Oscar a. Burwell was born in Illinois or Rush Co., Indiana on October 12, 1872 to Francis M. Burwell and Amanda C. Markwell. He married Charlotte Scott on November 29, 1895 in Jasper County, Illinois. His middle initial could stand for Albert or Austin.

Illinois Marriages

Source Citation

"Illinois, Marriages, 1815-1935," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V2G9-V31 : accessed 13 June 2012), Oscar Burwell, 1895.

Jasper County, Illinois Marriage Books:

BURWELL, Oscar Age: 24 years

Wife: Charlotta SCOTT Age: 24 years

Marriage Date: 29 Nov 1895 Jasper, Illinois

Wife's Birthplace: Crawford, IL

Husband's Father: Frank BURWELL

Husband's Mother: Amanda MARKWELL

Wife's Father: John K. SCOTT

Wife's Mother: Margaret PASLEY

Oscar and Charlotte had two children:

1. Verne (or Laverne) Burwell born around 1896

2. Ira Burton Burwell, born February 26, 1898 in Jasper County, Illinois

Charlotte and Oscar divorced sometime before 1909.

Oscar settled near Elk City, Oklahoma in September 1900. He was the first depositor of the First National Bank in Elk City on April 19, 1901: "I.C. Thurmond had shoved a big dry goods box out to a spot where the counter was to be installed and was standing behind it when a small, cheerful man by the name of Oscar A. Burwell walked up and said, 'Is this supposed to be the bank?' Burwell had come to this vicinity in September 1900 and had filed a claim on a mile west of the present Merritt school. He had a $600 draft on a Mattoon, Illinois bank which he had been carrying since he left Illinois several months before. Burwell thus became the First National Bank's first depositor and has continued to be a customer throughout the years."

Oscar Burwell raised rare and exotic birds for exhibits and zoos. It was said he loved his birds. Among his collection he had peacocks and a talking parrot.

In 1903 Oscar had a poem published about Oklahoma:

Down on Oklahoma

by Oscar Burwell

Newton Press, Jasper County, Illinois, 1903

Oscar Burwell is my name,

From Hidalgo, Illinois, I came;

You will find me out west in a country of fame,

Starving to death on a goverment claim.

Harrah for Mills County, the land of the free,

The home of the grasshopper, bedbug and flea.

I'll sing of its praises and tell of its fame,

While starving to death on a goverment claim.

My house is built of the natural sod,

The walls are erected according to hod;

The roof has no pitch, but level and plain,

And always gets wet when it happens to rain.

My clothes they are ragged, my living is rough,

My bread is corn-doger, both solid and tough;

But still I am happy and live at my ease,

On sorghum molasses, bread and cow peas.

How happy I am when I tumble in bed,

A rattle-snake hisses a tune at my head,

A gay litle centipede, all above fear,

Crawls over my pillow and into my ear.

How happy I am on my goverment claim,

I've nothing to lose and nothing to gain;

I've nothing to eat and nothing to wear,

From nothing to nothing, I've harvested air.

Now, all you claim-holders, I hope you will stay,

And chaw hard-tack till you're old and grey;

But as for me, I'll no longer remain,

And starve like a dog on a goverment claim.

Farewell to Mills county, farewell to the west,

I'll go back east to the one I love best;

I'll go back to St. Charles, (MO) and work in the shop,

For since I've been here, I failed in a crop.

Farewell to Mills county, where breezes arise,

Where the sun never sets and the flea never dies;

Where the wind never ceases, but always remains,

Til it blows us all off our government claim.

A song to my friends: Oscar Burwell.

Oscar then married Dora Cole on 16 April 1909 in Beckham County, Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Marriages

Source Citation

"Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1891-1959," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XVLN-FF9 : accessed 13 June 2012), Oscar Burwell, 1909.

Their marriage ended in 1921.

Oscar also married Mary "Mammie" Warner Fleahman on Sept 27, 1921. She died in 1928.

Source Citation

"Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1891-1959," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XV29-5QP : accessed 13 June 2012), Oscar A Burwell, 1921.

Oscar died on December 22, 1956 in Merritt, Beckham County, Oklahoma. His obituary reads:

"Services for Oscar Burwell, a 84 year old pioneer, Merritt Community farmer will be held at 10:30am Wednesday in the Savage funeral home chapel with REv. Lewis Hancock, First Baptist pastor, officiating.

Mr. Burwell was born October 12, 1872 in Illinois and died in a local hospital Saturday, December 22, 1956 after an illness of a few weeks. He was married to his first wife Charlotte S. in 1893 in Illinois, preceded him in death before he came to this community in 1900. He was later married to Mary W. who preceded him in death here in 1928.

Mr Burwell came to this area in Spetember 1900 at the time when t was still Roger Mills County. He homesteaded on a farm a mile west of where the Merritt school is now located at what was then the Old Crowe post office. He has resided there since that time. The pioneer Merritt farmer was actively interested in the Elf City Rodeos here each year and took pride in the growth of this area from its pioneer days.

On the morning of April 19, 1901, he became the first depositor of the First National Bank here after its opening and had maintained a business account with the local banking institution since that date.

Survivors include daughter, Mrs. E.A. Sticker, Oklahoma City, a son, Ira Burwell, Elk City, a niece Mrs. Mamie Kelly, Elk City, a number of nieces and nephews, most of whom live in Illinois, a half-brother, Jess Boggs of Newton, Illinois, 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Other than his wives he was preceded in death by five brothers, a sister, and a half brother. Committal will be in the Calvary Cemetery with Savage funeral home directing arrangements."

United States Census, 1930

Source Citation

"United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XCQT-5SB : accessed 13 June 2012), Oscar A Burwell, Elk, Beckham, Oklahoma.

United States Census, 1920

United States Census, 1910

Source Citation

"United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M38X-7LV : accessed 13 June 2012), Oscar Burwell in household of James Fluman, ED 119 St. Charles Township St Charles city Ward 3-4, St. Charles, Missouri, United States.

United States Census, 1880