James H. Burr

James Howard Burr (May 9, 1816 – December 10, 1906) was an American glove manufacturer and politician from New York.

Life

Burr was born on May 9, 1816, in Gloversville, New York, the son of James Burr and Amarillis Mills.[1]

In 1840, Burr entered the glove business in a shop.[2] In 1844, he joined the glove manufacturing firm F. and D.M. Burr & Company with Francis Burr and David M. Burr. The firm was a continuation of his father's glove and mitten manufacturing business that began in 1809. In 1848, the firm was dissolved and Burr established his own business. In 1853, he developed a factory that, by 1892, employed an average of 60 workers, including 30 cutters.[3] He was also president of the National Bank of Gloversville and the vice president and last surviving original stockholder of the Fulton County National Bank.[2]

In 1860, Burr was elected to the New York State Assembly as a Republican, representing Fulton and Hamilton counties. He served in the Assembly in 1861[4] and 1862. He was initially a Whig, but he later became a Republican.[5] While in the Assembly, he played a critical role in electing Ira Harris to the United States Senate in 1861. By 1862, he became the United States Collector in the 18th Congressional District.[6]

Burr was a member of the First Baptist Church of Gloversville from 1841 until his death. He was also trustee of the church, superintendent of the Sunday school, and treasurer of the Saratoga Baptists Association and the New York State Baptist Mission Society. In 1841, he married Azubah Warner of Troy. Azubah died in 1890, and two years later he married widow Kittie C. Young. He had a stepdaughter, Mrs. Fred C. Fowler,[2] and his children with Azubah were Harvey W., Caroline, and Julia A.[7]

Burr died at home on December 10, 1906.[2] He was buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery in Gloversville.

References

  1. ^ Murphy, William D. (1861). Biographical Sketches of the State Officers and Members of the Legislature of the State of New York in 1861. New York, N.Y. pp. 166–167 – via Google Books.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ a b c d "J. H. Burr is Dead at Gloversville". The Johnstown Daily Republican. Vol. XVII, no. 137. Johnstown, N.Y. 11 December 1906. p. 4 – via NYS Historic Newspapers.
  3. ^ Frothingham, Washington (1892). History of Fulton County. Syracuse, N.Y.: D. Mason & Co. p. 421. ISBN 9780598485854 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ The Evening Journal Almanac, 1861. Albany, N.Y.: Weed, Parsons & Co. 1861. p. 45 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ^ The Evening Journal Almanac, 1862. Albany, N.Y.: Weed, Parsons & Company. 1862. p. 61 – via Internet Archive.
  6. ^ Murphy, William D. (1863). Biographical Sketches of the State Officers and Members of the Legislature of the State of New York in 1862 and '63. Albany, N.Y. pp. 148–149 – via Google Books.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. ^ Todd, Charles Burr (1878). A General History of the Burr Family in America, With a Genealogical Record from 1570 to 1878. New York, N.Y.: E. Wells Sackett & Bro. p. 270 – via Internet Archive.
New York State Assembly
Preceded by New York State Assembly
Fulton and Hamilton Counties
1861–1862 		Succeeded by