Reuben Houston Burrow (abt. 1855 - 1890)

Born about 11 Dec 1855 in Perry County, Alabama

Husband of Virginia Catherine (Alverson) Burrow — married about 1876 (to about 1881) in Texas

Died 8 Oct 1890 at about age 34 in Linden, Marengo County, Alabama

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Carolyn Murray [send private message]

Rube Burrow Alabama's Robin Hood

Biography of Reuben Houston Burrow

Birth

11 Dec 1855 in Perry County, Alabama or Sulligent, Lamar County, Alabama, USA

The card posted is a copy of a bubble gum card collection collected many years ago by Wayne Huff known as "Good Guys and Bad Guys", circa. 1960.

Parents

Allen Henry Burrow and Martha Caroline Terry

Siblings

1. John T Burrow
2. William James Burrow
3. Sarah Burrow
4. James B Burrow
5. Mary Burrow
6. Lucinda Burrow
7. Martha Burrow
8. Anna E Burrow

Spouse

Martha Alvison

Marriage

Children

1. Mary Frances Burrow Livingston

Death

8 Oct 1890

Burial

Fellowship Cemetery

Vernon, Lamar County, Alabama

GPS Latitude: 33.77679, Longitude: -88.05041^[1]

Life Story of Reuben Houston Burrow

The legend of Rube Burrow is one of intrigue. On the twelfth day of the twelfth month in Alabama History, Reuben Houston Burrow (also known as Rube Burrows) was born in Lamar County on 11 Dec 1855.

Rube Burrow robbed his first train in Bellevue, Texas in 1886 with his brother Jim Burrow; and over the next several years he and his gang gained notoriety for train robberies in Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama. He hit his second train at Gordon Texas in January 1887, successfully taking $4,200 from the express car. Rube earned the distinction of being the only man in history to rob a train by himself. Although there is little hard evidence to support them, a number of legends have grown up around Burrow as the "Alabama Robin Hood" because he allegedly never robbed the poor. The vast majority of his thefts targeted the U.S. Postal Service and rail companies.

It is certain, however, that Burrow shot and killed at least one man. Burrow was captured and killed during an escape attempt in Marengo County on 8 October 1890. His body was taken to Birmingham and was displayed to the public before being sent home for burial.

Narrative of Reuben's exploits , including letters can be found here http://genealogytrails.com/ala/lamar/rube_chap1.html#1

1860 Federal Census record:

Name: Reuben H Burrow

Event Type: Census

Event Date: 1860

Event Place: Dublin Beat, Perry, Alabama, United States

Gender: Male

Age: 4

Race: White

Birth Year (Estimated): 1856

Birthplace: Ala

Page: 43

Household ID: 297^[2]

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace

A H Burrow M 35 Tenn

Martha C Burrow F 30 Ala

Jno T Burrow M 11 Ala

Sarah F Burrow F 5 Ala

Reuben H Burrow M 4 Ala

James B Burrow M 2 Ala

Mary S Burrow F 0 Ala^[3]

Lamar County, Alabama was formerly Jones County and Sanford County.

1870 United States Federal Census record for Sanford County, Alabama:

Name: Reuben H Burrow

Event Type: Census

Event Year: 1870

Event Place: Alabama, United States

Gender: Male

Age: 13

Race: White

Race (Original): W

Birth Year (Estimated): 1856-1857

Birthplace: Alabama

Page Number: 2

Household ID: 13

Line Number: 19^[4]

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace

Allen Burrow M 45 Tennessee

Martha Burrow F 41 Alabama

William Jas Burrow M 16 Alabama

Sarah T Burrow F 15 Alabama

Reuben H Burrow M 13 Alabama

Jas B Burrow M 12 Alabama

Mary G Burrow F 10 Alabama

Lucinda Burrow F 8 Alabama

Martha Burrow F 4 Alabama

Anna E Burrow F 2 Alabama^[5]

Death of daughter:

Name: Mary Frances Livingston

Event Date: 08 Sep 1963

Event Place: Vernon, Lamar, Alabama

Gender: Female

Age (Original): 82y

Birth Year (Estimated): 1881

Spouse's Name: Atwell Livingston

Father's Name: Reuben H. Burrow

Mother's Name: Martha Alvison

Informant's Name (Original):

GS Film number: 1909057

Reference ID: 22213^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ MEMORIAL ID 10904639
2. ↑ The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Publication Number: M653, Film Number: 20, GS Film Number: 803020, Digital Folder Number: 005165591, Image Number: 00176
3. ↑ Citing this Record: "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHDN-9Z6 : 8 December 2017), Reuben H Burrow in entry for A H Burrow, 1860
4. ↑ The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Publication Number: M593, GS Film number: 000545538, Digital Folder Number: 004257737, Image Number: 00150
5. ↑ Citing this Record: "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHKB-2WV : 12 April 2016), Reuben H Burrow in household of Allen Burrow, Alabama, United States; citing p. 2, family 13, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,538
6. ↑ Citing this Record: "Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JXFP-599 : 27 November 2014), Reuben H. Burrow in entry for Mary Frances Livingston, 08 Sep 1963; citing reference 22213, Department of Health, Montgomery; FHL microfilm 1,909,057

• Biography by Carolyn Murray Greer

Resources:

• Agee, George W. Rube Burrow, King of Outlaws, and His Band of Train Robbers. An Accurate and Faithful History of Their Exploits and Adventures. Chicago: Henneberry Company, 1890
• Hoole, William Stanley. The Saga of Rube Burrow, King of American Train Robbers, and His Band of Outlaws. Tuscaloosa: Confederate Publishing Company, 1981
• "Rube Burrow, Outlaw." New York Sun, October 12, 1890