Myra Luella Tillotson was the daughter of William Thomas Tillotson and Mary Elizabeth Wooll. Myra was born April 13, 1864 in Elsie, Clinton County, Michigan.
Myra Luella Tillotson.
Myra married twice. Her first husband was Elijah J. Burwell whom she married on November 26, 1891 in Elsie. Elijah was the son of Charles Burwell. Elijah was born on March 26, 1862.
Elijah Burwell.
Myra and Elijah had five children:
Charles Henry Burwell was born September 11, 1892 in Elba, Gratiot County, Michigan. He married Irene Maude Nixon Patterson, daughter of Christopher Nixon and Mary Ida Van Benschoten. Irene had been previously married to Charles Patterson with whom she had two children, Rosalind Elcene Patterson and Thelma Louise Patterson. (Rosalind's middle name also appears as Elsine.) Irene and Charles Patterson divorced May 28, 1915. Irene and Charles Burwell married May 16, 1916 in Owosso, Shiawassee County, Michigan. Charles adopted Rosalind and Thelma on June 14, 1916.
Charles and Irene also had three children together:
Clare Everett Burwell was born March 8, 1917 and died May 16, 1981 in Flint, Genessee County, Michigan. He married Margaret Mae Fulmer. They had two children.
Four Generations
Standing left: Myra L. Tillotson Burwell
Standing right: Charles Henry Burwell
Seated: Mary Elizabeth "Betsy" Wooll Tillotson
Child: Clare Everett Burwell
Gerald Ernest Burwell was born October 19, 1920. He was known as "Jerry" to his friends. He married Virginia G. Lee in 1946. They had six children.
Gerald worked for 38 years for Michigan Bell, retiring as an Electrical Engineer. He was a member of China Burma India VA of Pensacola, Florida; the American Legion; and the Telephone Company Pioneers.
Gerald suffered from Parkinson's Disease in his later years. He died February 9, 2007.
Irene died May 14, 1984 in Grand Blanc, Genessee County, Michigan. Charles Burwell died April 21, 1985 in Flint, Genessee County, Michigan. Both are buried in Sunset Hills Cemetery, Flint, Genessee County, Michigan.
Gertrude Wanda Burwell was born May 26, 1894 in Elsie, Clinton County, Michigan. Everyone always called her Wanda. She married Daniel Klingensmith on December 2, 1914 in Owosso, Shiawassee County, Michigan. Wanda and Daniel had four children:
Daniel Klingensmith and Gertrude Wanda Burwell.
Left: Dora May Burwell.
Center: Gertrude Wanda Burwell.
Right: Lena E. Burwell.
Lena E. Burwell was born on November 5, 1896 in Elsie, Clinton County, Michigan. On December 29, 1915 Lena married Ethelwyn Earl Lemon, son of Rolla Lemon and Bertha Drain. Lena and Ethelwyn had one child, a son:
Dale E. Lemon was born November 7, 1916 in Owosso, Michigan. He married Viola May Phipps on September 14, 1941. They had 3 children.
Dale undertook a variety of jobs in the Lansing, Michigan area. He worked for several years at Noval Engine and later at the John Bean plant as a bench grinder. Dale ended his work career at the Demmer Corporation from which he retired as a tool and die maker.
Dale's wife Viola died in 1998. Dale died July 4, 2008 in Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan. He is buried in Deepdale Memorial Gardens in Lansing.
Ethelwyn Lemon and Lena Burwell.
Myrtle Lauretta Burwell was born April 1, 1898 in Elsie, Clinton County, Michigan.
Myrtle Lauretta Burwell.
Myrtle married twice. She first married Leon Dewey Morrice, son of Duston Morrice and Irene Cook, on October 31, 1917, in Owosso, Shiawassee County, Michigan.
Leon Dewey Morrice, about three years old.
Wedding Picture of Myrtle Lauretta Burwell and Leon Dewey Morrice.
Myrtle and Leon had two children:
Ruth Irene Morrice was born in 1919 in Owosso, Shiawassee County, Michigan. She died of appendicitis on April 26, 1926.
Ruth Irene Morrice.
Myrtle and Leon divorced. Later Myrtle married Lynn Van Horn, son of Alanson and Addie Van Horn of Owosso, Shiawassee County, Michigan, on December 23, 1931. Myrtle and Lynn had three children:
Myrtle died November 28, 1972 in New Lothrop, Shiawassee County, Michigan. She is buried in Easton Cemetery.
Dora May Burwell was born in 1899 in Elsie, Clinton County, Michigan. On June 20, 1917 Dora married Harold Taphouse in Owosso, Shiawassee County, Michigan. Harold was the son of Tad and Sarah Taphouse. Everyone called Sarah "Maggie," so it is possible Sarah's real name was Margaret.
Dora Burwell.
Harold and Dora had eight children:
Elijah J. Burwell died on April 16, 1901 (see his obituary). Myra later married James Ira Copenhaver, son of Henry Brown Copenhaver and Sarah Ann Walton, in Gratiot County, Michign on April 19, 1922. James was born November 3, 1863 in Eagle, Clinton County, Michigan. James had been previously married to Emma J. Joslin with whom he had four children: Eunace, George, Gladys, and Clyde.
Myra Luella Tillotson died January 26, 1942 and is buried in Elsie. James Ira Copenhaver died July 17, 1945 in Oneida Township, Eaton County, Michigan.
James Ira Copenhaver.
James Ira Copenhaver.
James Ira Copenhaver and Myra Luella Tillotson
In Old Age.
A family group photograph which includes Myra, Elijah, and their children Charles, Lena, and Wanda appears on William Thomas Tillotson and Mary Elizabeth Wooll's page.
Photos courtesy William L. Kidder, Sally Jo Morrice, Leonard C. Tillotson, Kim O'Connor, and attendees of the 1999 and 2003 Tillotson Family Reunions.
My thanks to Sally Jo Morrice, Margaret Taphouse Cech, Vanessa Taphouse Fuson, and Kimberly O'Connor for providing information about the descendants of Myra Luella Tillotson.
My thanks to Tina Marie Lamb for providing information about James Ira Copenhaver.
Back to William Thomas Tillotson and Mary Elizabeth Wooll.
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Last modified by pib on August 31, 2008.