The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-18
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Sunday morning when Colonel James
G. Burr departed this life, we could on
ly record the fact that he had passed
away. He took sick last Tuesday with
pneumonia and died at BIAS o'clock
Sunday morning.
in Wilmington, November %, 1917. and
On the 2Sth instant, would have reach
ed the s1st year of his age. He was
the son Of the late Mr.. falcon Burr,
who came TO Wilmington from Con
necticut and married Miss Emily Ber-
nard of this city. Colonel Burr was
married April II. 1899. TO Miss Mary
Anna Berry, daughter of Mr.. Ancrum
and Mrs. Catherine Berry, of this city,
and of several children born to them
there survive DR.. Ancrum Berry Burr,of
New York, Mrs. E. Everett, of VIII
mington, and Mr.. William Alva Burr,
Of New York. He also leaves one sis
ter, Miss Kate Burr, of this city.
He was a first cousin of Bishop Green,
of Mississippi, who was a native Of
Wilmington.
AaS "oo PoSAA1ocA@A Ia
Wilmington in 1S5O-52 under President
Millard Fillmore. was n of the first
aldermen of Wilmington when the
charter for the city was obtained and
subsequently was mayor pro tenn. He
was a close friend of Governor Vance
and was appointed a director of the in
sane asylum by Governor Vance. From
1860 to the closing Of the bank of Cape
Fear he was cashier of that institu-
ton, and from 1867 to 1869 he conduct
ed a banking business for himself I'M
der the name of James G. Burr & Co..
In 1SS5-S7 he was deputy postmaster
under Postmaster Oscar G.. Parsley. In
1862 Colonel Burr was elected Colonel
of a regiment of the home guard, and
since the organization the Cape Fear
Camp, No. 254, United Confederate
Veterans, he has been a member of
that organization. At the close of the
war Colonel Burr was one of the COM
missioners who were appointed by Gov
ernOr Vance to go with Governors
Graham and Swain to General Sher-
mans camp to request him to have RAJ
leigh from the hands of possible in
cendiaries in his army.
Colonel Burr's brother, the late Mr..
falcon Burr, for many years edited
the Wilmington Herald, and after his
death in 1858, his younger brothers
| Messrs. Charles E. and Revenscroft
| Burr conducted the paper up to the
time it was purchased by our present
| mayor, the Hon. A. M. Waddell. In
1888 while his brothers edited the
paper he wrote some stories which
created a sensation, but it was not for
| years that the author became known.
He was a man of extensive reading and
fine literary attachments. AS a
writer he was fluent and graceful, and
no man than he better knew
the local history of Wilmington in the
early days. How we'll the readers of
The Messenger remember the reminis-
cences of the Olden time in Whining
ton,, which have oftime appeared in
these columns during the past ten
! years. He had a remarkable memory,
and in a style that was classical and
charming, he wrote the many articles
that have SO much entertained the
readers of this paper.
Colonel Burr was a cultured and re-
med gentleman of the old school. He
possessed a dignity that was genuine,
but simple. and he was modest and I'M
assuming to a degree hat kept him
from more frequently from appearing
in the public prints. He shrank from
publicity, or nOtoriety, and when he
| would exercise his splendid gifts as a
writer he would hide his identity be-
! hind the non de plume of "SenneX."
His knowledge was thorough and his
style was so marked that all %recogniz-
ed him in the writings with which he
| SO entertained both the old and young
readers.
Colonel Burr knew intimately
the family history and life of the
older Wilmingtonians and often has
The Messenger depended upon him
for a sketch of some of the elder men
and women of Wilmington when they
would pass away. A few months ago
when he wrote of a deceased friend
and handed the manuscript to the
writer, he said: q presume you will
have to write about me when | die.
When it was suggested that he might
write and leave a sketch of his life,
he said he had an aversion to do that,
but when asked to make a memOran-
| dunn of facts, connected with his life.
leaving out any reference to himself
that would be contrary to his tastes
he consented to do SO He shranb
from that, however, and in all prob
ability left not a line prepared abOu
his .eventful life. A search among his
papers, failed to discover any memo
randa, so hat in this humble sketch
we write from u W knowledge OF
him and facts furnished by others
He was a man of the staunchest integ-
rity. the Hottest sense of honor, a fine
wrought spirit. In his death a link
with the past has gone, a true gentle
nan has passed, and his end is peace
He lies upon his bier as if only asleep
and it will be hard TO realize that he
must be laid away in the tomb today.
AT 10 o'clock this morning the ser
| rica <or Tho burial IF tho dpad will he