Burr, Edgar Elmer, Sr.

Edgar Burr was born in La Salle, Illinois, USA, on October 30, 1863. In December 1900, he married in Chewelah, Washington. He died on July 29, 1945 in Princeton, BC.

He went to Wichita, Kansas in 1876 and to Spokane, Washington in 1883. In 1895 (with brother Frank), he opened a blacksmith shop in Rossland, BC.

He came to the Similkameen from Oroville, Washington by saddle horse in May 1897. There were only five residents in Princeton at that time. He was first interested in the mining area around Rossland, BC and what was known as the Boundary country in the 1890’s. He was a blacksmith during the winter months and spent the summer months prospecting.

Around 1902, he brought his family into the Similkameen Valley in the old Western style with a wagon and horses and established a home at Hedley, BC. In 1916, he moved his family to Princeton,
In 1917, he opened one of the first garages in Princeton: “E.E. Burr of Hedley has gone into partnership with Homer Wells in the Similkameen Garage.”(Similkameen Star, February 9, 1917). in the following years he spent the summer months prospecting on Copper Mountain, Kennedy Mountain, Aspen Grove, Merritt, and Hedley. He gained an outstanding knowledge of various areas.

See also Carl Sandness – great grandson Member of Similkameen Historical Association in 1933. Donated $5 toward organ fund in United Church, 1931