3 Wives of Ezekiel Luther Burdick (1838-1918)

Ezekiel Luther Burdick was born about 1838 in Rhode Island, son of George and Mary Burdick. Around the time of the Civil War, Luther made his way to Bibb County, Georgia and married Mary Ella Clark/e on 12 December 1865.

Mary Ella, born 25 August 1843 in Georgia, was a daughter of Henry and Mary Ann Clark. Though she and and Luther were married 13+ years before her death on 21 February 1879, I have found no children attributed to them as a couple.

Macon Telegraph and Messenger (Georgia)
22 February 1879 - pg. 4 [via Georgia Historic Newspapers]

Death of Mrs. E. L. Burdick.
The friends of Mrs. E. L. Burdick were shocked yesterday morning to learn of her death, which occurred yesterday morning at one o'clock, after a very short illness. The deceased was well known in the city and much loved by her friends. She was taken suddenly ill on Thursday night and expired in about two hours. She had been in ill health for some time. The immediate cause of her death, however was supposed to have been congestion. The funeral services took place from her late residence on Plum street. She was about thirty-five years of age.

The mother of this first Mrs. E. L. Burdick had died less than a year before.

E. Luther Burdick married again eight months later. This second wife was Mary Ella Riley, born 7 January 1854, and thought by me to be the daughter of David Ferrell Riley and Mary Jane Neal.

For the taking of the 1870 Bibb County, Georgia Federal census, Luther and first wife Ella were listed in the household of his father-in-law (her father) Henry Clark. Also in the household was Ella Riley (age 15, b. GA), "attending school." So it's possible Luther had known his eventual second wife for some time.

I know of three children born to Luther and Ella Riley Burdick before her death on 3 December 1885:

• Lucille (b. abt 1880)
• Myrtle (b. & d. 1882)
• Clarice "Clarissa" (b. abt 1883)

Myrtle was laid to rest near her mother.

Luther's third wife was his second wife's younger sister, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Riley. They were married in Pike County, Georgia on 3 August 1887 and had one daughter, Florine (b. abt 1892).

This marriage, however, would not end the same way as the others. Lizzie and Luther were divorced in 1914, though they possibly were separated years before. The taking of the 1910 U.S. Federal census found the couple in different households. E. Luther Burdick was in the household of his son-in-law and daughter, Frank and Clarice B. Walker, in Louisville, Kentucky. Lizzie could be found at the family home – 140 High Street in Macon, Bibb County, Georgia.

Lizzie remarried before 1918 to James Campbell Edwards. She died 30 March 1931.

Macon Telegraph (Georgia)
Tuesday, 31 March 1931 - pg. 15 [via GenealogyBank]

DEATHS AND FUNERALS

MRS. J. C. EDWARDS
Mrs. Elizabeth Riley Edwards, wife of J. Campbell Edwards, of 140 High street, died at a private hospital early yesterday morning following an illness of two weeks from influenza and pneumonia.

Mrs. Edwards was a member of Christ Episcopal church and a worker in the D. A. R., the U. D. C., and the Daughters of 1812. She was the daughter of David Ferrell Riley and Mary Jane Neal and was a descendant of pioneer residents of Bibb and Pike counties.

She is survived by her husband, J. Campbell Edwards; a daughter, and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Davis;…two step-daughters, Mrs. Henry O. Farr, of Brunswick, and Mrs. Clarice B. Walker, of Jacksonville, and two brothers, D. H. and F. L. Riley, of Macon.

Funeral services will be held at 3 o'clock this afternoon from the residence 140 High street, by Rev. Cyril E. Bentley, rector of Christ church. Interment will follow in Rose Hill cemetery…

According to the Historic Rose Hill cemetery directory, E. L. Burdick died 9 December 1918. He (supposedly), both Ellas, and daughter Myrtle were buried in the Eglantine Square section of the cemetery. Elizabeth Burdick Edwards was laid to rest in Cabiness Ridge.

Robert G. Burgess Killed By the Explosion of an Ammunition Chest in 1864

Robert George Burgess was born about September 1834 at Manchester, Lancashire, England to Robert Burgess and Jessie Miller of Scotland. The family, including young Robert's sister Margaret, immigrated to the United States and were settled in Kings County, New York by about 1838. After the father's death, the rest of the family moved south to settle in Macon, Bibb County, Georgia by about 1856.

In 1862, Robert G. Burgess joined the Confederate service with Capt. Massenburg's Battery, Jackson Artillery. On 10 March 1864, in Bibb County, Robert married Rebecca A. Artope. She was a daughter of James B. Artope and Susan M. Raine. Five months following the marriage, Lieut. Burgess was dead.

Macon Telegraph (Georgia)
Monday, 15 August 1864 [via GenealogyBank]

COPY OF DISPATCH.
HEADQUARTERS JACKSON ARTILLERY,
West Point, August 12, 1864.
Massenburg & Son: -- Inform Judge Artope that Lieut. Burgess was killed to-day by the explosion of an ammunition chest. Tom will take his remains home to-morrow.  T. L. MASSENBURG.

The funeral of Lieut. Burgess will take place at the house of Mrs. Burgess, corner of 1st and Plumb streets, on Sunday morning at 9 A.M. The friends of Judge Artope and Mrs. Burgess are invited to attend.

Macon Telegraph (Georgia)
Saturday, 27 August 1864 [via GenealogyBank]

OBITUARY.
Death in any form is sad, but to be suddenly snatched from earth while in the enjoyment of health and usefulness is sad indeed. Lieut. R. G. BURGESS, the subject of this notice, while examining an Ammunition Chest in Massenburg's Battery, was almost instantly killed by the explosion of the chest, on the 12th inst. He lived about four hours after the accident occurred, and death came and relieved him of the intensest agony.

Lt. Burgess was born in England, but lived in New York from his childhood until the year 1856, when he came South and settled in Macon. He enlisted in the Jackson Artillery in May, 1862, and was appointed a Sergeant. By his prompt attention to his duties he received a promotion to Ordnance Sergeant of Palmer's Battalion of Reserve Artillery, when a vacancy having occurred in his company of 2d Lieutenant, he was appointed to fill it, which he did with honor to himself and to his command. Devoted to the country of his adoption, the South has lost an able officer and a good soldier, one who was ever ready to bare his breast to the storm of battle, in her defence. [sic] The writer of this article has often heard him say, "If I could only live to see our independence gained I would willingly die."

But alas, the shaft of death came whilst the longed for haven shone brightly, and snatched him from its view. Whilst we his brothers in arms grieve for him as one we esteemed as an officer, and loved as a man, what must be the feelings of an aged mother, a young and devoted wife, an affectionate brother and sisters. Not one word to the absent ones was he able to utter after the dreadful accident occurred. Let them console themselves, "That the ways of the Lord are inscrutable. He hath given and He taketh away." THE JACKSON ARTILLERY.

Rebecca, widowed at age 24, never married again. She lived with family for the rest of her days, passing away from pneumonia on 5 January 1925. The 94th anniversary of her death was just five days ago.

Macon Telegraph (Georgia)
Tuesday, 6 January 1925 - pg. 12 [via GenealogyBank]

DEATHS AND FUNERALS

Mrs. Rebecca Artope Burgess
Mrs. Rebecca Artope Burgess, widow of Lieut. Robert G. Burgess, who was killed in battle near Chattanooga in the war between the states, died yesterday afternoon in her 84th year.

Mrs. Burgess had been a life-long resident of Macon. She was the daughter of the late J. B. Artope, one of the pioneer citizens of Macon, who in his day, was well-known in the monumental business.

Mrs. Burgess is survived by six nieces and one nephew: Mrs. LeRoy Fuss, of Macon; Mrs. J. W. Fielder, of Atlanta; Mrs. C. H. Megrath, of Macon; Mrs. M. R. Meadows, of St. Augustine, Fla., and Miss Mary Hodgkins and Miss Leila Artope, of Macon, and T. E. Artope, of Macon…

Robert and Rebecca were buried in the Eglantine Square section of Rose Hill Cemetery at Macon, Bibb County, Georgia.