Fonds A2012.087 - James Rowand Burgess and Elizabeth Oliver Burgess fonds

James Rowand Burgess, known as “Rowand”, was born in Port Elgin, Ontario on December 31, 1890 to parents, William Burgess, lawyer in Port Elgin, and Christina Thompson Rowand. His siblings were: Elizabeth Oliver Burgess, known as “Olive”, born June 14, 1896, and William Noble Burgess, known as "Noble".

In 1897, James' father, William Burgess, purchased a large house at east end of Mill St., Port Elgin. He and his family lived there, but would spend a month or two in the big farm house at lot 13, Con. A, Arran Township, Bruce County where William resided before becoming a lawyer. In 1915, Rowand, Olive and Noble moved out to live on the farm. Around 1917, William and Christina moved there as well.

Rowand continued to reside at the farm, engaged in farming and carpentry work, until the death of his brother, William Noble Burgess, in 1964 when Rowand moved to Port Elgin to take over his brother's conveyancing business. Noble had also farmed with Rowand until moving to Port Elgin to open a conveyancing business in 1940.

Rowand was an adherent of the Burgoyne Presbyterian church and a member of the Bruce County Historical Society, as well as being secretary of the Bruce Central Credit Union for many years.

James Rowand Burgess died in Port Elgin on December 27, 1968. He is buried in Burgoyne, Bruce County, Ontario.

Elizabeth Oliver Burgess, known as “Olive”, was born in Port Elgin, Ontario on June 14, 1896 to parents, William Burgess, lawyer in Port Elgin, and Christina Thompson Rowand. Her siblings were: James Rowand Burgess, known as “Rowand”, and William Noble Burgess, known as "Noble".

In 1897, Olives' father, William Burgess, purchased a large house at east end of Mill St., Port Elgin. He and his family lived there, but would spend a month or two in the big farm house at lot 13, Con. A, Arran Township, Bruce County where he resided before becoming a lawyer. In 1915, Olive and her siblings moved out to live on the farm. Around 1917, William and Christina moved there as well.
Rowand continued to reside at the farm, engaged in farming and carpentry work, until the death of his brother, Noble, in 1964 when Rowand moved to Port Elgin to take over his brother's conveyancing business. Noble had also farmed with Rowand until moving to Port Elgin to open a conveyancing business in 1940. After the death of her brothers, Olive went to live in Port Elgin with her sister-in-law Nellie (Mrs. Noble Burgess).

Olive was active in Church work, the Sunday School, the Bible Society and the Women's Missionary Society at Burgoyne Presbyterian Church.

Elizabeth Oliver Burgess died in Southampton on January 13, 1980. She is buried in Burgoyne, Bruce County, Ontario.