Source: History of Whiteside County, IL, by Wm. W. Davis, M. A.; Vol. 1; Chicago: The  Pioneer Publishing Co. 1908

Transcribed by: Denise McLoughlin, Tampico Area Historical Society, www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

Page 512

ROBERT L. BURCHELL

Among the energetic, far-seeing and successful business men of Whiteside county is numbered Robert L. BURCHELL, whose business interests have largely been of a nature that have promoted the general development of his town while advancing individual success. He is today president of the First National Bank of Erie, and proprietor of the largest mercantile  establishment of the town. He has been closely associated with its commercial and financial interest since 1868, and bears an unassailable reputation by reason of the straightforward, honorable business principles that he has ever followed.

Mr. BURCHELL was born in Columbus City, Iowa, May 31, 1840. His father, Robert C. BURCHELL, was a native of Virginia and a member of the legal profession. About 1850 he removed westward, settling in Columbus City, Iowa, and 1855 became a resident of Oregon, Ogle county, Illinois, where  he gained a position among the prominent and influential residents of that locality. His practice was large and of a distinctively representative character, connecting him with the most important litigation tried in the courts of  his district. He was state district attorney for eight years, was one of the electors on the Greeley ticket and later was a strong BLAINE man. He also served as mayor of Oregon and in public office his loyalty was above question, while his ability was widely recognized. He married Miss Mary J. MORRIS, a native of New Albany, Indiana, and they became the parents of six children: Kate, the wife of Adolph JONES, a resident farmer of Iowa; Henry, a merchant of Walnut, Bureau County, Illinois; Nancy; Robert L.; Frank, a merchant of Oregon, Illinois; and Jennie, the wife of Charles WALES, of Savanna, this state.

Robert L. BURCHELL acquired his education in the schools of Mount Morris, Ogle county, Illinois, and made his initial step in the business world as clerk in a store in Oregon, where he remained for three years. During that time he largely acquainted himself with commercial methods and going to Franklin Grove, Lee county, Illinois, was also employed as a clerk for a time. Later he occupied a similar position at Dixon but was actuated by laudable ambition to engage in business on his  own account and in 1868 came to Erie, where he opened a dry goods store, investing a capital of about thirty-six hundred dollars. As the years have passed his business has constantly increased until he now owns three large stores and carries a stock valued at more than ten times the amount originally invested. In fact he has one of the largest stores in the county, carrying an extensive line of general merchandise.

A man of resourceful business ability, Mr. BURCHELL has extended his efforts into various other lines. Soon after his arrival in Erie he opened a private bank, which he conducted until the 1st of October, 1903, when he discontinued the private banking business and organized the First National Bank of Erie, of which he became president, while his son, Robert C., became cashier. The bank is capitalized for forty thousand dollars and now has surplus and undivided profits of twenty thousand dollars. He owns valuable real estate, including the building in which he now carries on business and which was erected by him in 1894. It is a large brick block, two stories in height with basement, having a frontage of one hundred and twenty feet and a depth of one hundred feet. This entire building is occupied by Mr. BURCHELL in his general merchandising interests. He is also the owner of a valuable farm property in Erie and Fenton townships and has a number of buildings in the village. He also established a creamery in Erie, conducting an extensive and constantly growing business in the line, and in 1870 he was appointed postmaster  of Erie and continued to fill the position for many years. This by no means covers the extent of his public service in office, for he filled the position of supervisor for a number of years and was chairman of the board for two terms. He has also been treasurer of the village and school treasurer as well, and whether in office or out of it he gives loyal support to every movement or measure calculated to benefit the community.

Mr. BURCHELL was married on the 18th of November, 1866, in Chicago, to Miss Margaret Victoria JONES, a daughter of Augustus and Mary JONES and a native of the State of New York, born November 18, 1847. Their children are: Robert C., who is cashier of the bank; Mrs. Mary SHOECRAFT, a resident of Clinton, Iowa; George who has charge of his father's store; and Ruth and Margaret, in school. The eldest son, Robert C., born June 16, 1870, in Erie, has resided here throughout his entire life with the exception of the period between 1887 and 1895, which he spent in Chicago in the wholesale grocery house of W. M. HOYT & COMPANY. In the latter year he returned to Erie and has since been associated with his father in business. He was first connected with the private bank and the store and upon the organization of the First National Bank became its cashier and has since practically been its manager. He was educated in the public schools of Erie and also spent two years as a student at Lake Forest, Illinois. He is today one of the representative, enterprising business men of  the town, a worthy successor of his father who, though still active in the management of his business affairs, largely leaves the work of the bank and the store to his sons. Robert C. BURCHELL was married in 1896 to Miss Vinnie G. GILLELAND, a native of Evansville, Indiana, but a resident of Chicago at the time of her marriage. Her father was the Rev. Leland A. GILLELAND, a minister of the Congregational church but now divorced. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. BURCHELL have been born three children: Robert Lawrence, Richard Gilleland and Leland C. The father is a stalwart Republican in his political views, is connect socially with the Knights of Pythias and is regarded as a representative, enterprising citizen of Erie, standing stanch in support of all interests for the public good, while in his business affairs he manifests keen discernment and unfaltering diligence.

Robert L. BURCHELL is a member of the Masonic fraternity, joining the Erie lodge at its organization. He belongs to Prophetstown Chapter and Sterling Commandery. He is always loyal to the teachings of the craft and his life record is one which has gained for him the high respect and confidence of his fellowmen. Throughout his entire if he has endeavored to make all of his acts and commercial moves the result of definite consideration and sound judgement. There have never been any great ventures or risks. On the contrary he has practiced honest, slow-growing business methods and has supplemented them by energy and good system.