James and Lura Burgoyne Courtesy Cindy Mitchell

James H. Burgoyne was born in 1834 in Ohio, likely Muskingum County, the son of James and Mary (Miner) Burgoyne.

He relocated with his father to Indiana and in 1850 lived on the family farm in Center Township, Wayne County, IN.

James joined the Union Army during the Civil War. He was a member of the 125th Illinois Infantry, Company G and was a teamster, driving wagons as the regiment moved. He often shared duties with fellow teamster Henry Lloyd of Catlin, IL.

While on duty out-of-doors in Nashville, TN during the winter of 1862-1863, he contracted a bad cold which infected his throat and lungs and led to a lifelong cough. The following winter, at Lee and Gordons Mill in Georgia, he continued to be burdened with his breathing.

After receiving an honorable discharge in 1865, he returned home. At some point he moved to Illinois, settling in Vermilion County..

At the age of 32, on New Year's Eve 1866, he wedded 22-year-old Lura "Lury" Butler (June 30, 1845-1902) in a wedding officiated by Rev. B Newman at Butler's Point, Vermilion County, IL. She was a decade younger than her husband. Lura was widely known as the granddaughter of local pioneer James D. Butler, who originally had established the community of Butler's Point.

Five children were born to this union -- Ota May "Otie" Burgoyne, James Ora Burgoyne, Roy Burgoyne, Leona Belle "Ona" Smith and one who died young.

When the federal census enumeration was made in 1870, James and Lura were listed as farmers in Catlin, Vermilion County. Living under their roof that year were 10-year-old William Starks, 18-year-old John McKee and 18-year-old Julia Rosslage, while James' married brother Evan and family dwelled next door.

During the 1870s, they moved to a new farm residence in Newell, Vermilion County, as shown in the 1880 census.

The Burgoynes' grave Courtesy Cindy Mitchell

James also was a longtime bricklayer. In his free time, he was a member of the Knights of Honor.

In later years, he continued to suffer from lung disease. When he coughed, he often hemorrhaged.

Sadly, James died of tuberculosis on April 12, 1883 in Danville, Vermilion County. Rev. B. Hyde officiated at the funeral service, with N.A. Kimball providing undertaking services. An obituary was published in the Danville Daily News.

Lura outlived her husband by many years. She learned that she was eligible to receive a widow's pension for her husband's wartime service, and so she filed the paperwork and was approved. [Widow App. #389.930 - Cert. #348.327] She thus began receiving monthly checks of $12 each which continued for the rest of her life.

In 1900, still in Newell, she was marked as heading her household with her 19-year-old daughter Ona in the home.

She was gathered in by the Grim Reaper at the age of 57 on Feb. 11, 1902. Her remains were interred in Spring Hill Cemetery in Danville.

James is named in the 1883 book by Luther B. Hill, A History of the State of Oklahoma, Vol. 1.

~ Daughter Ota M. "Otie" (Burgoyne) Harden Royse ~

Daughter Ota M. "Otie" Burgoyne (1868-1943) was born on Nov. 30, 1868 in Catlin, Vermilion County, IL. The baby's aunt, Sarah Stockton of Catlin, was a midwife at the birth.

At the age of about 19, in about 1887, Otie wedded 23-year-old carpenter James Harden (June 1864- ? ).

They established a home next door to Ota's mother in Newell, Vermilion County, and were there when the U.S. Census was made in 1900.

Their offspring were Ethel Harden, Mabel Harden and Hazel Harden.

Later, she wedded James M. Royse (1876-1930).

James died in 1930 with burial in Atherton Cemetery in Danville, Vermilion County.

Daughter Ethel Harden (1887- ? ) was born in May 1887 in Illinois.

Daughter Mabel Harden (1889- ? ) was born in June 1889 in Illinois.

Daughter Hazel Harden (1891- ? ) was born in Nov. 1891 in Illinois.

Ora and Nora Burgoyne. Courtesy Cindy Mitchell

~ Son James Ora "Orrie" Burgoyne ~

Son James Ora "Orrie" Burgoyne (1871-1934) was born on Sept. 25, 1871 in Catlin, Vermilion County, IL. Dr. M.C. Mendenhall of Vermilion Grove assisted in the birth.

When he was age 21, in about 1893, Orrie was united in holy matrimony with 18-year-old Elnora "Nora" McBride (Aug. 24, 1875-1907), daughter of Thomas and Dorcas Rowena (Wilson) McBride of Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, IN.

The couple produced a family of six known children -- Helen Palmer, Stella Cornwell, Eva Burgoyne, Willard Burgoyne, Mae Burgoyne Rindt and Glen William Burgoyne.

Census records for the year 1900 show the family living in a compound of homes near Ora's sister Ota and widowed mother in Newell, Vermilion County. That year, he worked as a teamster, hauling sand and gravel, work which he continued for many years as a family-owned operation.

Grief blanketed the family in the early autumn of 1907 when 31-year-old Eleanor passed away in Danville on Oct. 3, 1907. Her remains were interred in Gordon Cemetery.

Above: Nora and her brood. Below: Thought to be the family's teamster business

Gordon Cemetery Courtesy Cindy Mitchell

Ora survived his bride by more than a quarter of a century and did not remarry. The United States Censuses of 1920 and 1930 show him heading a household in Danville.

In addition to his transport work, Ora was a prize-winning farmer with his livestock exhibited at county fairs. He once held an Illinois state record, reported in an October 1929 article in the Chicago Tribune, for showing a pair of gray grade Percheron draft horses weighing 3,730 lbs. In 1930, his daughters now married and in their own households, living under his roof were his sons Willard and Glen and 39-year-old widowed housekeeper Grace Cox. That year, he continued his longtime occupation as a trucking contractor in the sand and gravel industry.

In late 1933 or early '34, Ora fell at home and broke his hip. He was taken for treatment to St. Elizabeth Hospital. His health plummeted, and he passed away at the age of 61 on Jan. 7, 1934. His remains were placed into eternal rest near his wife's in Gordon Cemetery.

Daughter Helen Burgoyne (1893-1929) was born in July 1893 in Illinois. She married Clarence Palmer ( ? - ? ). The couple bore five children. Sadly, at the age of 35, Helen suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died in 1929.

Daughter Stella Burgoyne (1895-1968) was born in Jan. 1895 in Illinois. Single at the age of 24 in 1920, she dwelled at home with her widowed father and worked as a sales lady in a dry goods store. She wedded Walter Cornwell ( ? - ? ). Their only child was Marjorie Gastineau.

• Granddaughter Marjorie Cornwell ( ? - ? ) was born in (?). She was joined in wedlock with (?) Gastineau ( ? - ? ).

Daughter Eva Blanche "Eve" Burgoyne (1896-1956) was born in Dec. 1896 in Illinois. She never married. Circa 1920, at the age of 23, she earned a living as a telephone operator in Danville. Later, she trained to become a nurse and was employed at St. Elizabeth Hospital.

Son Willard T. Burgoyne (1899-1972) was born in June 1899 in Illinois. At the age of about 27, in 1926, he married Bernice Cromer ( ? - ? ). Grief blanketed the couple in 1929 when they lost a son in infancy. Within the year, Willard and Bernice may have separated, as the 1930 federal census enumeration shows him living with his father and brother in Danville and working as a driver in the family sand and gravel hauling business. Fortunately, the Burgoynes reconciled. They went on to produce two more children, Joe Burgoyne and Patricia Ann Burgoyne. The United States Census of 1940 shows Willard and Bernice in Danville, living next door to his brother Glen and family, and both working in the coal business.

• Grandson Joe Burgoyne (1933- ? ) was born in about 1933 in Danville, Vermilion County, IL.

• Granddaughter Patricia Ann Burgoyne (1939- ? ) was born in about 1939 in Danville Vermilion County, IL.

Story about George's award

Daughter Mae Burgoyne (1903-1974) was born in 1903 in Danville, Vermilion County, IL. In 1924, at the age of 21, she was united in wedlock with George Frederick Rindt (Jan. 23, 1903-1982), a native of Danville and the son of Gustav A. and Emma (Leek) Rindt. He grew up in Vermilion Heights. As a young married man, during the Great Depression, he is said to have ridden the railroads seeking work. At one point he took in a performance of the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show and later told his grandchildren about how wonderful and unusual it all was. Later, George secured employment with Model-Sounders Laundry-Dry Cleaning, located at 518 North Neil Street. Once, as part of a national promotion of the trade journal Drycleaning World, he "successfully removed a difficult 'Mystery Spot' on a swatch of material affixed to the magazine's cover," reported a newspaper. "The magazine had 'dared' 32,000 readers to clean the spot without damaging the material. Rindt was one of the drycleaners in this area who did a perfect job." They dwelled in Danville and then by 1936 relocated to Urbana, Champaign County, IL. The two children born to this marriage were Jack Leon Rindt and Mary Lou Anderson. After a long career, George retired in 1971. He liked to work in his vegetable garden and play cards, especially the games of Canasta and Euchre. He also enjoyed smoking his pipe, but was forced to do so in his basement so that the house would not smell of the smoke. Sadly, stricken with cancer, Greorge passed into eternity in Urbana at the age of 79 on March 26, 1982. They are at rest together in East Lawn Cemetery in Urbana.

• Grandson Jack Leon Rindt (1925-2019) was born on March 6, 1925 in Danville, Vermilion County. On the day he was awarded his high school diploma, during World War II in 1943, he also received his military draft papers. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and was trained to operate B17 bombers and aerial guns. As a member of the 97th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force, he flew 23 bombing runs from Italy. He eventually was transferred to the Pacific Theatre and took part in Air-Sea rescue operations in Okinawa and India. He was discharged after the war's end and returned home. In 1950, he was hired by the Illinois Central Railroad and spent 15 years there. Two of the years were spent working as a trainmaster's clerk. At the age of about 26, on Feb. 12, he was joined in wedlock with Minnie Belle (Simpson) Williams (Oct. 4, 1928-2007) of Anson, Jones County, TX and the daughter of Jimmie and Wilma (Cox) Simpson. The ceremony was held in Covington, IN, and their marriage endured for 56 years. They did not reproduce. Jack left the railroad in 1965 to join the staff at the University of Illinois, where for a quarter of a century he was a storekeeper. Minnie earned her own income as a medical transcriptionist for Burnham and Mercy Hospitals. She also owned and operated a typing firm. He retired in 1990 and spent his time golfing, bowling and playing tennis, rooting for the Chicago Cubs and the university's teams. Minnie liked to garden and cook. Sadness blanketed the family when Minnie Belle died in Savoy, IL on July 10, 2007. Toward the end he went to live in Brookdale Senior Living in Urbana. He died at the age of 93 on Feb. 9, 2019.

• Granddaughter Mary Lou Rindt (1927-2005) was born on Feb. 1, 1927 in Danville, Vermilion County. As a young single woman, she attended the University of Illinois, where she was an art student. At the age of 30, on April 28, 1957, she was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Verlin Buford Anderson Jr., (1929-2016), son of Verlin Buford and Myrtle (Meacham) Anderson Sr. and a native of Santa Ana, CA. They were the parents of two adopted daughters, Cindy Mitchell and Debby Cowles. In raising her girls, Mary Lou took them on field trips, was a school room mother and baked many sweets. She also enjoyed painting using oils and watercolors. Mary Lou was employed over the years as a telephone service observer at Illinois Bell and then at Scott's 5 & 10 Cent Store and at Roland's Department Store. The Andersons enjoyed traveling and visited 49 out of the 50 states. Her international travel included Austria, Canada, Cuba, Germany, Great Britain, Lichtenstein, Mexico and Switzerland. Her favorite "things" included the color aqua, Sees and Fannie May chocolate creams, Gone With the Wind, musicals, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, daisies and roses, Shalimar and Passion. Verlin served in the U.S. Air Force and later went to work for the University of Illinois, where he served as an inventory specialist in the physics and MRL departments. He retired on Aug. 31, 1984, and spent his time playing golf, traveling and woodworking, with his creations and furniture used in their home. At the age of 78, on July 30, 2005, she was carried away by the Angel of Death. She rests for all time in East Lawn Cemetery in Urbana. Verlin outlived his bride by 11 years and relocated to Cincinnati. He passed away at the age of 86 on Jan. 11, 2016. Their daughter Cindy Mitchell graciously provided important information and images for this biography.

Above: Mae (left) and with husband George Rindt. Below: Ad for George's laundry. Courtesy Cindy Mitchell

Glen Burgoyne

Son Glen William Burgoyne (1905-1991) was born on Oct. 23, 1905 in Danville, Vermilion County, IL. He was only two years of age when his mother died. Unmarried at the age of 24, Glen lived at home in Danville with his widowed father and assisted as a driver in the family's sand and gravel transport business. Then on may 20, 1937, when he was 32 years of age, Glen married Helen Roth (April 23, 1913-1994), daughter of Alonzo Brady and Anna (Van Vickle) Roth. The wedding ceremony was held in Veedersburg, Fountain County, IN. They were the parents of an only son, Stephen Burgoyne. They established a home in Danville, Vermilion County, IL and are shown there in the federal census enumeration of 1940. That year, their next-door neighbors were Glen's older brother Willard and his wife and two children. The census record for 1940 shows Glen working as the operator of a retail coal mine and Willard as a trucker in the coal industry. Helen earned income of her own as a secretary in a Danville area lawyer's office and later with the iron hardware manufacturing company Allith-Prouty Inc. The family were members of the Church of Christ Scientist in Danville, volunteering as board chairman and reader. She is said to have been a Christian Scientist practitioner named in the Christian Science Journal. Glen passed away on April 18, 1991 at the age of 86. His remains were lowered into eternal repose in the Spring Hill Cemetery and Mausoleum in Danville. Helen survived her husband by about three and a half years. She was cut away by the Grim Reaper at home at the age of 81 on Dec. 12, 1994. An obituary was published in the Danville Commercial News.

• Grandson Stephen Burgoyne (1939- ? ) was born in about 1939 in Danville, Vermilion County. He married Sandra ( ? - ? ) and lived in Danville. They bore three children -- Lyn Michael, Michele Lehman and Jon Burgoyne.

~ Son Roy Lake Burgoyne ~

Roy and Mary Burgoyne. Courtesy Cindy Mitchell

Son Roy Lake Burgoyne (1874-1956) was born on Sept. 18, 1874 in Danville, Vermilion County, IL. Dr. Alexander Pollock of Danville assisted in the birth.

Circa 1897, at the age of 22, he wedded 23-year-old Mary Cleopatra LaCount (June 1874-1929), whose parents were immigrants from France. Federal census enumeration records show that the Burgoynes made a home in 1900 in Danville and in 1910-1920 dwelled in in Georgetown, Vermilion County.

Roy earned a living for 46 years as the owner of his own florist shop, which he founded in 1909. They were longtime members of the Central Christian Church of Danville, and Roy belonged to the local Russell lodge of the Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America.

The children born to this marriage were Philip J. Burgoyne and Lela L. Burgoyne.

Sadly, Mary passed away in 1929.

In 1930, census records show the widowed Roy heading a household in Georgetown with his son and daughter-in-law under his roof. He also served as a mayor of Georgetown and on the Vermilion County Board of Supervisors. At some point, he began grooming his son and grandson to take over the family business.

In 1932, at the age of 58, Roy married a second time, by 1935, to Clara Compton (1896- ? ). Roy was 22 years older than his second bride. The couple were together in a Danville residence in 1935-1940, with Roy retiring sometime during that period.

Roy died at the age of 81 on Sept. 3, 1956, at the age of 82. Burial was in Georgetown Cemetery.

Son Philip James Burgoyne (1906-1986) was born on Feb. 23, 1906 in Vermilion County. He grew up learning the florist's trade and in 1930 worked with him in the family flower shop. In about 1927, when both were age 24, Philip married Marie Ramsey (July 1, 1905-2002), daughter of Gilbert A. and Stella (Brooks) Ramsey. They were the parents of an apparent only son, Roy Gilbert Burgoyne. Philip passed into eternity at the age of 79 on Jan. 15, 1986. Marie survived her husband by 16 years. She succumbed on Nov. 10, 2002 at the age of 97. They rest side by side in Georgetown Cemetery

• Grandson Roy Gilbert Burgoyne (1932-2012) was born on April 23, 1932. He married MaryLou Winland (1935-2017). He died in Urbana, Champaign County, IL on July 16, 2012

Daughter Lelia L. Burgoyne (1909-1988) was born in about 1909 in Vermilion County.

~ Daughter Leona Belle "Ona" (Burgoyne) Smith ~

Daughter Leona Belle "Ona" Burgoyne (1880-1974) was born on April 20, 1880 (or 1881) in Danville, Vermilion County, IL. Dr. Alexander Pollock of Danville assisted in the birth.

In 1900, unmarried at age 19, she resided with her widowed mother in Newell, Vermilion County, IL and earned a living as a "telephone girl" in a central business office.

She was joined in holy matrimony with Joseph Joshua Smith (Nov. 1878-1973), a native of Danville and the son of Frank Berryhill and Florence (Shockley) Smith.

The marriage endured for decades until the separation of death.

Joseph passed away in 1973.

Leona followed him to the grave on Aug. 18, 1974. Burial was in Spring Hill Cemetery in Danville.