Thornton Waldo Burgess (1874 - 1965)

Born 14 Jan 1874 in Sandwich, Massachusetts, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Nina Elvira (Osborne) Burgess — married 29 Jun 1905 (to 1906) in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States

Descendants

Died 5 Jun 1965 at age 91 in Hampden, Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

Thornton Burgess is Notable.

Thornton Burgess was an American children's author and conservationist. During his career, he wrote more than 170 books, which were published around the world, and 15,000 stories for his daily newspaper column "Bedtime Stories." His stories included books about Peter Cottontail.

The Adventures of Peter Cottontail

Thornton was born in 1874. He was the son of Caroline Frances Hayward and Thornton Waldo Burgess, Sr..^[1] He married Nina Elvira Osborne in 1905.^[2] Nina died giving birth to their only son, Thornton. In 1911 he married Fannie (Phillips) Johnson, a widow with two children from her previous marriage.^[3]

Based upon his outdoor observations of nature, he set plots for his stories. His first book, Old Mother West Wind (1910), he introduces many of the characters found in later books and stories. Characters in the Old Mother West Wind series include Peter Cottontail (originally called Peter Rabbit), Jimmy Skunk, Sammy Jay, Bobby Raccoon, Little Joe Otter, Grandfather Frog, Billy Mink, Jerry Muskrat, Spotty the Turtle, Old Mother West Wind, and her Merry Little Breezes. ^[4] For 50 years, he wrote books that were published internationally and in many languages, including French, Gaelic, German, Italian, Spanish, and Swedish.

He died on 5 June 1965 and was buried in Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States.^[5] He was predeceased by his son and wife.

Census Records

• In the 1880 census Thornton (age 6), At School, was the nephew of Charles C. Waterman in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States.^[6]
• In the 1900 census Thornton (age 26), Reporter, was the single lodger of William H Blake in Springfield Ward 5, Hampden, Massachusetts.^[7]
• In the 1910 census Thornton (age 36), Edittor, was the widowed head of household in Springfield Ward 7, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States.^[8]
• In the 1920 census Thornton (age 45), Author Editor, was the married head of household in Springfield Ward 6, Hampden, Massachusetts.^[9]
• In the 1930 census Thornton (age 60), Author, was the married head of household at 61 Washington Road, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States.^[10]
• In the 1940 census Thornton (age 66), Writer, was the married head of household in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts.^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29G-Y2QQ : 10 November 2020), Thornton W. Burgess, 14 Jan 1874; citing Birth, Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007010716.
2. ↑ "Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N4W1-M3P : 10 March 2021), Thornton Waldo Burgess and Nina Elvira Osborne, 29 Jun 1905; citing West Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 2,057,622.
3. ↑ "New York Marriages, 1686-1980", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6SL-V21 : 21 January 2020), Thornton W. Burgess in entry for Thornton W. Burgess, 1911.
4. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Cottontail
5. ↑ Burial: "U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current"
   URL: Find A Grave: Memorial #2359
   Ancestry Record 60525 #1364924 (accessed 4 January 2023)
   Thornton Waldo Burgess burial (died on 5 Jun 1965) in Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States of America.
6. ↑ 1880 Census: "1880 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1880; Census Place: Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts; Roll: 520; Page: 328A; Enumeration District: 018
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6742 #14846320 (accessed 4 January 2023)
   Thornton W Burgess (6), single nephew, At School, in household of Charles C. Waterman (79) in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA. Born in Massachusetts.
7. ↑ 1900 Census: "1900 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1900; Census Place: Springfield Ward 5, Hampden, Massachusetts; Roll: 652; Page: 1; Enumeration District: 0584; FHL microfilm: 1240652
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7602 #23501743 (accessed 4 January 2023)
   Thornton W Burgess (26), single lodger, Reporter, in household of William H Blake (52) in Springfield Ward 5, Hampden, Massachusetts. Born in Massachusetts, USA.
8. ↑ 1910 Census: "1910 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1910; Census Place: Springfield Ward 7, Hampden, Massachusetts; Roll: T624_593; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0647; FHL microfilm: 1374606
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7884 #11018829 (accessed 4 January 2023)
   Thornton W Burgress (36), widowed, Editor, head of household in Springfield Ward 7, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA. Born in Massachusetts.
9. ↑ 1920 Census: "1920 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1920; Census Place: Springfield Ward 6, Hampden, Massachusetts; Roll: T625_703; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 151
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6061 #16574816 (accessed 4 January 2023)
   Thornton W Burgess (45), married, Author Editor, and head of household in Springfield Ward 6, Hampden, Massachusetts. Born in Massachusetts.
10. ↑ 1930 Census: "1930 United States Federal Census"
    Year: 1930; Census Place: Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0082; FHL microfilm: 2340646
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6224 #681099 (accessed 4 January 2023)
    Thornton W Burgess (60), married, Author, and head of household at 61 Washington Road, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA. Born in Massachusetts.
11. ↑ 1940 Census: "1940 United States Federal Census"
    Year: 1940; Census Place: Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; Roll: m-t0627-01710; Page: 61A; Enumeration District: 22-133
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2442 #95628171 (accessed 4 January 2023)
    Thornton Burgess (66), married, Writer, and head of household in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. Born in Massachusetts.

See also:

• Wikipedia: Thornton_Burgess
• Wikidata: Item Q7796519, en:Wikipedia