Doctor George Washington Burdett

Notes:

DR. GEORGE W. BURDETT.
One of Best Known Physicians of Worcester County Passes Away in Clinton.

Dr. George W. Burdett, one of the best-known physicians in Worcester County, died yesterday in Clinton, where he was born Feb. 17, 1819. He had spent more years in that community than any other citizen now living in it and was respected and beloved by all.

While a young man he became a teacher in Albany, N. Y., where he remained a year, and after that he taught in his native town. He next entered the Dartmouth medical school, where he spent one year, and later he attended the Harvard medical school, where he was graduated in 1845. He was a member of the private medical classes of Dr. Winslow Lewis and Prof. Samuel Cabot, M. D., two years, in addition to the university studies.

He had already determined to settle in Clintonville, and at once took an office there. In November he married Elizabeth J. Valentine, daughter of Elmer Valentine of Northboro.

He became a trustee of the Clinton Savings Bank on its organization and was the last one of the original boards. He had been the first vice-president since 1888. During the first three years after the incorporation of the town, he served on the school committee and helped organize the new school system. He was during many years a member of the board of directors of the Bigelow Free Public Library. He had been master of Trinity lodge of Free and Accepted Masons.

The greatest work, outside of his profession, that Dr. Burdett did for the community was in connection with the Baptist Church. He was the chief agent in its organization and served as its clerk 40 years or more.

Of Dr. Burdett’s seven children, five are still living. One of his sons is in business in Mexico, another in North Adams, and a third is a member of the staff of the Transcript.
(Boston Daily Advertiser (Boston, MA) Wednesday, May 12, 1897; pg. 8; Issue 112; col D)

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194181852/george_washington-burdett

George married Elizabeth Jones Valentine on 24 Nov 1846 in Northborough, Worcester County, Massachusetts. Elizabeth (daughter of Elmer Valentine and Rebecca Crawford) was born on 04 Feb 1824 in Charlestown, Suffolk County, Massachusetts; died on 10 Aug 1913 in Clinton, Worcester County, Massachusetts; was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Clinton, Worcester County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146328158/mary_e-ruggles

Mary married Marcus Morton Ruggles in 1878. Marcus was born on 21 Aug 1836 in Upton, Worcester County, Massachusetts; died on 23 May 1915 in Fitchburg, Worcester County, Massachusetts; was buried in Mount Vernon Cemetery, West Boylston, Worcester County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194182469/george_c-burdett

Notes:

Died:
Erysipilas

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/195409490/ellen_louise-ford

Ellen married Andrew Elmer Ford in 1878. Andrew was born on 17 Aug 1850 in Abington, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; died on 12 Aug 1906 in Clinton, Worcester County, Massachusetts; was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Clinton, Worcester County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1880 living in New Haven,CT

Arthur married Alferetta about 1880. Alferetta was born about 1859 in Rhode Island. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194181949/elmer_valentine-burdett

Elmer married Alice Marguerite Grover in 1910. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

George Burdett Ford
—died aged 51 in New York City at Doctor's Hospital on Wednesday, Aug 13
—born in Clinton MA on June 24 1879
—graduate of Harvard in 1899, and attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Ecole Des Arts, Paris
—wed to Harriet Chalmers Bliss of New York on June 15 1912
—career as a city planning professional and architect
—assisted in the planning and rebuilding of the city of Rheims, France from the devastation suffered in WWI; awarded French Legion of Honor ribbon for his contributions
—consulted by many municipalities on their planning and growth, including Trenton, Newark, and Elizabeth in New Jersey; New Rochelle, Dobbs Ferry, Mamaroneck, Ossining and Glen Cove in New York; New Haven, Connecticut; Springfield and Worcester in Massachusetts; Cincinnati and Dayton in Ohio; Richmond and Norfolk in Virginia; Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina
—important contributor to the New York Zoning Law in 1916; his principle of the "set back" when planning & building structures over a certain height ensured that light and air would not be blocked by a mass to large for the given plot
—general director of the Regional Plan Association c. 1929
—survived by his wife; his mother, Mrs. Andrew E. Ford of Cambridge MA; his brother, social ethics professor James Ford of Harvard; and his sister, Mrs. Walter L. Bacon of California
—services were conducted at St. Saviors Chapel, Cathedral of St. John the Divine; interment at Woodlawn Cemetery

~sources: The Scarsdale Inquirer and The Hastings News; Friday, Aug 22 1930

Harriet Chalmers Bliss Ford died aged 87 on Feb 20 1964 at Pine Rest Nursing Home in Northampton MA.
She was a 1899 graduate of Smith College and was on the staff of The Century Magazine until her marriage to GB Ford. She served as a Smith College trustee at one time.
~source: New York Times; Feb 22 1964

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/215942862/george_burdett-ford