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Lewis Burchfield
History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys,
embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder,
in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania...
Edited by F. Ellis and A. N. Hungerford.
Published in Philadelphia by Everts, Peck & Richards, 1886
Pages 771-773
CHAPTER IX.
Lewis Burchfield.
By A. L.
Guss
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
Lewis Burchfield is the grandson of Aquilla Burchfield, who, with three brothers,
emigrated from Maryland, one locating in Lancaster County, Pa., one in North
Carolina and a third in Erie County, Pa., while Aquilla settled in the
present Juniata County, Pa. Thomas, another brother, also made the same
county his home, and served during the War of the Revolution. The children of
Aquilla Burchfield were Aquilla, Thomas, James, Robert and several daughters.
James, of this number, was born in Greenwood township, Juniata County, on the
4th of September, 1774, where his life was spent in farming employments. He
was united in marriage to Rachel Cookson, born September 29, 1769, whose
maternal grandfather, Benjamin Miller, came into the State with William Penn and
settled in Philadelphia, where he is buried. The children of Mr. and Mrs.
Burchfield are Thomas, born December 5, 1794; Aquilla, December 25, 1795;
Elizabeth (Mrs. Joseph Edmiston), October 4, 1797; Sarah (Mrs. Samuel
McWilliams), November 22, 1800; William, April 18, 1803; James, November 14,
1805; Lewis, April 18, 1808; Hannah (Mrs. John Harris) August 18, 1810; and
Washington P., July 31, 1814. All, with the exception of the subject of this
sketch, are deceased. The birth of Lewis Burchfield occurred in Greenwood
township, Juniata County (then Mifflin), from whence he early removed to Walker
township, of the same county. The common schools afforded him a knowledge
of the rudiments of English, though his education was chiefly the result of careful
reading and study at home, after which he engaged for a brief period in teaching.
Having from boyhood assisted his father on the farm, at the age of twenty he
removed with him to Beale
township, Juniata County, and for two years contributed his services in the
cultivation and improvement of his land. He was, on the 23d of March, 1830,
married to Jane, daughter of Patrick McKennen, of Milford township, Juniata
County, born February l2, 1812. Their children are Elizabeth, wife of J.
Shelbourn Robinson, born November 6, 1830; Melvina, August 25, 1832, who
died July 7, 1845; Jerome 0., September 18, 1834, whose death occurred April
15,
1835; Adaline Ann, wife of Elder Guilliford, February 8, 1836; Mary E., widow of
Samuel Y. Shelley, February 2, 1838; Clarissa J., wife of John D. Milliken, May 3,
1840; George W., February 22, 1842, married to Elizabeth Halderman; Charles,
June 9, 1844, died June 15, 1844; Benjamin Franklin, December 27, 1845,
married to Mary Halderman; Thomas J., November 12, 1848, who died
December 12, 1849; Ida C., August 9, 1851, whose death occurred December
14, 1859; Azile, wife of William Neely, February 23, 1856. Mrs. Burchfield died
August 15, 1872, and he was again married, Januarv ,28, 1874, to Mrs.
Josephine Brown, daughter of William McMeen. In 1833, Mr. Burchfield rented a
farm in Mifflin County, upon which he continued for three years, meanwhile
holding the commission as postmaster at Stroud's Mills, in Oliver township, of
that county. He then returned to Juniata County and was, until 1839, associated
with his father. During the latter year he was appointed prothonotary of the
county by Governor Porter, and subsequently elected for two terms, being for
seven years the incumbent of the office. He then returned to the life of a farmer,
and, in 1852, purchased his present home in Milford township, where he has
since been
engaged in agricultural pursuits, though having abandoned active labor; the farm
is still at present rented. Mr. Burchfield was, as a Democrat, in 1861, elected
associate judge of Juniata County, in which capacity he served for five
years. He has been largely identified with the interests of both township and
county as a leading citizen. In his religious views he is a Presbyterian and
member of the church of that denomination in Mifflintown.
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© 2013 by Michael Milliken
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