Merle D. Palmer-1942
Delmer D. Palmer-1914-1995
Clark Palmer-1891-1962
Vandilla(Burch)Palmer-1867-1946
Andrew J. Burch-1838-1928
Shep Burch 1835-

Andrew and Mary Ellen Burch

This article was taken from the Chartauqua Co. (ks) Families History

Andrew Jackson Burch and Mary Ellen Weatherman were married March 1, 1866, at Sullivan County, Indiana, by Robert Bedwell, M. G. They came to Chautauqua County , Kansas in a covered wagon in 1870, where they homesteaded 160 acres, ten miles north of Sedan in the Union Chapel Community.

One of Mary Ellen Burch's most thrilling memories of the trip was the crossing of the Mississippi River on a ferry boat with their covered wagon and yoke of oxen.

During the first winter, they camped alongside the creek which ran through the farm which is called Burch Creek. There was a beautiful, long deep, spring fed hole of water running north and south , with high limestone rocks on the west side and good, fertile, rich soil, sloping do3wn to the water from the east side. The Indians had used this campground many times, and for their first winter, the Burches made a lean-to out of boxes and wood from the covered wagon, and set up housekeeping. During the next summer, a log cabin was erected which was to be their lifetime home. It is thought that the Dyers lived with the Burches awhile and that Mr. Dyer helped Jack Burch build the long cabin. It was said that Ellen Burch told her husband, "Jack, you let Dyer take the big end of the logs. He's a big man and you're a little man, so you take the little end."

The Dyer who helped build the cabin was William Striet Dyer, a former Confederate soldier, whose twin brother had been killed by the Union side in the war. Dyer later homesteaded in the Drum Community, where his descendants still live on the place he settled. Here were two Civil War veterans, who fought on opposite sides during the war now sharing their future together.

The log cabin was about the size of one room, and had a stone fireplace which ran up through the loft where the family would sleep. Later on, there was a lean-to kitchen and a water well. Sod was turned over that first summer in the field between the cabin and the creek, and sticks were used to punch holes in the sod so corn and food could be raised. Indians came frequently, sometimes hostile, sometimes friendly. Usually they demanded bread or water, and occasionally rode their horses into the little cabin. One of the Burch children with blond hair and blue eyes was what the Indians called a "Child of The Son". An Indian squaw, with a small child about the same age, suggested that they trade their blonde, blue-eyed baby for the Indian child. The squaw came back repeatedly, persisting in the trade, until finally the Burches and children would hid whenever any of the Indians were around. Many interesting stories and background information is contained in a book called "Black Jack Country" written by Jessie Banhaverbeke. One story which she relates in the book is about a time when Ellen was having difficulty in childbirth. Carrie Fleming, a neighbor, was there to help with the event, but the baby wouldn't come and things looked very bad for Ellen and he baby. An old Indian chief found out about the problem and came with a cup of Indian medicine to help bring the baby. After Ellen had drunk the foul tasting solution, Jack Burch went outside to find out what it was-"Snake blood", said the old Indian, "make papoose slip out easy like snake. Indian medicine good, never fail. Wait little time and see". When Jack told Ellen what the Indian had said, she declared immediately.

The Burches worked hard, planted and raised all of the crops needed for their survival, and for their hogs, cattle, chickens and other livestock. They prospered and bought more land and when the Burch children grew up and married there were several farms and lots and land under their ownership. jack Burch raised lots of corn which he fed to hogs and steers and sold for cash to buy more land. Also, he was a Civil War veteran and drew a pension because of failing, eyesight brought on from an eye infection during the war.

He was born April 16, 1836, in Jessamine County, Kentucky. His father's name was Shepard Burch, his mother's name was Susan Burch. He had two brothers, Robert and Shep, and four sisters, Nancy, Sarah E. Lucy, and Emily.

Jack Burch moved with his family to Sullivan County, Indiana, near Carlisle, when he was 14, and for a time lived with a D. Paxton. On the 18th day of October 1861, Jack Burch enrolled as a private in Company "E", 43rd Regiment, Indiana Infantry, at Sullivan, Indiana, for three years, Jack Burch could could not read or write or even sign his name. So when he enlisted into the Union Army, he was carried on the rolls as Andrew J. Birch. He re-enlisted as a veteran Volunteer January 1, 1864, for three years. He was described as 5 feet 5 in. tall, dark complexion, black eyes, black hair, and a farmer. During the Red River Expedition between Camden and Little Rock, Arkansas, he and many other were engaged with the enemy at Marks Mill, Arkansas. On April 25, 1864, He taken prisoner by the Confederate soldiers. It was a desperate situation, and years Jack Burch would tell how the prisoners fought like dogs over bread thrown into the compound. He and some other prisoners cut their way out of the compound fence, and past the guards. Bloodhounds chassed them, and when they reached a river, Jack Burch found a log and used it to float on all night. He crossed the river and floated down stream several miles. He never saw the other prisoners he had escaped with. He could heaar the blood hounds running all night. It took Jack Burch a week to get back to his own unit camped at Littlerock. He was in total physical exhaustion, and as a result, his eyes became swollen and infected, remaining in this diseased condition for a long time.

President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilks Booth on Aprial 14 and died on April 15, 1865. Private Jack Burch was one of those assigned to guard the body of the slain President.

The Civil War having ended; he was mustered out with the company on June 14, 1865, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Jack and Mary Ellen(Weatherman) are buried in the Union Chapel Cemetery located two miles south of the old Burch homestead. On the gate of the Union Chapel Cemetery is an inscription in the stone pillar which says "1870 1st Board President A. J. Burch".

The first born child of Jack and Mary Ellen was Vandilla who married Walter G. Palmer, Nov. 10, 1886. They lived on a farm just north west of the Burch homestead and were very prominent and successful farmers and ranchers. They later moved to Sedan where Walter was active in business and politics. Their children were Elby, Clark, Louie, Pearl, Vernie, Basil, and Paul.