Edna Irene (Burton) Sirr (1871 - 1937)

Born 4 Sep 1871 in Scales Mound, Illinois

Ancestors

Died 1 Aug 1937 at age 65 in Morris, Stevens County, Minnesota

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Mary Jo Freeman [send private message]

Biography

Edna was born in 1871 in Jo Daviess County, Ilinois
She was the daughter of Benjamin F. Burton & Susan (or Sarah) Willard

From grandson, Joe Newton: "Death certificate gives birth date as Sep 14, 1871, place as IL. Obituary gives birth date as Sept 4, 1871 & birth place as Scales Mound, IL.
Stories in our family say that she had a half-brother named Joseph Snyder."
[Edna's mother Susan-Sarah married 1st to Joseph Snyder Sr (1865). They had a son Joseph Jr. Then, Susan/Sarah married 2nd to Benjamin F. Burton (1867). They had son Ben and daughter Edna Irene. Then Susan/Sarah married 3rd to Benjamin F. Mann (1877)]

There is some question as whether Edna and her mother Sarah are a part of Henry Willard Jr's family, however this clip from a letter calls Henry Willard's son, Frank, her uncle:
A letter to "Dear Cousin Edna" from "Your own true Cousin Jessie" (no last name) written 25 Jan 1918 from Sabula, Iowa, includes this note:
"Uncle Frank and Louisa are still in Galena altho they never write any more. They are pretty old. I still take the Galena Gazette so if any thing had happened to them I would have known."
In 1879 and 1880 the Burtons were in East Galena, IL.

Edna moved from JoDaviess Co, IL to Fremont, NE to Dubuque, IA to St. Paul, MN (where Laura was born) then to Morris, MN (after she married Alex Sirr)

Edna married 1st to William Corbett, May 21, 1890, Fremont, Dodge County, Nebraska. ^[1]
They had one child: Laura Lee, b 1891.

Info from marriage record:
Groom: William Corbett, resident of Fremont, NE
age: 23 years, born in England
parents: John Corbett and Mary Burger
Bride: Edna I. Burton, resident of Fremont, NE
age: 19 years, born in Illinois
parents: Benjamin F. Burton and Susan Willard
Married: 21-May-1890 by Rev Loren F. Berry at Fremont, NE
witnesses: Susan D. Mann and Henry Willard

More from grandson, Joe Newton:
We have a little family mystery surrounding the disappearance of my great-grandfather (William Corbett). Whether he "went west to seek fortune and send for the family later" (the positive spin) or he deserted them (also a possibility) is unknown. Little was ever said about him, and I recall there being some strangeness to whatever was said about grandma's family.

She married 2nd Alexander Sirr, Dec 12, 1894, Morris, Stevens County, Minnesota.
They had 8 children. All except one stayed in the Morris and Minneapolis, MN areas. Morris, MN is in the middle of nowhere on the west side of Minn. near Crystal Lake (among many other lakes).

1900 - Morris, Stevens County, Minnesota^[2]
Sirr, Alex - Oct 1869 - Canada Eng Eng
. . . . Edna - Sept 1871 - IL MA IL (married 5 yrs, 5 children 4 liv)
. . . . Laura - Jan 1890 (Corbett, Edna's daug of previous marriage)
. . . . Rupert - April 1895
. . . . Ruby - April 1895
. . . . Anna - Feb 1899

1910 Minnesota, Stevens County^[3]
Sirr, Alex 45, b Canada
. . . . Edna (wife) - 37 IL, 9 ch 8 liv
. . . . Rupert (son) - 14 MN
. . . . Ruby (daug) - 14 MN
. . . . Anna (daug) - 11 MN
. . . . Lucas (son) - 9 MN
. . . . Kathryn (daug) - 8 MN
. . . . Myrtle (daug) - 4 MN
. . . . Marion (daug) - 1/12 MN
Corbett, Laura (stepdaughter) 19 MN stepdaughter

Morris Tribune
—Aug 1, 1913, p9 - the little daughter of Alex. Sirr is recovering from an attack of appendicitis.
—Dec 31, 1915, p7 - Royal Neighbors - (officers list includes) - “Edna Sirr, chancellor”
—Dec 22, 1916, p3 - Royal Neighbors Officers (list includes) “Chan. - Edna Sirr”
—Jan 12, 1917, p9 - Miss Laura Corbett, who has been visiting at the Alex Sirr home during the holidays, returned to Appleton, where she is teaching school, Monday.
—Dec 21, 1917, p23 - City News - At a special meeting of the Royal Neighbors lodge held tues. Evening the following officers were elected for the coming year: (list inclues) “Mrs Edna Sirr, Chan.”
—Sept 12, 1919, p13 - The Ladies’ Institute met at the home of Mrs. Larson of the West Side on Tues. afternoon of this week. Mrs. Alex Sirr assisted the hostess…
—Nov 28, 1919, p1 - Miss Corbett Married in Minneapolis - Mrs. Alex Sirr announces the marriage of her daughter, Miss Laura Leona Corbett, to Mrs. Joseph T. Dauber, at Minneapolis, on Wed., Nov. 26. The bride is a graduate of the Morris high school and of the St. Cloud normal school. After her graduation she taught in the schools of the county and during the present year has been teaching in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Dauber will make their home in Henry, Ill., for the present and after will move to a farm near Putnam in the same state.
—Nov 28, 1919, p4 - City News - Lucas Sirr returned from Forward, Sask., Canada, last Friday, and is visiting at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alex. Sirr. Rupert Sirr of Milbanks, S.D. is also at home for over Thanksgiving.
—Dec 5, 1919, p6 - Mr and Mrs Joseph T. Dauber have been visiting at the home of Mrs. Dauber’s mother, Mrs. Alex. Sirr, this week. Mrs. Dauber was formerly Miss Laura Leona Corbett, and was married on Nov 26 in Minneapolis.
—Dec 12, 1919, p1 - Royal Neighbor Officers (list includes) “C. - Edna Sirr”
—Dec 12, 1919, p1 - Royal Neighbor Officers (list includes) “C. - Edna Sirr”
—Jan 16, 1920, p1 - Ladies Institute Elects - (list includes) directors: Mrs. Alex Sirr July 16, 1920, p9 - The Ladies Institute met at the home of Mrs. Larson on Tues. at 10:30 a.m. of this week. The hostess was assisted by Mrs. Alex Sirr…
—Oct 29, 1920, p13 - Stevens County Teachers 1920-21 (list includes) Ruby Sirr, Hancock, dist 31
—Dec 31, 1920, p7 - Royal Neighbors Elect - (list includes) “chancellor, Mrs. Edna Sirr”

1920 Minnesota, Stevens Co, Morris twp, p 8a
Sirr, Alexander 55
. . . . Edna 48
. . . . Rupert A 24
. . . . Ruby J 24
. . . . Lucas L 19
. . . . Katherine 16
. . . . Margaret M 14 (prob Margaret Myrtle)
. . . . Myrtle 11 (prob Marion)

Morris Tribune
—April 1, 1921, p5 - Mrs. Burdell Bingham is visiting her mother, Mrs. Alex. Sirr for a few days. …. School Notes: The following students received honors in scholarship for the past 6 weeks period. (list includes) Myrtle Sirr.
—Dec 40, 1921, p 15 - Royal Neighbor Officers - (list includes) “Chancelor: Edna Sirr”
—July 1, 1921, p7 - City News - Mrs. Edna Sirr left Monday for an extended visit with her daughter, Mrs. Jos. Dauber, near Putnam, Ill.
—Aug 26, 1921, p13 - Mrs. Alex Sirr returned last Monday from Putnam, Ill., where she has been visiting her daughter, Mrs. J. T. Dauber.
—Jan 13, 1922, p1 - Parent-Teachers Program - The Parents’ and Teachers serving committee as announced this week is composed of: (list includes) Mrs. Alex Sirr. …. High School Quint Defeats Aggie Crew - Games is captured by 10 to 8 score - (basketball game) … Rupert Sirr refereed the contest.

1930: Baker, Stevens, Minnesota
Kaley, William M 27
. . . . Myrtle 24
. . . . William S 3/12
Sirrs, Edna, mother-in-law IL IN IL

1930: Morris, Stevens, Minnesota
Sirr, Lucas 30 lodger

Winona Republican Herald
—Aug 21, 1936, p2 - Entertained at Dinner - Miss Marion Sirr, daughter of Mrs. Edna Sirr of Morris, Minn. was entertained at a prenuptial dinner by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Dotterwick at their home, 205 East Fourth street at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Miss Sirr, until recently employed as stenographer by the Pepin Peckling Company, will be married to Troy Chambers of Red Wing, at Morris on Sept. 7.

Edna's obit from the Morris, (Stevens County) Minn. newspaper:^[4]
Mrs. Edna Sirr, wellknown and beloved resident of Morris, succumbed at her home here on Sunday. She had been in poor health for a number of years but was seriously ill for only two days and word of her passing came as a shock to the family and to her host of friends and acquaintances.
Edna Irene Burton was born in Scales Mound, Illinois on Sept 4, 1871, member of an early American family and one which figured actively in the history of this nation. Her great grandfather, Henry Willard, fought in the Revolutionary War. During the Civil War several members of the family fought for the North while others fought for the Confederate cause.
[NOTE: Edna's mother Sarah, had several Willard cousins in Missouri, 3 were in the Union Army, 1 was in the Confederate Army.]
From Scales Mound, Ill., the deceased moved to Fremont, Nebr., and from there to Dubuque, Iowa. She came to Morris 44 years ago and she had resided here ever since. She was united in marriage to Alexander Sirr on Dec. 12, 1894. The ceremony being performed at Morris by Rev. Tebbetts. Mr. Sirr passed away on Nov 3, 1920.
Mrs. Sirr was a member of the Congregational Church and gave liberally of her time and efforts to its welfare. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, of the Women's Benefit Association, and of the Royal Neighbors. Mourning her death are the following daughters and sons: Laura (Mrs. J.T. Dauber) of Henry, Ill.; Rupert Sirr of Morris; Ruby Sirr of Morris; Mrs. Anna Bingham of Minneapolis; Lucas Sirr of Wabasha, Minn.; Katheryn (Mrs. J.H. Carter) of Bismarck, ND; Myrtle (Mrs William Kaley) of Chokio (MN); and Marion (Mrs. Troy Chambers) of Clarksville, Mo. One son, Leonard Willard, proceded her in death. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and by one brother, Joseph Burton of Lebanon, Oregon.
Funeral services were conduction Wed afternoon at 3:30 from the OlsonChapel, Rev Fred A. Meske officiating. Burial was in Summit Cemetery. The pallbearers were C.L. Dolva, L.G. Morley, A.J. Slamen, Frank Ware, H.R. Schlatter and E.A. Judd.

Her name is on the list of burials in Stevens Co, MN:
cemeteries.stevenshistorymuseum.com/pub/recordlist.php

She passed away in 1937 in Minnesota, age 65
Buried Summit cemetery, Morris, Stevens County, MN
Find A Grave: Memorial #72061686

Sources

1. ↑ Dodge County Nebraska Marriage Book 6, page 247
2. ↑ 1900 - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9Q9-3CP
3. ↑ 1910 - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2PS-NG6
4. ↑ Obituary: http://genealogytrails.com/ill/jodaviess/obitsS.html

• Morris Tribune
• Winona Republican Herald
• Census: 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930
• Minnesota Death Index

The following were listed on the Minnesota Death Index:
Sirr, Lucas L. - b July 14, 1900, MN; d Sept 5, 1972, Hennepin Co (mother's maiden name: Burton)
Sirr, Rupert Alexander - b Apr 27, 1895; d Feb 20, 1958, Hennepin Co (mother: Burton)
Sirr, Clara N. (wife of Rupert) - b Mar 13, 1904 out of state; died Sept 9, 1983, Hennepin Co (mother: Nesse)
Sir, Colette C. - b Mar 8, 1918 out of state; d Aug 27, 1987, Hennepin Co.
Sirr, baby boy - died Oct 30, 1953, Hennepin Co
Sirr, baby girl - died May 5, 1956, Hennepin Co. (mother: Whipple)