History of Michigan, / by Charles Moore. [Vol. 3]

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN

1343

farming. During the winter months he continued to make boots and
shoes, and thus combined two very useful and profitable employments.
He lived in Shiawassee county until his death, and his remains now rest
at Elsie, in Clinton county. Alfred Burleson married Lois Baker. Her
brother, Hiram Baker, was a farmer near Paw Paw, and her brother
Charles became a physician, and was in active practice in Decatur for
half a century. He died in I9I4. Lois Baker Burleson survived her
husband a few years. They reared two sons and five daughters.
Charles Burleson, father of Dr. Burleson, was born at Howard, in
Steuben county, New York, October 12, 1832. He was about eight
years of age when the family moved to Michigan, and he made the best
of his limited opportunities to secure an education. When a young man
he went south and found employment as clerk and bookkeeper in the
Pulaski House, a well-known pioneer hotel of Savannah, Georgia. He
was there during the trying times that preceded the war between the
states, and, though a northern man, was called out to drill with the
local. militia. The last boat which left Savannah previous to the outbreak of the war carried him north, and soon after his return to Michigan
he was married and took up his residence in Saginaw. There he was
giyen charge of a flour mill belonging to his father-in-law, and was also
later clerk and bookkeeper at the Bancroft House. He was agent for
the Tittabawassee Boom Company, and managed the affairs of that company at Saginaw for nine years. Finally he bought the interest of the
other heirs in his father's farm, and spent ten years as a practical farmer.
Then, returning to Saginaw, he entered the employ of C. Merrill and
Company, and was thus engaged until his death in I894. The maiden
name of his wife was Elizabeth Spalding. She was born at Hornell,
New York, a daughter of Dr. Erastus and Eliza (Walker) Spalding.
Dr. Spalding came from New York state to Michigan in 1841, making
the trip by way of the Erie canal as far as Buffalo, and from that city
driving all the way around the Great Lakes with horse and buggy,
passing through Cleveland and Toledo, which were then very small cities.
The wife of Charles Burleson died in I902, and she reared seven children, namely: George S., Frank A., Willard M., Jesse C., Mae E.,
Fred E., and John F.
Dr. Willard M. Burleson, who was born at Saginaw, Michigan, March
20, I868, received his early education in the public schools of Shiawassee county and at Saginaw. His career has been one of varied experience. When he was eighteen years old he enlisted in the United States
regular army, and saw much service in the west before the close of
Indian hostilities. He was in campaigns in New Mexico and the Dakotas,
and during I890-91 was engaged in the campaign which concluded with
the death of the famous old Indian chief, Sitting Bull. While in the
army he was promoted to the grade of Sergeant, and served five years
altogether, until he obtained his honorable discharge. Returning home,
he took a commercial course, and soon after took up the study of medicine. In I896 he entered the Saginaw Valley Medical College, and was
graduated M. D. from that institution in I899. Dr. Burleson set up his
practice at Grand Rapids, and has since enjoyed a large and profitable
clientage. His brother, John F. Burleson, is associated with him in
practice, and they have a suite of offices in the Burleson Hotel building,
property which they own.
Dr. Burleson married Mary M. Comstock, who was born in Grand
Rapids, the only child of Tileston and Ellen Elmira (Turner) Comstock.
Dr. Burleson and wife have one daughter, Ellen Elizabeth. Dr. Burleson has taken thirty-two degrees in Scottish Rite Masonry, and is also
affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. The family
attend worship at the Baptist church.