarkable thing Is, that
no two of these brothers spelled their sir
name alike The frst was Aaron Buris.
The second wa- Thomas Burress. The
third was Orange Burrows The fonrth
VAS Davis Burroughs The fifth was NIL
ford Burriss The sixth was Ebert Bur
riss. The positive personality OF each,
coupled with unvaryiDg independence Of
character, may account Tor this difference
in spelling the name Or it may be that
If the name by deposits LETT In the
B,nk of England, by English ancestors,
'.fnumerous name" 1t must not be at
tributed to any disloyalty to their father
| or to the disowniDg of his name While
they were Indifferent as to the spelling,
they were careful about the reading, aud
united as to the honor Of the family A
reflection upon one was q reproach upon
all. To bequeath character adorned by
bonestY, integrity, perseverance, and sue
$685. seemed to have been their animatiDg
spirit,
1t may be said of them that they were
tn their father "ss arrows In the hand Of q
| mighty man and were not ashamed
,tk1 = To- foa IL ha< 30
should occasion arise.
tn. MAS BURREss, whose name is at the
head oi this notice, after marriage to Miss
Sarah A Berry, September 8, 1881 settled
In Anderson District 8 O., for a few years
While there, their daughter Susan Eliz+-
beth, was born July 30, 1882 After this
| they moved to haywood County, West
Tennessee, where they remained some
years, during which time their son. John
William was born. Subsequently they
returned to South Carolina and settled
near Mountain Creek Baptist Church, in
Anderson District. During their stay at
this place two other children were born,
daughter, Henrietta Louisa. January 4
1870; the other son, Luther Rice, October
| 20 1912
10 December, 1850, Thos. Burress re
moved with his family from native State
to locate In Tishomingo County, Miss,
~bere he arrived in January, 1851 His
home is embraced in what is now Prentiss
County. As stated, he belonged to genera
on Of farmers As such he was reason
ably successful. ae employed the COM
mon labor Of the country, which was slave
labor, with all good conscience He is
remembered by the surviving family ne
groes as q kind, finn, thoughtful master.
He was merciful to them, they were faith
ful to him. His humane treatment and
provident care made Uncle Toms Cabin"
place of peace, plenty and comfort. He
was regarded as an influential citizen
throughout northeast Mississippi.
In the exciting times in 1850 be was
tainance of Southern rights within the
Union He deplored secession as unwiae
on account of the superior facilities and
strength Of the North. He urged that the
fight be made under "the stars aud STRIPES"
believing that many Of the North would
uuite with the South, and thus make sue
cess possible within the Union Yet when
Fort Sumter fired hostile gun on the
shores of his own native Palmetto State,
be prepared his two Sons for war. saying
Go, my sons, and make the best of It,"
They went, they fought. they returned, to
the joy of their father. He was true In his
SVWpalul66 IOT LILO l6uu tUdt Hd6 Ills OWu.
He was arrested aud imprisoned by the
Federals and retained for some time,
though he had never taken up arms. He
said that be would fnrnish the corn while
others burnt the powder In 1t65, when
the voice Of war was hushed only as here
and there the scars we're made to bleed
afresh. some would cry vengeance and do
deeds of desperation. Th0s Rurress ad.
justed himself to the changed condition OF
affairs and moved onward as few did Of his
age
In 1859, the wife of his youth. the sharer
of bis life. his companion In toll and sue
cesa, amid all the vicisitudes Of stirring
and perilous timee, fell asleep Ia peaceful
death In life she exhibited all the virtues
that adorn and dignity woman and the
Christian character. As the mistress of
rigid economy with the generous spirit of
liberal hospitality. She was faithful and
.fectionsts in her friendships, bountiful
to the INDECENT. kind and courteous, cheer.
ful and charitable in social life with her
neighbors and acquaintance She lived
10 the habtual practice of benevolence and
of sincare unaffected piety, leaving to the
world an example, which, If followed,
would make every one friend and every
home seat Of happiness.
In 1870 Thos. Burress married Mrs
Francis q. McGee Phillips. This was
fortunate second marriage. She still sur
wives, and may happy life consecrated to
the God of her hope and strength be fol
lowed by endless victory.
Thos. Burress had will power In won
derful degree Hewas born ruler among
men. His 'yeas" and mays" were EN-
phatic. The manifest correctness of bis
views gave him power among men In
social life he was gle"ful, and to the end of
bis life lived In the present. Interested In
the progress of bis neighbors and their
children, in the living questions, civil and
religious, indeed the affairs at hand claimed
his attention through his long life This
interest in passing events, with bis thorough
scquainance with his own business, largely
accounts for the retention of his mental
abilities through more than four score
years. His success in life was largely due
TO the interest he paid to the details, the
little things of bis business ''Tske care of
the dimes and the dollars will take care OF
themselves was one of bis maxims He
was charitable, giving In absolute need.
yet it was not thus that charity with him
was best bestowed, but In giving opportun-
tiles to men that they might help them
selves. For this he was known as "tbe
poor mans friend" He who ministers to
need gives charity: be, who gives an op.
portunity for the needy to help himself is