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Below is a family biography included in The History of Phelps County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Nathan L. Burwell, proprietor of the hotel at Newburg, Mo., was born July 15, 1854, in Covington, Ky., and is the son of John and Sarah Mountjoy (Best) Burwell. The paternal grandparents were natives of New Jersey, and immigrated to Zanesville, Ohio, where they spent the remainder of their days. They were of Scotch parentage. John Burwell was born at Zanesville, Ohio, was a civil engineer by occupation, and was engaged on the Slack Water Navigation Works on the Muskingum River, continuing at this business until thirty-five years of age. He went to Covington, Ky., about 1845, but later moved to Ohio, where he died in 1870. He was superintendent of the Bloom Forge Iron Works for Gaylord & Co., of Portsmouth, at that time. His wife was born in Kentucky, attained her growth in that State, and was there married to Mr. Burwell, by whom she had eleven children, four now living: Mary, widow of Hobert Weatherby; John B., Stephen B. and Nathan L. Mrs. Burwell died in Ironton, Ohio, in 1859. Her parents were natives of Kentucky, where they lived and died. Nathan L. Burwell received a liberal English education in the schools of Portsmouth, and remained with his father until his death. At the age of sixteen he began life for himself by engaging in the iron business. He came to Missouri in 1881, engaging as book keeper at Nova Scotia Iron Works, Dent County, where he remained for a year and a half. He then occupied the same position at Ozark Iron Works, in Phelps County, remaining until the works closed in the latter part of 1883. Mr. Burwell then opened the ‘Frisco Eating House at Newburg, where all trains stop for meals, and there he has since remained. He was married in 1873 to Miss Ella Lloyd, a native of Sampsonville, Ohio, and the daughter of William Lloyd. Mr. Burwell now runs a thriving business, feeding on an average seventy-five people per day. He is a strong Republican in politics, and an excellent citizen.

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This family biography is one of 71 biographies included in The History of Phelps County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Phelps County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Phelps County, Missouri family biographies, click here

To view a map of Phelps County, Missouri: Phelps County, Missouri Map

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