Irby Leon BURT

     Irby Leon BURT, son of Eustace Pierre BURT and Martha Jane YEAGER, was born on 22 May 1892 in Bibb County, Alabama.

Irby Leon BURT appeared on a census, enumerated 11 June 1900, in the household of Eustace Pierre BURT in Precinct 2, Scottsville, Bibb County, Alabama.¹

Irby Leon BURT appeared on a census, enumerated 27 April 1910, in the household of his father Eustace Pierre BURT in Beat 2, Bibb County, Alabama. He was recorded as a 17-year-old farm laborer.

Irby Leon BURT, Birdie Clyde WATTS and Willie Norma WATTS appeared in a newspaper article 7 March 1912 in the The Centreville Press, published in Centreville, Alabama. Scottsville News-- Miss Etta Reach entertained on last Saturday evening in honor of her guest, Miss Emma Lewis, of Lucile. The following couples spent a delightful evening with her: Mr. Irby Burt, Miss Birdie Watts, Mr. Louis Clark, Miss Stella Grimes, Mr. J. H. Stewart, Miss Emma Lewis, Mr. Jewell Wooley, Miss Beatrice Bice, Mr. Herbert Murphy, Miss Grace Lewis, Mr. Marion Bice, Miss Gertrude Wooley, Mr. Fred Bice, Miss Eva Lou Clark, Mr. Bunyan Stamps, Miss Georgia Pierson, Mr. Grady Murphy, Miss Lillie Pierson, Mr. Luther Reach, Miss Hazel Snyder, Andrew Woods, Miss Norma Watts, Mr. Otis Pierson, Miss Diana Hall, Mr. Andrew Blake. After indulging in various amusements, refreshments, consisting of hot chocolate and cake, were served by Misses Reach and Lewis. At a late hour the guests took their departure, each voting Miss Reach an ideal hostess.

He appeared in a newspaper article 28 November 1912 in the The Blocton Enterprise, published in West Blocton, Alabama. "Scottsville Items-- Mr. Irby Burt made his usual visit to this place Sunday." This must have been when he was courting Birdie and he was coming every Sunday to see her.

Irby married Birdie Clyde WATTS, daughter of George Weaver WATTS and Adelia Reed, on 25 December 1912 at the home of George Watts in Scottsville, Alabama. Justice of Peace W. T. Wood officiated the wedding service.^2,3

The Burts owned and operated a very large farm and a lumber business in the Scottsville community until 1938 when the family moved to a new location in West Blocton. The sawmill began in 1912 was known as I. L. Burt & Sons was incorporated in 1964. In 1980 the mill was greatly expanded and relocated to Vance and named KyKenKee for the three sons of Varner Burt: Kyle, Keith and Kendall.

Due to a need for men to serve during World War I, the United States instituted a draft. The first registration was for men between the ages of 21 and 31. As a result, this first registration included men born between June 5, 1886 and June 5, 1896. Irby filled out a draft card on 5 June 1917 in Centreville, Bibb County, Alabama. He was 25 years old with a wife and three children. He was a farmer employed by his father, E. P. Burt near Blocton. He was discribed as tall and slender with gray eyes and black hair.⁴

Birdie Clyde WATTS and Irby Leon BURT appeared in a newspaper article 27 February 1919 in the Centreville Press, published in Cemtreville, Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Irby Burt and children spent Sunday with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Watts.

Irby Leon BURT and Birdie Clyde WATTS appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1920 in Scottsville, Bibb County, Alabama. The household was listed as Irby Leon Burt, age 27; his wife Birdie, age 25; daughters, French Inez, age 6; Ferry, age 5; Ruth A., age 3 1/2; and son Irby Leon, Jr., age 3 months. All were born in Alabama. Living with them were servants Doc and Viola Ray.⁵

Irby Leon BURT and Birdie Clyde WATTS appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 15 April 1930 in Beat 2, Bibb County, Alabama. The household was listed as Irby L. Burt, age 37 and a farmer. He owned his home, could read and write, and owned a radio. He first married at age 20. He and his parents were born in Alabama. His wife, Birdie C. Burt, was 35 years old. and had first married when she was 18. She could also read and write. Both she and her parents were born in Alabama. Their children were French I., age 16; Ferry E., age 15; Ruth A., age 12; Mallory M., age 9; George E., age 6; Vincent A., age 3 1/12; and Varner L., age 1 4/12. Living next door was Irby's father, Eustace.⁶

Irby moved from Cedar Grove to West Blocton, Bibb County, Alabama, 1938. There he built I. L. Burt and Sons sawmill in the lot adjoining his home. The mill made shingles and milled lumber for the mines.

Irby Leon BURT and Birdie Clyde WATTS were members of the West Blocton Methodist Church until 1965 when they moved their membership to the newly organized Southern Methodist Church in Centreville as charter members. They continued to attend and support the church until their deaths.

At a family reunion 26 July 2003 Wynell Burt Welsh recalled that the Burt kids always referred to Maggie Yeager as "Aunt Maggie" and that Maggie would often visit the family of Irby L. Burt, Wynell's father. Aunt Maggie liked to chew tobacco and would sometimes send Wynell into town to purchase it for her. Wynell said that she was embarrassed to buy the chewing tobacco, but couldn't pass up the dime that Maggie paid her for the service. She also remembered Maggie's love of blackberry pies, and that she would annouce, "Irby, we need us a blackberry pie for breakfast." Wynell recalled how she hated having to go pick the blackberries because of her fear of snakes.⁷

Irby Leon BURT and Birdie Clyde WATTS appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 17 April 1940 in West Blocton, Bibb County, Alabama. The household was listed as I. L. Burt, a 47-year-old saw mill operator, and his 45-year-old wife Birdie Burt. He had completed 7 years of school and she 8 years. Also in the household were their children: daughter Ferry, age 24, 4 years of high school; daughter Ruth, age 22, 4 years of high school; son Mallory, age 19, 3 years of hight school; son George, age 15, 6 years school; son Vincent, age 13, 6 years of school; son Varner, age 11, 5 years of school; daughter Birdie, age 9, 2 years of school; and son Billie, age 5. They lived on Popular Street.

For a few months between 1950 and 1951 Irby moved with his family to Mississippi to cut a tract of wood. The investment did not pan out and he lost a great deal of money. The family returned to Bibb County and hard times for a few years. The family survived these difficult times and prospered.

Irby Leon BURT died on 15 March 1990 in West Blocton, Bibb County, Alabama, at age 97. He was buried in Scottsville Cemetery, Bibb County, Alabama.