The couple had two children while residing in the home. Their children, James W. Burkhart was born November 18, 1909 and Winifred Burkhart was born November 12, 1913.
In 1923, the upper story was burned away as the result of flying sparks from an over-heated furnace. Cedar shingles of that day were much less fire-retardant.
A humorous sidelight to this occurrence was that when Mr. Burkhart, who was a cashier at the First National Bank, heard of the fire and was rushing home on foot from the square. Mr. Moseley, a neighbor, happened by with horse and buggy and offered the gasping man a ride. He shouted back, “No, I haven’t got time! My house is on fire!
It was decided that the family, now grown to include two children, would live with their Grandmother (Mary Ellen Burkhart) in a house to the south at 906 N. Market St., until the house was rebuilt. The plan was that in rebuilding, construction would be straight up on all four sides, resulting, with some subsequent modifications, into a full two-story house.
In 1938, Winifred married Henry S. Burress and they had one daughter named Phoebe Burress in 1945. James William Burkhart married Sylvia May Drier in 1945 and they had one daughter in 1947 named Nancy Evelyn Burkhart.
The mother of the family, Jessie (Brainerd) Burkhart, passed away on July 27, 1957 and the father, William S. Burkhart, passed away on February 13, 1965.
The family home passed to their daughter Winifred and her husband Henry Burress who were occupying the home during the tornado of May 1982. The entire roof and ceiling from the top floor were torn away, leaving the upper walls with little support.
The Burress family was desolated by their loss, but after consideration and much soul searching, decided to reconstruct once more. Now, as in the beginning, the house was one and one-half story.
Henry Burress, who served as City Commissioner for the city of Marion from 1979 thru 1981, passed away in June of 2012. Winifred Burress passed away on July 30, 2011 leaving the home in the possession of their daughter Phoebe (Burress) Bursua. Phoebe remains in possession as of this writing in March 1013.
Sam’s Notes: The Moseley neighbor mentioned was A.A. Moseley who lived next door to the north, just across Stockton Street at 1000 N. Market St. He ran a hardware store in a partnership named Kelley and Moseley Hardware Store located at 303 W. Main Street.
(Data from Marion Daily Republican Special Edition dated May 1983, Burkhart Genealogical Records, Marion City Directories; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 03/28/2013)