Burss Family, Thorp, Wisconsin

Pictured above was the Burss house in Remus, Michigan. It was the farmstead of Albert Burss, William Anderson's brother and homesteaded in the 1870s. It is currently the property of Christina Eldred. William Anderson also homesteaded in nearby Newaygo County, Big Prairie township, where he was married and had at least 3 children who all died at once, presumably from an epidemic. Shortly thereafter, I understand he moved to Clark County, but I do not know what became of his wife, Claraca Selah. I presume she was Native American, although Selah is an English surname. I can find no records of her demise, just her marriage to William. I went to see the house mentioned above last summer. I can't tell you what it meant to learn that these folks lived in the very vicinity I currently live in. To think, I never even knew anything about this until a year ago when Eileen Chapman Brown drew it to my attention.

In the rocker is my great-great uncle Albert Burss who emigrated from Bertie, Ontario, Canada, and died in Allegan, Michigan. His great grand-daughter Eileen Chapman Brown is my cousin and has provided much of the family information I have. She gave me a picture of my mom at the age of one year, taken at the 4th of July party in Thorp in 1924.

William Anderson Burss was my great-great grandfather. He had four wives during his life. His son Charles E. (called Ed by many) was Phoena's dad. Her mom was Louisa (Schmidt) Burss and I vaguely remember her sitting in a rocker hooking rugs. My sister still has that rocker. Phoena and Ed were my grandparents and I grew up two houses down the street from them. They were wonderful people. Ed Died in 1965 and Phoena died in 1983. I met Vilas, Russell, Russell Jr., and Leland when I was a kid. I also knew Russell and Irene (his wife) from frequent visits at Phoena's house.

Source: Sheboygan Press (Sheboygan, Wis.) 4 Sept. 1925

Mr. Vilas Burss of Thorp, Wis., is a guest at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Ed. Jacobs for a few days.

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Source: Waukesha Daily Freeman (Waukesha, Wis.) 7 Jan. 1943; Page 8

Staff Sergeant LeLand Burss returned to Miami Beach, Florida on Wednesday after visiting for the past week at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Jacobs of Kohler.

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Source: Nevada State Journal (Reno, Nevada) 30 may, 1957; page 9

Marriage Licenses

Leland J. Burss 35, Reno and Sandra K. Cole, 22, Milwaukee.

Source: Sheboygan Press (Sheboygan, Wis.) 27 Dec. 1926

Miss Hazel Burss is spending the holidays at her home in Thorpe, Wisconsin.

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SSDI
Leland Burss
Born 6 Dec. 1921
Died 15 Jan 2002
last residence Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co., Wis.

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SSDI & California Death Index
Harrison Vernon Burss
Born 3 July 1888 in Wis.
Died 20 May 1957
Death Place Fresno Co., Calif.
Mother maiden name Richards
Father names: Burss
Birth place Wis.

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SSDI
Russell Burss
Born 31 Jan. 1906
Died Dec. 1984
Last Residence: New Berlin, Waukesha Co., Wis.

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SSDI
Russell Burss
Born 15 April 1928
Died Dec. 1986
Last Residence: Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co., Wis.
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SSDI & California Death Index
Vernon Burss
Born 14 March 1914
Died 18 Dec. 1973
Death Place Sonoma Co., Calif.
Birth place Wis.
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SSDI
Vilas Burss
Born 26 Aug. 1909
Died Sept. 1978
Last Residence Eau Claire Co., Wis.

Source: Shebogan Press (Sheboygan, Wis.) 19 Sept. 1952; Page 8