Burchard Whitcomb
Burchard Whitcomb, postmaster at Empire, O., and for fifteen years a justice of the peace, has long stood as a representative citizen of Knox Township and enjoys a large measure of public esteem. He was born in Jasper County, Iowa, a son of Joel and Catherine (Jarman) Whitcomb. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of Quebec, Canada.
Burcliard Whitcomb was reared in Iowa and when about two years old, his parents moved to Council Bluffs, where he secured excellent school advantages. On March 31, 1864, he enlisted in the Union army, entering Company C, 1st Battalion Veteran Volunteer Cavalry, and remained with the Western army that was then serving on the plains, his regiment having a great deal of Indian fighting to do, a dangerous warfare from which he fortunately escaped without serious injury. He was honorably discharged in September, 1865, after which he returned to Council Bluffs, which place remained his home until 1869, when he came to Jefferson County, Ohio, locating first at Knoxville. From there, in 1870, he moved to New Cumberland, W. Va., shortly afterward returning to Jefferson County and locating in Knox Township until 1880, when he came to Empire, where he embarked in a mercantile business and conducted a general store in the village until 1907, when he lost his property by fire. In January, 1908, he was appointed postmaster and is a popular official.
In 1868, Mr. Whitcomb was married to Miss Melissa Coyle, a daughter of James Coyle of Knox Township. Mrs. Whitcomb died in 1893 and three of the family of children survive her: August F., Lillian and James S., all residing at Empire. Lillian is the widow of Jacob Myers. Three children are deceased. Mr. Whitcomb is a leading member of the Methodist Protestant Church at Empire and belongs also to the Knights of Pythias and the G. A. R. Post at Toronto.
20th Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio, by Joseph B. Doyle. Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910