Individual Details

Walnut Leader, Friday, October 18, 1912, page 1, column 4
In Memory of Mrs. H.C. Burchell
Margaret Arabella Butterfield-Burchell, daughter of Governner and Sarah Butterfield, was born March 29th, 1859, in Galesburg, Ill., and passed to rest Oct. 5, 1912, at her home in Walnut, Ill., at the age of 58 years, 6 months and 6 days.
When she was about three years of age her father died, after which she lived with her mother in Galesburg until her mother's death in 1868, when she made her home with her brother W.H. Butterfield in Rushville and Buda. For some time she attended school in Aurora, making her home with Mrs. Weston of that city. She later went to Oregon, Illinois, to live with her elder sister Mrs. Geo. Clark. At that place she became acquainted with Mr. Henry Clay Burchell, with whom she united in marriage in 1875.
To this union eight children were born, four boys and four girls, six of whom are now living: Mabel Ethel, now Mrs. D.A. McKinley of Paradis, La.; Grace Pearl, now Mrs. Chas. W. Ross of Robinson, Ill.; Beulah Winifred, now Mrs. G.A. McWilliams of Chicago; Robert Harrison and Edward Eugene of Paradis, La., and James Clay of Walnut, Ill., Wanda and Chalmers dying in infancy.
Mrs. Burchell had been a member of the Methodist church for many years and was also an active member of the Ladies' Aid and missionary societies. At one time she was a member of the W.C.T.U. She entered the Eastern Star lodge May 27, 1904.
Mrs. Burchell was always ready to lend a helping hand in time of need, both in deeds of kindness and in words. It had been her custom for many years to send a box of clothes to the Orphan's Home in Chicago.
Since the death of her husband October 25, 1910, she had spent most of the time visiting her children. She broke up house-keeping and spent some time with her daughters Mrs. Ross of Robinson and Mrs. McWilliams of Chicago. She then returned to Walnut and made her home for a time with Mrs. Wm. Hasenyager and later went to housekeeping again. She spent last winter with her daughter Mrs. McKinley at Paradis, La., where she also expected to spend the coming winter.
Previous to her last illness she had been visiting her daughter Mrs. G.A. McWilliams in Chicago and on her way home stopped at Aurora to visit her old friend Mrs. Weston. She returned home with a slight cold which developed into pneumonia and caused her death.
After her return from Chicago Friday evening, September 27, she attended the Eastern Star reception in honor of her friend Mrs. E.O. Mathis. She was taken ill the following Sunday morning and confined to her bed until the next Saturday night, when she passed peacefully away at about ten o'clock.
Seldom has it been our duty to record so sudden and unexpected a death. Her sickness was of but short duration, little over a week. With us to-day, active in life's round of duty and love, but gone tomorrow.
Mrs. Burchell was a loving mother and a kind and obliging neighbor and friend, who will be greatly missed in the community where she had resided so many years.
Beside her children mentioned she leaves one sister Mrs. E.L. Goodrich of New York city, seven grandchildren and a host of friends.
The funeral was held at the Methodist church Wednesday afternoon, October 9th, Rev. J.W. Newsom of Chicago officiating and paying a fitting tribute to the memory of the deceased. He was assisted in the services by Revs. DeVol and Hafer. Beautiful hymns were furnished by a quartette. The floral tributes were numerous and very beautiful. The remains were laid to rest in the family lot in the Walnut cemetery.

CARD OF APPRECIATION. We wish to express our sincere appreciation of the kindness of the many friends who tendered their sympathy and aid during the illness and after the death of our mother Mrs. H.C. Burchell. Her children.

Birth	29 Mar 1859	Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois
Death	5 Oct 1912	Walnut, Bureau County, Illinois

Father	Gouvneur Butterfield (1812 - 1863)
Mother	Sarah Avery (1829 - 1868)
Sibling	William H. Butterfield (1847 - 1911)
Sibling	Almira M. Butterfield (1849 - )
Sibling	Alice G. Butterfield (1851 - 1891)