Burr Oak celebrates it's 150th Anniversary

The residents of Burr Oak are preparing to celebrate their town's 150th anniversary with a week-end filled with activities and reunions, June 4,5 and 6.

The settlement of Burr Oak began in 1870 when A.J. Godfrey arrived in the White Rock Valley, near where the Burr Oak Creek winds down from the northwest and meets up with the White Rock Creek. It was at this bend where the two creeks meet that Godfrey decided. He built a 16'x20' log cabin on the northwest edge of what later would become the town. Soon after Godfrey arrived, James McCormick, a 24-year- old Civil War veteran came. He too decided to settle there. His claim adjoined Godfrey's claim. He also built a 16'x20' log cabin.

A petition was sent in asking for a post office to be established there in the Godfrey cabin. The petition was soon granted and in 1871, McCormick was assigned as postmaster. Needing a name for the post office, McCormick came up with the name of Burr Oak, after the Burr Oak Creek and all the Burr Oak trees growing there. Godfrey was assigned as assistant postmaster. Another early settler and Civil War veteran came. His name was Cal Lewis and he soon built a log cabin. About the same time, John Faidley came. He opened the first store. The Faidley store sold groceries, drugs and other needed provisions. Before Faidley's store, the nearest store was 20 some miles away in Jewell City.

Two to three miles along the White Rock Creek, north east of Burr Oak, another settlement had been established in 1870 with a post office. It was called Greenville. It had been settled by eight families who came from Iowa. Most were German Baptists. Those who settled there were A.W. Mann, three Gilbert families, Mike Hackenberg, Jack and Dave Godfrey. All built log cabins. When the Burr Oak Post Office was established, the Greenville Post Office closed and most of the settlers of Greenville moved to Burr Oak.

According to the books White Price White Rock and Burr Oak The Roots Run Deep, in 1871 A.J. Godfrey laid out plans for the development of the town of Burr Oak. Word of this growing town spread, and by 1872, the town was booming in population and more stores were being established.

More Burr Oak history to come.