When one endeavors to tell the Burkett family story, it is impossible not to include many places and names centering around Richland Township and Richland Center. Ephraim Burkett and his wife, Amanda Overmyer Burkett, settled there in their early marriage and one of their many descendants Mrs. O’Dell (Bessie) Good has told the following story about the Burkett family and the typical farm life in the early 1900’s.

Boys and girls in the early 20th century were busy most of the time with their chores, but did enjoy life after the work was finished. They were taught to respect their elders. When company came, the children always got up to give the adults their chairs. When meal time came and there were too many people to seat at the table, the adults always ate first. Then the children ate at the second table. The children were taught to be careful to keep the tablecloth clean. Always before coming to the table the children must wash up, as dirty hands and faces would not do. Children always respected their schoolteachers and looked up to them, hoping someday perhaps to follow in the teacher’s footsteps.

Little girls usually owned a pair of patent slippers to wear on Sunday and also a nice straw hat perhaps trimmed with daisies and ribbons. Mothers would sew the girls’ dresses out of yard goods. The dresses always were large enough to grow into, not out of. In the winter we wore black stockings and during the summer we wore white stockings. Never did we go without stockings unless we wanted to go barefoot. If our shoe soles became loose, Father would tack on new soles or we would have to wear our Sunday shoes until Father would get time to repair our shoes. Our dresses were simple wash dresses, always kept washed, ironed and patched. Mothers insisted on clean clothing and sometimes our clothing was patched, but it was always clean. We always tried to neatly fold our long underwear under our stockings, so no one would know that we were wearing long underwear.

Children were taught to behave properly in certain places. After Sunday School I would go upstairs to church and sit with my father and mother. If I wiggled too much or looked behind, I would be corrected. Sundays were looked forward to. I lived from Sunday to Sunday for the opportunity to be with other children. Frequently I would go down to the neighbors whom we called Uncle Dan and Aunt Lois (Johnson) and there I would play with their company, Ruth and Mabel Fissel from Fulton. We particularly enjoyed sack races. Usually when a child was older, they could perhaps use the horse and buggy and travel to their grandparents to stay overnight. Social life was at a much slower pace than it is today.

We children always unraveled the men’s socks which had holes in the feet and made balls. A good hard ball would be made when we wrapped tighter. If we did not wrap the yarn too tightly, we made a good soft ball. We used to cut our pictures from the catalog and made poster books using paste made with flour and water. Sometimes we added salt and mixed up beads. We would put the beads on a hat pin. Long pins were used to hold on the hats. We would make a fancy end for the hat pins out of our homemade beads. Sometimes we colored the beads and enjoyed wearing our nice necklaces. We also made paper flowers such as roses and sweet peas for paper bouquets. When girls became older we crocheted, tatted, and embroidered. We looked forward to seeing the patterns in the magazines. Some of the games we played together were called “Black Man”, “Dare Base”, and “Go Sheepy Go”. In the winter when there was ice on the ponds, we took off our boots and slid around on the pond on our shoe soles.

Around Richland Center in the early 1900’s lived many families: Mr. and Mrs. William Andrews, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Steininger, Frank Dunn, Lois and Dan Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Perry Walters, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Triable, Grant Mow, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Zink and family, Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Zink, Charles Andrews, Al Burket, Harpsters, Mows, Winns, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Jackson, Ritter family, Babcocks, Lungsfords, and Mr. and Mrs. Grant Lowman and family.

Whenever there was sickness or death in the family, the close neighbors would come in to help. The women always could see what needed to he done and could pick up and carry on another household.

During the winter when a revival would be held at North Germany Church, some neighbors would start the sled and gather all the neighbors who wanted to go to the meeting.

When a person in the community passed away, the bell at the church would toll one time for each year of the deceased’s age while the hearse was coming to the church.

During the summer women of the church baked pies and cakes and made ice cream for an ice cream social. People came to enjoy the refreshments and to socialize. Each August we had a picnic west of Richland Center on the Babcock place west of Mr. and Mrs. Ritter’s on a big hill Everyone would bring a basket filled with goodies. A big table was set up and the people would gather. After dinner there was entertainment and just visiting.

Special days were looked forward to. On the first or second Sunday in June there was a meeting in Richland Center. All the young girls would gather flowers and carry them in a market basket. As they passed around the cemetery one flower was placed on each grave. Children’s Day was special because the ladies directed the children in a program in what we should do and say. Usually the Fourth of July was spent at home. We were very busy that time of year in our harvesting of wheat and oats.

On Thanksgiving Day we were very thankful that our hard work was completed and our cellars full of good food. We would share with neighbors who needed and who didn’t have their food all taken in. Thanksgiving Day dinner usually consisted of fried chicken, beef and noodles, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, cakes, cookies and preserves.

At Christmas we went to my grandparents. They always had a tree in the parlor. Double doors separated the parlor and living room . A very a large dinner, dishes of candy and peanuts were Passed around. Grandmother had decorated the tree with popcorn strings: however, it never had candles on it - the homemade presents hung on the tree. There were usually handkerchiefs for the men and homemade aprons or pin cushions for the ladies.

Practically all the food was grown right on the farms back in the early 1900’s. Even the yeast was made from hops gathered from along the fence rows. It was gathered before the September winds dried them out. Corn meal and liquid from the hops were mixed and formed into dry flat cakes. When crumbled in warm water, it was used to start the bread. Sometimes when a neighbor’s yeast gave out, they would ask for another starter of yeast.

In the autumn cling peaches were made especially good when pickled with a sweet sour mixture. Corn was dried as were peaches and apples. The fruit was very good when ‘soaked out’ and prepared for meals. From our cows milk we churned butter and used the cream for table use and cooking. When cows had been fed squash, the butter was always very yellow. Cottage cheese was also made from the milk. In the spring we looked forward to potatoes, lettuce, green onions, dandelion greens from the gardens. Jellies were made from apples, black raspberries, elderberries and rhubarb Jelly was made without the benefits of Sure Jell or Certa. Just the juice and sugar boiled on the back of the stove. It was the job of the children to keep the fire hot enough to keep the jellies at a boil. Citron was grown on the farm. It looked like a little watermelon and was used in the preserves. If there was a bee tree nearby, the honey was taken out and stored. Raspberries and blackberries were grown by the roadsides. Sorghum cane was grown on the farms and taken to Alspaugh’s Mill at Leiters Ford for processing. The resulting molasses mixed with popcorn made a wonderful treat. Also we took the apples to the mill at Leiters Ford where cider and vinegar were made. There was not a variety of breakfast cereals from which to choose in tine early 1900’s the only one used by many families was Post Toasties which came in a highly—colored yellow box with a fireplace on its side; it was a nice fireplace with Kettles and irons. In front of the fireplace a big rug with a black cat on it. At the side of the fireplace sat a girl with a bowl of Post Toasties on her lap. In the spring Father while out in the fields would pick and dig and chop the roots from sassafras. We would wash, brush , and peel the bark to have sassafras tea. There were two kinds of bark. Tine yellow bark did not make very good tea. The red hark was more desirable. We would dry the extra bark and store it in a tight can to keep for tea. Horseradish was also dug up and ground. It made tears in one’s eyes. Parsnips were dug and cooked in broth. A plant known as salssofie was dug up. We called them vegetable oysters because salssofie tasted much like oysters. When ground up and put in dressing. it made the dressing taste like oyster dressing. Noodles were always made at home. The extra noodles were dried and stored. If the time was limited, we made ‘‘rivals’’ consisting of flour, egg, baking powder and salt mixed together into balls the size of peas and cooked in broth. About the only items purchased were small crackers by the pound. I recall these crackers each had a ‘‘TW’’ printed on them. Also purchased were yellow cheeses, salmon, sugar, flour, spices, salt, and baking powder. ln our home coffee was not used until later years. We frequently used cocoa instead of coffee. These items were purchased at the store or from the huckster wagon. Eggs and chickens were traded for the items usually.

Apple butter making day was looked forward to. Into the big copper kettle would be put the fresh cider after we brought it home from the cider mill. Women would gather and cut up the apples. Sometimes one of the ladies in the group would bring an apple peeler which took off the peelings. Then after the apples were peeled by the peeler, all we would have to do was to core them. The apples were stewed inside the house and then added to so—much cider and boiled. Someone would stir while another person would be kept busy keeping the fire going. When the mixture became thick, sugar and cinnamon was added. Alter it was "taste - tested," the fresh apple butter would he put in half - gallon cans and sealed. Each year two or three batches of apple butter would be made. We were careful to save some cider to use butchering day to put in the head meat and make mince meat for pies. The women all helped one another.

Butchering day was always in winter when the older children were in school. Neighbors, aunts, and uncles came to the house where the butchering would be done. Everyone got up early as this was a big day. Water was put in the big iron kettle set over the fire. There was also another barrel handy and wood ashes. Planks were put across the trestles and the men stood on the trestles and put hooks the hog’s legs after it was killed. Then it was lowered and scalded in the big iron kettle. Wood ashes were used to help hooks remove the hair from the hog. After the hair was scraped off, the hog was hanged and split open. Then the men would bring the entrails into the house. The women busied themselves taking off the fat from the entrails, and the small entrails were emptied and washed. After being rinsed several times the entrails were set in saltwater to be stuffed with sausage later. Usually this portion of the butchering took all morning. They usually butchered one hog per family member and two extra hogs for visitors. Then dinner was served. Dinner consisted of meat, potatoes, dried fruit, pies and cakes.

In the afternoon the men would trim the side meat, hams, shoulders, and jowls for sausage meat and then grind it. The meat was put in a stuffer with a silver horn on one side. Six or seven inches of the silver horn was greased. Then the casings (clean entrails) were slipped over the horn. Someone would crank and the meat would come out in the casings. Sometimes in fun the person who was cranking would give a very quick turn and all the meat would come out at once.

Many times a group would gather to make sauerkraut. Also sometimes the families went together and purchased oysters. Then they would get together at someone’s home for a time of visiting. Everyone took pies and cakes and the children always went along.

Woodcutting was another task of the farmers in those days. The men would saw the trees down and cut in lengths. If there was a squirrel in the tree, it would not be cut. A pile would be made from the cut trees so it could later be buzzed with a saw which had a motor. Many men sawed everything by hand because they did not have a motorized saw. Then the wood was corded in the woods to dry. The longer it dried the better it burned. Usually it dried for at least one year.

Some wood was cut in lengths for posts. Some logs would be rolled on a bobsled and taken to the saw mill for lumber which was used for mud boats, stone boats, and gates. After being sawed at the sawmill it was brought home. Sometimes a squirrel nest would be found in hollow trees. The mother squirrel would leave in fright and the baby squirrels would be brought home. We tried to raise baby squirrels or rabbits which would be in the hay or oats. However, we were never too lucky when it came to raising the little rabbits or squirrels.

Animals abounded on the farms in those days. There would be geese and guineas. They would be a good alarm to let one know when something was prowling. There were lots of foxes; however, no deer whatsoever. Frequently Mr. Woodpecker would peck a hole in the wood fences. Then next year a blue bird would use the hole for her home. It was usually the farm children’s responsibility to see that the farm animals were fed and cared for. If the wind did not blow the windmill to pump water, we children had to get it ready for the cows, horses, and sheep in the horse tanks. Always there were cobs from the horses together and put in a barrel. The cows ate both the cob and corn. Little baby calves had to learn to drink milk from the bucket. They were weaned from their mother after they were two or three days old. We used to get the baby calf up against a wall and put his nose into the bucket and get the calf used to the taste of the milk. In a few days the calves would catch on and anticipated their meals in a bucket. At chore time children liked to go to the barn and play and tease the calves. One time a calf got me between the barn and himself and used me as his bang hoard. The dogs, kittens, and big cats needed to he fed. If a mother ewe died we had to teach the baby Iamb to eat from a nipple on a bottle. We had to grab hold to the nipple lest it come off. The baby bottles had to be washed for the lamb’s next meal. Little lambs liked to play and jump from logs stiff-legged.

There were always mules and horses on a farm. Sometimes the mules would stay a long time wherever one dropped a line. Other animals would do the opposite and run off whenever the lines were dropped. The horses ate oats and corn off the cob. Besides feeding the horses we had to brush the horses’ hair, mane and tail and trim their hooves and nails. If a horse was driven on the road, it had to be shod by a blacksmith. Besides putting shoes on a horse, a blacksmith also fixed wagon wheels and buggy wheels. In the winter when it was ice we used to put pegs in the shoes of a horse, so he would chop holes in the ice and not slip and fall. Some farmers braided the horse’s tail with strings and tied it up short so mud would not get it dirty. Sometimes a horse’s tail would almost touch the ground. In the pasture the calves would like to eat the horses’ tails and run after them. Most generally a farmer had a dog who would bring the cows to the barn at night. The dog would “heel” the cows and bring them to the gap in the fence. In the morning he would take them back to the pasture.

Chickens were an important part of farm life back then. It took 21 days to hatch baby chicks. Many times an incubator was used. The incubator had a screen on the bottom and wood trays. There was a lamp which was filled with kerosene and an isinglass chimney so we could see if the lamp was burning to keep the temperature warm enough in the incubator. We had to turn the eggs in the incubator once or twice a day. We used to mark each side with “1” or “2” and then put all the 1’s or 2’s up or down. Also we had to sprinkle them with warm water for moisture. The eggs would hatch and drop down into the tray below. When all hatched we took the tray out and started to feed the baby chickens. We always had little black ones with yellow bottoms and stars on their foreheads and this variety was called “barb rock”. Many times as a farmer and his family went along the road in his horse and buggy, he would watch other people’s chickens. If they looked healthy, shiny arid had bright combs, the neighbors would stop and ask them to save eggs for their incubators. Little chickens were kept in brooder houses. There was a lamp light device with pipes for hot water to pass through to keep the brooder warm. Frequently a brooder stove would keep the floor warm. The chickens liked to come outdoors where they could scratch a deep hole and take a dust bath raising the dust completely around themselves. Because there were few cars on the roads, a farmer did not pen up the chickens. Sometimes a hen would hide a nest in the bushes or among the horseradish. When her tiny chickens arrived, the hen would come bringing the brood so we could help her feed them. The mother hens did not like oddly-colored chicks and sometimes would peck them to pieces. The mother hens were sometimes kept in coops shaped like a big upside down V. Coops were completely closed in the back. In the front there were slats across. The mother hen would stick her head out the slates. There was an opening big enough for the baby chickens to get in and out of. They would like to eat bugs, and the children saw that they had fresh water. On a sunny day the mother hen could get out and take her babies for a walk, If the chicks got cold, the mother hen squatted down on the ground and the baby chickens got under her wings and kept warm. If she saw a shadow in the sky, she would call for the baby chicks who would hide under a leaf or conic creeping to her for safety. Hawks and crows would pick up little baby chicks.

Each spring it was housecleaning time and what a time that was! We removed the straw from under the living-room carpet. The woven carpet was in three-feet-wide strips sewn together and put down with carpet tacks. We had to get under the small tacks and remove them and lift the carpeting. Then we cleaned the carpeting by beating and washing it and would sew it back together and put it back on the cleaned floor. Windows were washed. All wainscoting and woodwork must be washed thoroughly in carbolic acid in water so everything smelled fresh and clean. The bedding was washed and the curtains were washed and ironed. The mattresses were aired. Fresh wall paper was hung where needed. Usually due to the height of the ceilings, someone was hired to come in and wallpaper the ceilings.

In early July it was usually time to harvest the oats and wheat. The wheat and oats were shocked and then the threshing machine arrived. The threshers stayed all night in the barn. Finally all the men in the community got together and purchased their own threshing rig and went around to each other’s farms at threshing time. It took several wagons: one for the grain, one for water as it took water to keep the steam engine going; and a bundle wagon used to haul the bundles of sheaves to the threshing machine.

In the early fall early in the morning we would go to the field and cut corn. This was done early in the day so the blades would not cut one’s arms. Then they would make fodder shocks. Rope or binder twine secured the fodder shocks. Sometimes the pumpkins were put inside the shocks to keep them from freezing. Some farmers cut the shocks and with a shredder would shred the fodder and throw out the ears of corn. When the corn was harvested, it was thrown in wagons with bang-boards. The ears of corn would hit the band-boards and bounce back into the wagon bed instead of on the ground. Usually one wagon load would be gathered in the morning and was unloaded at noon. A second load was gathered in the afternoon and unloaded in the evening.

Each September there used to be a fair which was held at the fairgrounds then located at the present site of the Rochester City Park. On the race track the sulkies would race. I particularly liked the dog and pony shows. Little dogs were all dressed up and would walk on their hind legs. The ponies were all reined up with ribbons in their manes. There was much to look forward to at the fair: crackerjack, popcorn and the merry-go-round. We spent the full day there and always took our dinner with us.

We rode the hack to school at Richland Center. Some of the hack drivers were Frank Ritter, Oliver Fisher and Bert Bunn. There were no windows in the hack except at the back. If one lived within two miles, he always walked to school. School was seldom closed in bad weather. One time when snow was drifting badly my parents drove to school in the bobsled and took us home and the children who lived on the way to our home. We used blankets and got down under the sides of the sled to keep warm. When there were lots of drifts on the roads, we would go through fields to avoid the drifts. Some of the teachers in grade school were Gladys Babcock Maple, Lea Fish, Marie Turner, William Overmyer, Herbert Foster and Mito Winn. Some of the teachers I recall in high school were Mildred Nafe Wakefield, Frank and Ruth Shipley, and a Miss Jones. Our lunch pails were metal bucket-type containers with metal inserts for carrying pie or cake. We used to carry butter bread, jelly bread, some pork or beef, chicken and an apple. Sometimes near Christmas time we would carry an orange. On the last day of school each room prepared a program and the high school students prepared a play. All families came and at noon there would be a lunch. The plays were usually very good and even the busy farmers came to the programs. School was out for the summer at the end of March. Then children were kept busy on the farms and we did not visit during the week with friends. Sometimes if we went to the weekly prayer service at church we would see our friends there; however, we would be tired and we had to get up very early to do our chores. When we went to the Richland Center store located near the school, we used to find such items as yard goods, calico, toweling, outing flannel, unbleached muslin, thread, needles, stick pins, pearl buttons, bib overalls for men, socks, stockings for the children and clothing for the women. Also there were lamp wicks, chimneys, lanterns, lantern globes, kerosene, nails, candy, writing tablets, and pencils costing 1 cent each. Especially do I recall the Goldenrod yellow and white tablets. On the front were pretty pictures of trees, flowers, and animals. Printed on the tablets were the weights, measures and multiplication tables. We used to trade eggs and hens to buy the necessities.

Oil cloth was purchased from the store. Some people used oil cloth on the table for all meals and others put it on the wall where water splashed. The oil cloth wore out at the corners and where hot dishes were placed on the table so very often it was necessary to buy new oil cloth. The parts of the oil cloth that were not worn were saved and used as covering for closet and cabinet shelves. Sometimes children would make bright covers for their books from oil cloth. This would protect the books from soil and water spots. Children used to ask the grover to save a thread box. in this box were kept the pencils, color crayons and other trinkets; this helped to keep their desks neater. Many women did not own a sewing machine and sewed their dresses all by hand. Many winter evenings were spent sewing such items as pin cushions for gifts, aprons, quilt pieces from scraps and quilt patterns, sewn together all by hand. Women used to save the egg and cream money after they brought the cream to the Schlossers Creamery at Rochester. From their savings they would buy the necessary batting and muslin for the backing of quilts. On the back of comforters, outing was used. The comforters were knotted with yarn. Many times ladies would have a nice quilt to show for their winter’s work. Bound and finished, they sometimes were given to children and grandchildren who needed them. Men used to work on the roads to pay their road tax. Loads of gravel were brought in and dumped on the roads. It was rounded in the middle so water would run off. Clay was desirable in the gravel so it would pack well.

Bessie Burkett Good and I started working on the Burkett family over eight years ago. As she had been blind for many years, she tape recorded all she could remember for Mrs. Linda Stayton to type and I poured over census records, death and birth records in Fulton and Marshall counties and visited cemeteries. The library in Fort Wayne has been much help and will continue to be, as I search for the immigrant of the family. I know that Henry and Catherine were born in Pennsylvania as well as his parents. They are buried in the Burr Oak Cemetery.

The land for the Richland Center school was originally owned by the Burketts and later years Walter Burkett sold them more land for recreation that was part of his farm left to him by his father William. Roy Heubner now owns the home and farm that Albert Burkett built on the west side of the road just south of Richland Center United Methodist Church.

The 1880 Fulton County Census states that Henry and his wife were making their home with Ephraim at Richland Center. Henry’s will is filed in Fulton County and evidently he put up the money for Ephraim to purchase the land, as he is not mentioned in the will. The other surviving children received monies and real estate still held in Marshall County. Most of the land became known as the Overmyer (Obermayer) land and is still in their hands.

Henry Burkett (1807 - May 1, 1892) and his wife Catherine Houtz (died Feb. 12, 1888) were born in Pennsylvania and settled in Union Township, Marshall County, what is now Burr Oak, Ind., in 1860. They came there from Fremont, Ohio. They had nine children. All the children except one daughter married Overmyers. Rebecca, the oldest married ------ Overmyer. Levi married Agnes Overmyer and settled southwest of Argos, known as Burkett Corner. George married first Mathilda Baker and second Rachel Overmyer after his brother Dan died and left her a widow. Ephraim married Amanda Overmyer, who later settled in Richland Center and this story of lineage for Burketts in the Rochester area are the result of that marriage.
Dan married Rachel Overmyer arid died in Pulaski County, Ind., at a young age. William Henry married Martha Jane Overmyer and they and several infants are buried in the cemetery on the west side of Richland Center on the front row.
Susannah married Frank Overmyer whose grandson is Chester Overmyer of Rochester and lives on Wabash Road. His three children live in Rochester. Mary married Lucas Overmyer. Lucinda married John Working. The Overmyers were descendants of the immigrant John George Obermayer Jr. (1727 in Baden). He clocked Sept. 16, 175l, in Philadelphia on tine ship Brothers. His great-granddaughter Armanda married Ephraim Burkett. Thus these families were consistently joined.

Ephraim Burkett (Apr. 12, 1841 - Dec. 19, 1901) was the son of Henry Burkett and Catherine Houtz(s). In the fall of 1860 he married Amanda Overmyer (Dec. 4, 1841 -Aug. 18, 1895). She was the daughter of Daniel Overmyer (Apr. 15, 1799 - June 15, 1872) and Susannah Lepkiechler (Apr. 18, 1799 - Apr. 18, 1875) from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Ephraim settled on a farm at Burr Oak, Ind., in 1861. Dewey Overmyer now lives on that farm and the original barn is still standing. In 1878 Ephraim and Amanda Burkett settled in the Richland Center, Ind., area. They were the parents of nine children: Minerva, William, Ida, Michael, Susannah, Albert, and Austin survived, but Scyler and Alice died in childhood.

Minerva Burkett married Isaac Newcomb, a carpenter from Lafayette, Ind., and they had three daughters: Esta (married Chester Downing), Ruth (married Peter Ahler), and Edna (married George Fleck). All these daughters settled in the Lafayette area.

William Burkett (Aug. 26, 1869 - May 12, 1955) on Oct. 28, 1893, married Martha Dudgeon (Sept. 30, 1873 - Apr.16, 1951). She was the daughter of Harrison Dudgeon (May 31, 1828 - Aug. 31, 1890) and Martha Jane Weir (Nov. 13, 1838 - Aug. 27, 1879). Harrison’s brother Nathaniel was treasurer of Fulton County when the Courthouse was built in 1895. William and Martha were the parents of two children, Esther Marie and Walter Lee. The children were born on the Dudgeon homestead, now owned by the Culver School’s band director, Charles F. Byfield. Ida Burkett married Milton Livingston, who was a carpenter in Lafayette, and they had no children.

Michael Burkett (Aug. 20, 1872- Jan. 25, 1934) married Mary Dudgeon (Oct. 28, 1868- Sept. 29, 1938), a sister to his brother William’s wile Martha. They had no children, but did raise a foster son, Charles Maple. They are buried in the Richland Center Cemetery. They were married March 1894.

Susannah Burkett died unmarried in 1907.

Albert Burkett (Nov. 7, 1871 - Jan. 8, 1926) married Bertha Leedy (Nov. 8, 1878 - Mar. 13, 1911). She was the daughter of Mannasseh and Margaret Wynn Leedy. Albert and Bertha Burkett were the parents of two children, LeDolia and Otis.

Austin Burkett (July 16, 1877 - Apr. 30, 1952) married Myrtle Myers (Apr. 22, 1878 - Oct. 31, 1956) on Oct. 18, 1903. She was the daughter of John and Christine Heisel Myers of Argos, Ind. Austin and Myrtle Burkett had two children, Bessie Helen and Ralph Cecil. Esther Marie Burkett (Oct. 29, 1896 - Jan. 2, 1977) married Leo Clark Mow (Mar. 22, 1895 - June 24, 1958). He was the son of Marion L Mow (Nov. 9, 1859- Nov. Il, 1932) and Eva L. Clark (July 20, 1860- Mar. 20, 1918). Esther and Leo Mow were the parents of four children: Edward Lee, Helen Louise twins William Grant and Robert Marion.

Edward Lee Mow (July 12, 1919 - Nov. 28, 1959) married Margaret Zumbaugh (Dec 23, 1919) on Jan. 14, 1938. Their three children are Phillip Lee, Sheridan Louise and Shannan Sue. Phillip (Sept. 8, 1938) married Sonja Lou Morgan (July 8, 1939), daughter of Charles and Lora Warner Morgan of Richland Center. Phil is with the Newark. Del., school system in administration. Sonja teaches craft classes. They have two daughters, Leslie Ann (May 25, 1960) and Lisa Ann (Aug. 1, 1962). Sheridan Louise (Jan. 7, 1942) married Douglas Stewart Rider (June 13, 1940) on June 29, 1968. Shannon Sue was born Sept.

15, 1949, and graduated from Harvard in Cambridge with an M.A. Helen Louise Mow (Apr. 25, 1922) married Roy McGriff (Mar. 25, 1919) on Oct. 30, 1945. They live south of Rochester on Business 31 South. Helen is an executive secretary with McMahan-O’Connor Construction Company in Rochester and Roy has retired from General Tire in Wabash, lnd. William Grant Mow (Apr. 14, 1925) lives at Lake Manitou and works in Rochester. He married Georgeann Huddleston (Sept. 25, 1933) in January 1968 and later divorced.

Robert Marion Mow (Apr. 14, 1925) married Virginia Goss (Aug. 20, 1929), daughter of Raymond Goss of Rochester, on Mar. 22, 1952. They make their home in Angola, Ind., and are the parents of Kirk Alan (Feb. 15, 1953), Dennis William (May 8, 1955 - Dec. 15, 1980) and Wayne Raymond (June 10, 1958). Bob is in construction and Virginia works for Moore Business Forms of Angola.

Walter Lee Burkett (Sept. 8, 1903 - June 12, 1978) married Mildred V. Haggerty (Jan. 4, 1904) on Apr. 24, 1925. They lived all their married life on the Burkett land at Richland Center surrounding the schoolhouse and Walter farmed the land until March 1977 when they moved into Rochester on Monroe Street due to his ill health. They purchased their home from his sister Esther’s estate. Mildred was the daughter of Harley Hudson Haggerty (Oct. 24, 1880 - Nov. 15, 1957) and Emma Frances Priesor (May 6, 1885 - Aug. 30, 1971). Walter and Mildred are the parents of three sons: Richard Haggarty, Donald Joe and Jerry Lee.

Richard Haggerty Burkett (Nov. 11, 1926) married Margaret L. Clay (Oct. 5, 1926) on Sept. 22, 1944. Richard is a farmer and has been employed at Bendix Corporation in South Bend for 30 years and will soon retire. They reside on the former William Miller farm west of Indiana Metal Plant and also own the Arlie Steininger farm across the road. Margaret was Fulton County treasurer 1973-76. She is now the 5th District Supervisor of Drivers Examiners for Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. They are the parents of two sons, David Richard and Randall Lee. David (Mar. 26, 1945) married Barbara Roth in June 1969. His second married was to Jane Hizer Dague (May 25, 1943) on Oct. 19, 1972. Jane is the daughter of Don and Helen Hizer of Grass Creek, Ind. Dave is a graduate of Western Michigan University. Dave taught social studies at Monterey 1967-68, Caston 1968-69, Kewanna High School basketball coach and social studies teacher 1969-74, and consultant for adult basic education for the Dept. of Public Instruction 1974 to the present. He is freshman basketball coach at Rochester High School 1980-81. Jane is a teacher in the Tippecanoe Valley school system. Jane has two children: Alan Dague (Jan. 30, 1963) and Karen Dague (Aug. 18, 1965). Randall Lee (Aug. 9, 1952) married Michaelann Hurley on Mar. 13, 1974. His second marriage was to Beth Deitel (Apr. 19, 1954) on Aug. 7, 1976. They live on a farm at Chase, Mich. Randy is a graduate of Grapevine Farrier School, Grapevine, Tex., and works at Dean Food Company in Evart, Mich. They have a daughter Jessie Rae (May 31, 1977).

Donald Joe Burkett (Sept. 25, 1930) married Jacqueline Marie Couse (Jan. 21, 1932) on Dec. 16, 1950. Jackie is the daughter of Gerald Couse of Plymouth, Ind. Don is with the Prudential Company and is over this area with office in Rochester. Jackie owns The Bookstore (formerly Ross Bookstore), 826 Main Street, Rochester. They are the parents of William Lee, Patrick J. and Michael Dean. William Lee (June 15, 1952) married Melinda Hayden (Jan. 27, 1953) and they live at the foot of the Big Hills at Rochester. Bill works for Donnelly’s in Warsaw, Ind. and Melinda works for The Bookstore. They have a daughter, Andrea Kay (June 20, 1978). Patrick J. (Jan. 8, 1954) married Robin Syler (Feb. 28, 1956) and they reside on the Burkett home farm at Richland Center. Pat is employed at Monteith Tire Company. They are the parents of an adopted son, Mathew Allen (Dec. 27, 1973), daughters Amy Lynn (June 21, 1976) and Natalie Roselyn (July 7, 1980). Michael Dean (Mar. 23, 1956) married Connie Scherbing (Jan. 31, 1956) on Nov. 19, 1978. Mike is a construction worker and Connie is employed at The Bookstore. They live on the second Burkett farm west of the home place at Richland Center. They have a son, Joseph Michael (Apr. 1, 1980).

Jerry Lee Burkett (Oct. I, 1939) married Janet Rae Urbin (Aug. 6, 1939), daughter of John W. Sr. and Ruth (Nellans) Urbin of Kewanna, on Aug. 1, 1959. Jerry is a structure mechanic for Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) and Janet is active in civic and community affairs. They have a daughter Jeralyn Rae (Feb. 6, 1962) and a son Jay Lee (Sept. 27, 1965). Jeralyn was the first Burkett girl born in this line of the family for 67 years. She was married Dec. 23, 1979, to Greg David Brown (Sept. 14, 1960) and works at Woodlawn Hospital in respiratory therapy. Greg is employed at Martin Productions. They have a son Casey Caine (Apr. 10, 1980). Jay Lee is a freshman at Rochester Community High School.

Jerry and Janet live on the corner of Seventh and Madison in the home that Minnie Hawkins built. She was the grandmother of Jack K. Overmyer, president and publisher of The Rochester Sentinel.

LeDolia Burkett (Jan. II, 1903) married Earl Ridout (Jail. 29, 1901 - Jan. 20, 1964) on Oct. 12, 1923. They had one son. Earl Ridout Jr. LeDolia makes her home in Indianapolis.

Earl Ridout Jr. (Jan. 24, 1931) married Wanda Jean Toon (Jan. 17, 1934). Earl has been with the Indianapolis Fire Department for over 20 years. They are the parents of Earl Eugene (Oct. 31, 1952), who also works for the Indianapolis Fire Department, and Pamela (Sept. 15, 1954), who married Glen Southerland (Dec. 26, 1951). Pam is a bookkeeper at the Statehouse and she and Glen have two sons, Glen Jr. (1977) and Ryan (Mar. 1980). Earl Jr. later married for the second lime on Mar. 21, 1975, to Jeri Arvin.

Otis Burkett (Sept. 10, 1906 - Oct. 14, 1970) on Nov. 25, 1928, married Beulah Bell Shonk (May 17, 1908). Otis owned and operated the Main Street Tavern in Rochester for 26 years until his death and they made their home at Lake Manitou. Beulah now lives in Rochester on Madison Street in an apartment. She is the daughter of William and Minnie Davis Shonk. They are the parents of three daughters, Joyce Ann, Carolyn Lee, and Sharon Elaine.

Joyce Burkett (Jan. 7, 1934) married Junior Dell Good (Oct. 15, 1929) on Dec. 20, 1953. Their four children are Jeri Deanne, Jon Douglas, Jayne Ann, and Jeffrey Dwane. Jeri (June 23, 1956) is married to Randall Holloway (Nov. Il, 1953). They live in the apartment above the Foster & Good Funeral Home in Rochester. Jeri teaches in the Tippecanoe Valley school system and Randy is employed by the Rochester Telephone Company. Jon Douglas (Sept. 16, 1958) will graduate in 1981 from Manchester College in secondary education and biology. Jayne Ann (Nov. 7, 1960) attends Butler University in Indianapolis and plays basketball for the Butler Bulldogs. Jeffrey Duane (Sept. 8, 1963) is a junior at Rochester Community High School. Joyce and Junior make their home at 128 West 6th Street in Rochester. They own and operate Foster & Good Ambulance Service and Funeral Home at 128 West 6th Street.

Carolyn Burkett (Sept. 1, 1936) married Gary McMillen of Rochester Sept. 1, 1954. Their four children are Gregory, Jazanne, Cheryl, and Mitchell. Greg (Apr. 22, 1955) lives south of Rochester in the Green Oak community and farms for his father’s family, the Brubaker’s and McMillen’s. Jazanne (Dec. 17, 1956) attended Montana State University and now works at a resort in Big Sky, Mont. Cheryl (June 4, 1959) attends college at the University of Michigan. Mitchell (Nov. I, 1961) attends college at Traverse City, Mich. Carolyn married the second time to Eldon Adams (June 20, 1926 - Jan. 26, 1980) on Apr. 4, 1969. She lives in Evart, Mich., and is now furthering her education. Sharon Burkett (Nov. 18, 1946) married Robert Paul Hurd on Oct. 13, 1967. They make their home in Indianapolis and have two adopted children: Jennifer LeeAnn (July 15, 1974) and Christopher Robert (Aug. 24, 1977).

Bessie Helen Burkett (Sept. 3, 1904 - Aug. 5, 1976) married Odell Alonzo Good (Mar. 16, 1904 - June 21, 1979) on Apr. 25, 1928. They made their home in Leiters Ford, Ind., until 1975 when they moved to 600 Jefferson Street in Rochester. Dell was the son of Alonzo and Mertie Gerhart Good. Their three children are Junior Dell, Margaret and Helen June. Junior Dell married Joyce A. Burkett, daughter of Otis Burkett, and their genealogy is previously given. Margaret Good (Jan. 25, 1931) married Eugene Walker in 1952. Their son Terrence Lee (June 21, 1955) married Nancy Thomas in April 1978. He is a graduate of University of Kentucky and they live in Owensboro and Terry is a geologist consultant. Margaret later married Roy Smith who is retired from Liggot and Myers and she works for a bank in Owensboro, Ky., where they make their home. Helen June (Aug. 13, 1941) married Durell McClain (Sept. 9, 1940) in 1961. Their children are James (Aug. 20, 1962), Jamie (Apr. 28,1964), and Jerry M. (Nov. 11, 1967). They make their home in South Bend, lnd., and Jim works for Bankers Dispatch.

Ralph Cecil Burkett (May 15, 1908 - Nov. 8, 1963) married Frances Lenore Rhodes, daughter of John L. and Julia Estella Grube Rhodes. They resided three miles southwest of Richland Center on his parents’ home place. The original home burned and with it the family records. Frances later married Archie McLean who died in 1978, She now makes her home in Bourbon, lnd., and winters in Florida. Ralph and Frances were the parents of two children, Robert John (July 1931 - 1941), who died at ten years of polio, and Maryanne (Apr. 30, 1933). Maryanne married James A. Maurer on June 20, 1954. They live in Bourbon, Ind., and have two daughters, Julia Diane (Aug. 23, 1955) and Karen Lynn (Nov. 18, 1956). Jim is a schoolteacher. Julia is a registered nurse and works at Parkview Hospital in Plymouth, Ind., and is married to Randy Hedington (Aug. 10, 1955), who is an accountant with Orthopedic Equipment Company in Bourbon. Karen lives at home and works for Orthopedic Equipment Company in Bourbon.

Regretfully, the photos in the original story suffered greatly in the copy process. I left them out of this version.

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