William Burd Jr

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

William Burd Jr

Biographical and Genealogical History of Morris County New Jersey. Illustrated. Vol. II., Lewis Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1899.

The editor and proprietor of the Rockaway Record was born in Oxford, Warren county. New Jersey, in 1870, and is a son of Wesley and Elizabeth (Deremer) Burd, both of whom were born and reared in this state. Mrs. Burd was a daughter of Ralph Deremer, of Scotch Mountain. Our subject was born at Oxford and spent the first twelve years of his life in Asbury, where he attended the public school, after which he entered the employ of Daniel F. Beatty, an organ manufacturer, in whose service he remained for two years. On the expiration of that period he secured a situation in the Princess Organ Works, at Washington, New Jersey, but after a time he turned his attention to the printing business.

Entering the office of the Warren Tidings, in the capacity of "devil," he applied himself diligently to the work assigned him, and as time passed he gained more and more the confidence of his employers, who recognized his ability. In i8gr he removed to Dover and accepted the position of foreman on the Morris County Journal, serving in that capacity for a year, when he purcashed [sic] the Rockaway Record, which had been established in 1888 by G. C. Deats, who continued its publication until it was sold to Mr. Burd, on the 4th of March, 1892. It has always been conducted as an independent paper politically, presenting all political questions in a fair and impartial manner. It is devoted to local interests and is a bright, newsy sheet, a four-page, eight-column journal, neatly printed and enjoying a good circulation. In October, 1892, Mr. Burd was united in marriage to Miss Fannie C. Buck, a daughter of A. G. Buck, of Dover. They have many warm friends in the community, being numbered among Rockaway's most popular and highly esteemed people. They are also worthy and acceptable members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Burd has served as class-leader and Sunday-school superintendent. He is also a member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America, and is deeply and actively interested in all measures that will promote the welfare and prosperity of his county. In his business he is meeting with good success, as the result of his own labors, and has made the Rockaway Record a credit to the community.

Transcribed by Brianne Kelly-Bly