James Burlew was a young married man when he moved to Seneca County, N.Y., where he acquired a fine farm that has been kept in the family. Both he and wife died on that place, their ages approximately seventy-five years. They were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church and very liberal supporters of the same. Ten children were born to James and Sophia Burlew, all of whom survived to maturity and six are still living. The family record is in part as follows: James B., the eldest, died in Cayuga County, and is survived by a widow and three children, and three children, and they live in Cayuga County; Cornelia, who is now deceased, was the wife of Charles Rose and a surviving son, Charles R., is an attorney in New York City; Sarah, who is now deceased, married Lawrence Hillyard, also now deceased; Noyes S., who is a hardware merchant at Charleston; Anna, who is the wife of Henry Cleveland; Kate M., who lives on the old homestead in Seneca County; Mary, who is the widow of Charles White, lives in Seneca County; and Abraham, who is of Charleston, W.Va.

Abraham Burlew attended the local schools and grew up on his father's farm. He began his law studies with Judge Knapp, at Hackensack, N.J., and later was a student in the office of the prominent law firm of Slossen, Hutchinson & Platt, where he completed his course and was admitted to the bar in 1864. He came to Charleston in 1865 in the interest of a body of New York capitalists and while attending to their business became pleased with the towns and foresaw its possibilities as a field for his professional work. Mr. Burlew has been identified with much of the important law business in the Kanawha County courts for many years. He is a Republican in politics, as was his father. He attends the Episcopal church. Mr. Burlew has never married