Margaret Victoria Burchell

Birthyear verified on gravestone as 1849. The July 6, 1917, Dixon, Illinois, Evening Telegraph carries an obituary for Margaret Victoria Jones’ sister, Mary Elizabeth (Mrs. Conrad Durkes, who died at home in Franklin Grove, Illinois, on July 6. “Mary Elizabeth Jones was born in Paris, Canada, December 5, 1838. She came to the United States with her parents in 1854 and for several years lived in New Millford and in Grand Detour, Illinois. She was married in 1852 to Conrad Durkes.... Mrs. Mary Durkes was the oldest of eight children, four of whom still survive. They are Mrs. Chamberlain of Colorado, Mr. Allen of Spokane; Adolph Jones of Iowa [who married Margaret Victoria Jones sister-in-law, Catherine/Kate sister of Robert Lucket Burchell]; and Albert Jones of near Franklin Grove....”

1836 records of Adella Helmershausen preserved in the Franklin Grove, Illinois, library indicate that Margaret Victoria's siblings were Mary E. Jones Durkes and Albert A. (b circa 1855, married Fredericka Maronde, d August 1947 in Franklin Grove, Illinois). Centennial Souvenir: One Hundred Years of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Franklin Grove, Illinois, refers to sister "Mary Elizabeth (December 5, 1835 - July 1917) born in Paris, Canada; came to Illinois, 1853; married to Conrad Durkes.... Camp Jones, married Amelia Chandall.... Katherine Jones, married to Robert Perkins...," but does not mention Margaret Victoria. Handwritten notes by Richard (Bud) Burchell discuss the "Elgon" County [probably Elgin County on LakeErie, east of Detroit, south of Paris, Ontario] 1851 Canada census found in the Franklin Grove, Illinois, Centennial book as follows: Augustus age 43 [1808 -- should be 1807], wife Mary age 40 [1811 -- should be 1812] Sarah age 14 [1837], Catherine age 12 [1839], Adolphus age 10 [1841], Cambridge, Margaret age 6 [puts her birthyear at 1845/6, instead of the 1849 on her gravestone], Samuel age 1 [1850], Mary E age 16 [1835]. Possibly this census was taken early in 1851, thus explaining some inconsistencies in birth years. Records on Mary E. show she was in Illinois by 1853 (see above). Possibly the family was on the move from Paris, Ontario, to Illinois when this 1851 census was taken in Canada.

Records for Margaret Victoria's sister say that her family moved to Illinois in 1853. Margaret Burchell Palmquist says her grandmother took up painting in the late 1800's/ early 1900's. Margaret's niece Nancy Jane Heden Vickerman has one of those paintings -- possibly of the Rock River.

The History of Whiteside County (circa late 1800's) provides this information about Margaret Victoria Jones (See also references to "Burchell Surname" ): She is daughter of Augustus and Mary Jones, and was born in the State of New York, Nov. 18, 1847 [wrong – her birth was in 1849]. They [Robert Lucket Burchell and Margaret Victoria Jones, married November 18, 1866, in Chicago] have four children. The record is as follows: Edith L. born March 27, 1868, and died Sept. 14, 1880; Robert C., born June 16, 1870; Mary J., born Nov. 5, 1875; and George A., Aug. 13, 1877.

In an August 1993 conversation, Dr. R. Clay Burchell (son of Robert Lawrence grandson of Robert Clay great-grandson of Robert Lucket Burchell) told Peg Palmquist Ransom that his family always referred to the family of Margaret Victoria Jones as "those damn Jones."

Margaret Victoria is credited with originating the Erie Women's Club. She raised money to create a park in Erie (later called Margaret Park -- now the small island in the town square) to beautify the Erie Cemetary. Cliff Reisenbigler, author of Remembering Erie, recalls being at Margaret Park on Flag Day 1922 when the flag pole was taken from atop R.L. Burchell's grocery store and placed in Margaret Park.