The record of the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch is that of
a man who by his own unaided efforts has worked his way from a modest
beginning to a position of influence and comparative prosperity in his
community while yet young in life. Throughout his career he has maintained
the most creditable standards of personal and business integrity, and
without putting forth any efforts to the end of attaining popularity he has
achieved it in a local way by the manner in which he transacts the everyday
affairs of a busy man. His life has always been one of unceasing industry
and perseverance and the systematic and honorable methods which he has
followed have won him the unbounded confidence of his fellow men.
Charles V. Burt was born in Marion county, Illinois, twelve miles east of
Centralia, October 25, 1876, the son of Addison and Margaret A. (Morrison)
Burt. The father of our subject was born in Indiana, January 3, 1852, and
after attending the home schools until he was about fifteen years old, went
to Wisconsin with his parents, and about a year later came to Illinois and
located on a farm in Marion county, where he resided until 1885, when he
moved to Macon county, this state, his death occurring there in 1886. A
Republican in politics and a man of excellent repute, he was highly
respected by all who knew him. Luther Burt, grandfather of the subject, came
from Pennsylvania in an early day, having been born in Washington county,
that state, where he grew to manhood, and when the Civil war broke out
enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Forty-seventy Indiana Volunteer
Infantry, serving through the war as a private. He moved to Wisconsin in
1866, then to Illinois in 1867, locating in Marion county, removing to Macon
county, this state, in 1881, where he now lives. On August 2, 1852, he was
united in marriage with Violet Swain, who was born in Preble county, Ohio,
and she is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Luther Burt are the parents of ten
children, five boys and an equal number of girls.
Mrs. Harriett
Morrison, maternal grandmother of the subject, who was born near Walnut
Hill, Jefferson county, Illinois, and who is a sister of Squire Andrews, of
Centralia, is still living in Marion county and is enjoying good health for
one of her advanced age. After the marriage of the subject's maternal
grandparents they moved to Little Prairie, where Mr. Morrison died. They
were known for many years throughout the community where they resided for
the excellent quality of sorghum molasses they made, and were largely
patronized by the farmers for miles around. No towns were in the county at
that time and all goods used in the county were hauled from St. Louis, to
which city local products were placed on the market, usually in exchange for
goods, provisions, etc. Most of the teaming was done with oxen. The
subject's mother was born twelve miles east of Centralia, June 23, 1857, and
lived at the old home until she married in 1876, then she moved to a farm on
Romine Prairie, seven miles south of Salem in Raccoon township. She now
lives with our subject most of the time. Mr. and Mrs. Addison Burt were the
parents of four children, three boys and one girl, namely: Charles V., our
subject; Frank Le Clare, deceased; Esther D. is married; Roy C. is also
married.
Our subject was about nine years old at the time of his
father's death. He remained at home during his boyhood days, attending
school in four different places, working in the meantime on the farm during
the summer months, which work he continued until his mother moved to Kell,
Illinois, where she conducted a hotel. Here Charles V. managed a livery barn
with much success for a period of four years, after which he moved to
Centralia and worked in the envelope factory for one year, then secured
employment at the South Mines for eighteen months; but, not satisfied with
his work, he decided to become a merchant and accordingly went to work in a
grocery store as clerk, which position he filled with entire satisfaction to
his employer. Finding it to his advantage to give up the grocery business on
account of a better opportunity opening up in another direction, Mr. Burt
accordingly formed the firm of Burge & Burt, dealing in real estate, farms
and city property, their business having been large from the first and has
steadily increased, having been so conducted as to gain the confidence of
the many patrons of the firm throughout this locality. An extensive business
is also carried on in fire insurance, city and farm, also accident and
health insurance.
The happy domestic life of Charles V. Burt began
May 31, 1900, when he was united in marriage with Estella Stonecipher,
daughter of Hiram and Dorcas Stonecipher, of near Kell, Illinois. Mr.
Stonecipher is one of the substantial agriculturists of that community, and
the subject's wife is the third in order of birth in a family of five
children.
Mr. and Mrs. Burt are the parents of three children,
Wandah V., born April 3, 1902; Thaddeus L., who was born October 17, 1903,
and one died in infancy, all having been born in the city of Centralia,
where the subject has a comfortable and nicely furnished home, where their
many friends often gather.
Our subject is a member of the Modern
Woodmen of America and is in the team work of the lodge, No. 397, of
Centralia. In his political relations he supports the principles of the
Republican party, and he and his estimable wife are both members of the
Christian church.
Extracted 27 May 2019 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 606-608.