BURRESS Joseph Edward

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1900, Berkeley, Spotsylvania, Virginia

Notes:

Olivia Burruss Robinson includes many references to her brother Eddie, his wife Lena Schultz, and their children in her Journal, Spotsylvania Co, Virginia, 1888-1890. These are just a few that refer to his employment.
On Sunday, June 2, 1889 Olivia writes "Eddie was near Miss Jane Blaydes' at work on a house & he & Mr. Maddox made a boat & crossed the river, got home before night."
All through the month of May she writes of hard showers of rain almost every day. On the 31st she says there were the hardest showers she'd ever seen. On June 1st she writes that the rain had badly damaged "the garden, the corn, and all the truck patches. Anderson's Mill is swept away & all the mills in the county are either broken or gone." This event would have caused real hardship in the community---Olivia writes so often of Willis & their neighbors going to the mill to have corn or wheat or oats ground, that it's quite apparent that everyone depends on the mills in order to bake their daily bread.
The rain event to which she refers affected Johnstown, Pennsylvania even more, of course,---2209 people died in what we know as "The Johnstown Flood." About a week after the Flood Olivia receives through the mail newspapers from the area, sent to her by Thomas Echols, husband of Olivia's cousin Mollie Rice. She shares those papers with her parents and others in the area, & writes extensively about the terrible tragedy.
In 1890 when Eddie & Lena's son Tommie dies Eddie is working at the train depot in Dawson. Within days after the funeral he moves his family back home where they can be comforted by the nearby presence of their families and friends.
Also in 1890 Olivia writes often of trips Eddie takes to Richmond (city) where he sells farm products he either grows himself or buys from family and neighbors. Twice during this time Olivia travels with him and visits her Phillips relatives while he tends his market.

Birth:
Burruss Jos E., Jas. T & Pelinah[Paulina] P. Jun. 11, 1859, Caroline Co, p.100, Virginia Birth Index, 1853-1866, Bureau of Vital Statistics - Microfilm, Library of Virginia. Olivia Burruss Robinson always refers, in her Journal, to her brother as Eddie

Census:
Joseph E Burruss
Age: 40
Birth Date: Jun 1859
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1900: Berkeley, Spotsylvania, Virginia
Race: White Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Lena C Burrup
Marriage Year: 1882 Years Married: 18
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia Occupation:
Household Members:
NameAge          
Joseh E Burrup 40          
Lena C Burrup 38          
Mary L Burrup 17          
Jame H Burrup 15          
Grason L Burrup 11          
Elmer C Burrup 8          
Maude M Burrup 5          
Octavia G Burrup 2